S. 2866 – Coastal Texas Protection Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:46 PM UTC

The Coastal Texas Protection Act requires the Army Corps of Engineers to fast‑track studies that evaluate ways to reduce flood and storm damage and restore ecosystems along the Texas coast. It also changes the Coastal Barrier Resources Act to allow certain Texas barrier islands to be treated as public‑safety exceptions, facilitating protective projects there.

Key Provisions

Directs the Secretary of the Army to speed up feasibility studies for flood, hurricane, and storm damage reduction, as well as ecosystem restoration, in Texas coastal areas identified in a 2018 interim report.
Amends the Coastal Barrier Resources Act to add the barrier islands T‑02A, T‑03A, T‑04 through T‑07, and T‑11 to the list of areas that can be excluded for public‑safety reasons.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2726-2727)

Environment and Public Works Committee

May 16, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 16, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2726-2727)

Environment and Public Works Committee

May 16, 2018

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 2866 on the floor

2 Republicans

Sen. John CornynR-TX · May 16, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. Steve DainesR-MT · May 16, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. John CornynR-TX · May 16, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 16, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2866

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 16, 2018

Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Cruz) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To require the Secretary of the Army to expedite the completion of certain feasibility studies and reports and to amend the Coastal Barrier Resources Act to ensure public safety, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Coastal Texas Protection Act.

2.

Coastal Texas protection and restoration

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Army shall expedite the completion of feasibility studies for flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration in the coastal areas of Texas that are identified in the interim report due to be published in 2018 that describes the tentatively selected plan developed in accordance with section 4091 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1187).

3.

Public safety exceptions under Coastal Barrier Resources Act

Section 5(a)(3) of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3504(a)(3)) is amended by inserting , T–02A, T–03A, T–04 through T–07, T–11, after S08.