Starr–Camargo Bridge Expansion Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1608) to provide for the expansion of the Starr-Camargo Bridge near Rio Grande City, Texas, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for S. 1608, the Starr-Camargo Bridge Expansion Act, introduced by Senator Cornyn from Texas and passed unanimously by the Senate.

The development of critical infrastructure is vital for maintaining the smooth flow of goods and services. The Starr-Camargo International Bridge, a privately-owned toll bridge on the U.S.-Mexico border, serves as a crucial link spanning the Rio Grande. It connects Rio Grande City in Texas with Camargo in Mexico. This bridge is a significant commercial transit point, facilitating many hundreds of millions of dollars in trade every year.

Expanding this bridge will enhance international trade and help to reduce costs for American families by improving the flow of goods. The planned upgrades will ease commercial traffic and help address supply chain issues.

The proposed legislation will allow the bridge's private owners to finance the expansion and improvements through toll revenue without the use of taxpayer funds. Because it is an international port of entry, expanding the bridge requires statutory changes, which have been carefully reviewed and approved by the State Department, the Department of Transportation, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

As mentioned earlier, the Senate passed this measure with unanimous, bipartisan support. A House side companion bill was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a unanimous bipartisan vote of 46-0.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, allowing for the expansion of the Starr-Camargo Bridge at no cost to Federal taxpayers will make a real difference in the lives of American families, especially in Texas. I urge all Members to support S. 1608, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for yielding. I thank her staff also for the hard work and long hours they have been putting in. I thank also my good friend from American Samoa and her staff for getting this bill to the floor.

This bill allows the Starr-Camargo Bridge, a privately-owned toll bridge between Texas and Mexico, to expand and become multimodal. This bridge's previous authorization for construction expired, so we are coming back for an extension to make sure that we pursue the planned expansion project and also add a rail bridge addition.

The planned expansion will ease congestion, reduce truck idling at the port of entry, and alleviate the supply chain issues as the gentlewoman from North Carolina just mentioned a few minutes ago.

This expansion will be paid by tolls, so no cost to the taxpayers. This bridge will serve as the vital trade link between the United States and Mexico.

Keep in mind that the trade between the U.S. and Mexico has been tremendous. In fact, just last year, the trade between the U.S. and Mexico, our number one trading partner, reached $798.9 billion. I say that in the next 4 or 5 years, the trade between the U.S. and Mexico will increase to a trillion dollars of trade.

If you look at it right now, every minute you have $1.4 million of trade between the U.S. and Mexico.

What does that mean? That means jobs, not only for the ranchers, not only for industries, not only on this side, but also on the Mexican side so people will stay over there and work over there on the other side.

This trade is important for farmers, for ranchers, for manufacturers, and producers. This bridge is not only important to south Texas, my district, but it is also important for the whole Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank not only my good friend from American Samoa and her staff, but also my good friend the gentlewoman from North Carolina and her staff, for their work.

Mr. Speaker, I also thank Senator John Cornyn for his leadership and Senator Cruz for getting this bill on the floor. I thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Meeks, and my good friend from San Antonio, Congressman Castro, for working to get this bill on the floor. I look forward to getting the President to sign this bill so we can continue creating jobs on both sides of the Rio Grande.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1608, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, Mexico is the top U.S. trading partner with bilateral commercial activity totaling more than $750 billion last year and accounting for more than 15 percent of total United States trade. These figures represent an investment in the American people and the Mexican economy.

In fact, U.S. companies directly invested $130.3 billion into Mexico in 2022, and nearly 5 million U.S. jobs depend on trade with Mexico.

That is why I support S. 1608, which will allow for the expansion of the Starr-Camargo Bridge. The existing bridge supports the economic well-being of so many in south Texas and U.S. businesses that rely on the bridge as a critical entry point for import-export into the United States. The expansion of the bridge connecting the United States and Mexico will support more resilient supply chains and address blockages caused by outdated infrastructure and traffic.

It is invaluable to local growers and producers on both sides of the border as they move vegetables, fruit, and other needed products to market.

I understand that the project is also designed to include toll booths, the fees of which will help pay for the cost of upkeep and maintenance.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I support this strong measure, which has strong bipartisan support. This bill will allow for the expansion of the Starr-Camargo Bridge, which will greatly benefit our supply chain capacity with our largest trading partner, Mexico. This is an investment in the American people and the U.S.-Mexican economy.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill. I thank my colleague, my good friend, Mr. Cuellar, for his work on this, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be discharged from further consideration of S. 1608, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.