[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 57 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E592-E593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2012, PART II

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 18, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4348) to 
     provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, 
     motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out 
     of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear 
     law reauthorizing such programs, and for other purposes:

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, I support the Boustany amendment. 
I have been a long-time supporter of the RAMP Act. I represent the Port 
of Houston. We pay into the harbor maintenance trust fund, but we get 
far less out than we pay in. In fact, we get far less out than we need. 
We are facing a dredging crisis in upcoming years if we cannot get more 
harbor maintenance funding.
  I am proud to represent the Port of Houston. The work that happens 
here and the commerce that is moved through here support the economy of 
the entire region. The Port is the largest foreign tonnage port and the 
largest petrochemical port in the country. In fact, it moves the second 
largest amount of cargo in the country. 8.5% of our nation's cargo 
moves through the Port of Houston. The commerce that occurs at our port 
is critical to our nation's energy and chemical sectors and to our 
country's ability to trade and move goods.
  In 1998, the Federal Government invested $700 million in deepening 
and widening the Houston Ship Channel. An investment we have benefitted 
from tremendously. However, as the years have passed silt has settled 
and reduced the draft in the channel significantly. Today, only .4% of 
the channel is dredged to its proper depth across the entire width of 
the channel. That is astounding. Our nation's investment is rapidly 
deteriorating. It is time that our government renews its commitment to 
maintaining the Port.
  This is as important as ever as we face new business opportunities 
that are created by the expansion of the Panama Canal.
  The Texas Transportation Institute performed a study and determined 
that a direct

[[Page E593]]

economic impact of the loss of 1 foot of draft is $373 million. The 
majority of this impact is lost business opportunities due to light 
loading of non-containerized vessels. If the dredging crisis at the 
port continues to worsen, this cost will quickly accelerate.
  This amendment will help alleviate the crisis. The Port of Houston 
will get more desperately needed dredging funding. I strongly support 
this amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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