Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) introduced the Texas Coastal Spine Authorization Act to authorize the construction of the coastal barrier protection system, which would mitigate the impact of major hurricanes and other significant water events in and around Galveston Bay—and the vast petrochemical industry that surrounds it. The Senate companion to this legislation was introduced by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). 

“The coastal barrier is a matter of national security. The Texas Gulf Coast is home to millions of people, countless homes and jobs, and numerous refineries. The Texas Coastal Spine Authorization Act will strengthen the resiliency of the Gulf Coast,” said Rep. Weber. “It’s imperative that we complete this critical barrier protection as soon as possible, since it’s a question of when—not if—another big storm barrels up the upper Texas Gulf Coast.”

“Protecting the Texas Gulf Coast isn’t just an important local priority – it’s a national imperative,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Our coastal communities are home to millions of Texans and pivotal industries that fuel our country and economy. This bill will ensure our coastline has the necessary infrastructure to help protect against future storms and I will continue fighting for this project.”

“In Texas, we know how destructive storms and natural disasters can be," said Sen. Cruz. A coastal barrier protection system will reduce the impact of hurricanes and tropical storms, and help keep Texas communities safer. It’s not only an important safety measure, but it will save money in the long term by softening the destructive power of storms along the Gulf Coast. This is a win-win, not just for Texans, but for taxpayers nationwide.”