[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 139 (Monday, September 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5090-H5091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   STARR-CAMARGO BRIDGE EXPANSION ACT

  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. 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.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1608

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Starr-Camargo Bridge 
     Expansion Act''.

     SEC. 2. STARR-CAMARGO BRIDGE.

       (a) Authorization.--The first section of Public Law 87-532 
     (76 Stat. 153; 130 Stat. 411) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
       (A) by inserting ``and expand'' after ``construct'';
       (B) by inserting ``, including the expansion and addition 
     of adjacent spans to the existing international bridge,'' 
     after ``thereto'';
       (C) by inserting ``multimodal toll'' after ``14'';
       (D) by striking ``to maintain'' and inserting ``and to 
     maintain, control,''; and
       (E) by striking ``such bridge'' and inserting ``those 
     bridges''; and
       (2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph 
     (1), by inserting ``expansion,'' after ``construction,''.
       (b) Rights of Starr-Camargo Bridge Company and Successors 
     and Assigns.--Section 3(a) of Public Law 87-532 (76 Stat. 
     153; 130 Stat. 411) is amended by inserting ``, as needed for 
     the location, construction, expansion, control, operation, 
     and maintenance of the bridges referred to in subsection 
     (a)(2) at or near Rio Grande City, Texas'' after ``chapter 
     466)''.
       (c) Sunset.--Section 5 of Public Law 87-532 (76 Stat. 153; 
     130 Stat. 411) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``by the Starr-Camargo Bridge Company and 
     its successors and assigns'' after ``constructed'';
       (2) by striking ``three'' and inserting ``60'';
       (3) by striking ``five'' and inserting ``65''; and
       (4) by striking ``date of enactment of this Act'' and 
     inserting ``date of enactment of the Starr-Camargo Bridge 
     Expansion Act''.
       (d) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section or the 
     amendments made by this section--
       (1) grants new rights or duties to the San Benito 
     International Bridge Company (known as the ``Free Trade 
     International Bridge'' as of the date of enactment of this 
     Act); or
       (2) alters, repeals, or voids any rights or duties held by 
     the San Benito International Bridge Company (known as the 
     ``Free Trade International Bridge'' as of the date of 
     enactment of this Act) under Public Law 87-532 (76 Stat. 153; 
     130 Stat. 411), as in effect on the day before the date of 
     enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina 
(Ms. Manning) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from American Samoa.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. 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.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from American Samoa?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. 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.

[[Page H5091]]

  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.
  Ms. MANNING. 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.
  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Cuellar).
  Mr. CUELLAR. 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.

  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MANNING. 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.
  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. 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.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, S. 1608.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________