Washington, D.C. – On Monday, May 21, 2018, Congressman Randy Weber (R-Friendswood) introduced the Coastal Texas Protection Act. The bill enjoys widespread, bipartisan support throughout the Texas delegation, with 20 original co-sponsors. Its purpose is to expedite the completion of the Coastal Texas Study as well as subsequent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) studies. The Senate version of this legislation was introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and co-sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). Congressman Randy Weber released the following statement upon the bill’s introduction:

“August will mark the first anniversary of Hurricane Harvey devastating the Texas Gulf Coast. September will be the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Ike devastating the Texas Gulf Coast. The damage from both of these storms could have been greatly mitigated by the coastal spine envisioned by this legislation. This bill expedites the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ studies and reports as they relate to completing coastal barrier protection along the Texas Gulf Coast. Texas cannot wait any longer. It is imperative that we get the coastal spine completed before the next big storm comes barreling at the upper Texas Gulf Coast. The effects of the next devastating storm could be felt nationwide.”


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Text for the bill may be found here: H.R. 5897.

Original co-sponsors include: Congressmen Brian Babin (TX-36), Pete Sessions (TX-32), Gene Green (TX-29), Beto O’Rourke (TX-16), John Culberson (TX-7), Will Hurd (TX-23), Jeb Hensarling (TX-5), John Ratcliffe (TX-4), Kevin Brady (TX-8), Roger Williams (TX-25), Pete Olson (TX-22), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Kenny Marchant (TX-24), Lamar Smith (TX-21), Mike Conaway (TX-11), Bill Flores (TX-17), John Carter (TX-31), Ted Poe (TX-2), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), and Joe Barton (TX-6).