By james art “My number one priority is jobs, jobs, jobs, and that means fighting for the people of Laredo, fighting for the people of South Texas, to have more jobs, better jobs and higher pay.”
Texas Internal Report: WASHINGTON, DC – Laredo, TEXAS – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, was honored today by the City of Laredo and awarded the Key to the City for his leadership in streamlining the presidential permit process and securing presidential permits to build and widen four major international bridges in South Texas, including two in Laredo.
Upon receiving the city key, Senator Cruz said, “I am honored and humbled to receive the Key to the City – an incredible distinction in an incredible place in Texas.” I have to say I love South Texas, I love the city of Laredo, it’s an amazing center of commerce and port for the whole world. My passion, my number one priority is jobs, jobs, jobs, and that means fighting for the people of Laredo, fighting for the people of South Texas, to have more jobs, better jobs, and more – high salaries.
“I will say that over the last several years, I’ve been proud to work very closely with Mayor Treviño and very closely with my friend Congressman Henry Cuellar, as well as county and business leaders, fighting for jobs here in Laredo and in South Texas.” We worked together to expedite the permitting of four bridges here in South Texas: two in Laredo, one in Eagle Pass and one in Brownsville. All four bridges have been delayed by bureaucratic roadblocks coming from the Biden-Harris White House. A delegation from the city of Laredo asked me to help, asked me to lead the effort to make this happen. I told them I would be proud to do it, and we were able to draft legislation, bipartisan legislation, and get it through the Senate with bipartisan support. I worked hand in hand with Congressman Cuellar, we got it through the House with bipartisan support. The law was signed into law last December and just a few months ago these permits were granted.
BACKGROUND
Last year, Senator Cruz created and secured into law a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2024 to streamline the presidential authorization process for new and expanded bridges across the Rio Grande in Webb, Cameron and Maverick counties. The text required the State Department to submit for approval and the White House to approve or deny authorizations for those projects within 60 days, respectively. Sen. Cruise joined to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Monica de la Cruz (R-Texas), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), and Tony Gonzalez (R-Texas) in working to secure this provision.