Southeast Texas Congressmen Randy Weber and Brian Babin, along with Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue advancing the Orange County element of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Coastal Storm Risk and Ecosystem Restoration project. In 2018, Congress authorized the S2G project through the Water Resources Development Act to reduce the devastating effects on coastal storm surge along the upper Texas coast. That includes Orange County communities that have faced repeated flooding from major storms. As design work has progressed, estimated project costs have increased and the Corps of Engineers is currently developing a Port Authorization Change report. Texas. lawmakers are seeking to ensure that the Orange County element can continue advancing while that process moves forward and that the U.S. Army Corps of Egineers has the direction needed to begin construction using available funds. "Orange County has waited a long time to see this project become a realitty" said Congressman Randy Weber, whose 14th Congressional District includes parts of Jefferson, Orange, Brazorai, and Chambers Counties along with all of Galveston County. "Congress authorized S2G nearly a decade ago. Texas has invested significant resources, and the Army Corps has advance the project" added Weber. Now lawmakers want to make sure USACE keeps that progress moving and gets the Orange County element into construction. The Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay project will strengthen storm surge production across Orange County, where more than 86,000 Texans live & work and nearly $5.9 billion in economic activity is generated each year. The effort is protected by the Gulf Coast Protection District.
Weber