In late September, the Greater Houston Partnership, in collaboration with the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD), coordinated a journey to Washington D.C., to coach on the significance of the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration mission. The Coastal Spine – a barrier flood gate and levee system situated alongside the higher Texas shoreline, was really useful by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to defend Port Houston, the Houston Ship Channel, and surrounding petrochemical producers from catastrophic climate occasions.
The Coastal Spine is designed to guard the vital infrastructure alongside our shoreline that helps provide chains throughout the globe. The higher Houston area is residence to the biggest petrochemical producers on the earth. These merchandise vary from gasoline for our automobiles to semiconductors to on a regular basis merchandise, together with foods and drinks packaging, home equipment, and electronics, {hardware}, building supplies, prescription drugs, fertilizers, and automotive elements and tires. Many merchandise that journey by means of Port Houston, which serves because the primary U.S. port in waterborne tonnage, present greater than $800 billion in nationwide financial worth.
The mission may also safeguard the greater than 7.2 million residents of the metro Houston space from extreme climate occasions. In September 2008, Kemah, Texas, noticed a 17-foot surge from Hurricane Ike. An analogous system is used within the Netherlands to maintain encroaching ocean waters from intruding upon vital infrastructure and human life. In this occasion, we’re focusing on the devastating results of storm surges.
Delegation members in attendance:
- State Senator Larry Taylor
- Mayor Michel Bechtel
- Mayor Carl Joiner
- Galveston City Council Member Marie Robb
- Bob Mitchell
- Sally Bakko
- GCPD Executive Director Nicole Sunstrum
- Phillip Fordham with LyondellBasell
- Partnership Public Policy crew members
The delegation engaged with employees from the workplaces of Senators Cornyn and Cruz and employees from Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee. The group met all 4 Texas appropriators: Ranking Member Kay Granger, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Congressman Judge Carter, and Congressman Tony Gonzales.
During the quick go to, the delegation additionally related with a number of commerce associations, together with the American Petroleum Institute, the American Chemistry Council, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers.
With the Partnership’s assist, Texas will safe help from all ranges of authorities to comprehend the Coastal Texas Program, to guard the lives, economic system, and nationwide safety belongings, all supported by Port Houston and the Houston Ship Channel.
Learn extra in regards to the Partnership’s agenda for the 88th Texas Legislative session.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link