Congressman Henry Cuellar and Senator Ted Cruz joined together today to celebrate the successful passage of their proposal aimed at reforming the Presidential permitting process for border bridges, including the expansion of the World Trade Bridge in Laredo. The proposal, recently signed into law by President Biden as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024, addresses the need to expedite construction projects at key border crossings.

“Bridges serve as economic lifelines for our border communities, facilitating international trade, commerce, and tourism,” stated Dr. Cuellar. “However, drivers and truckers often report lines stretching for miles to cross, delaying the transportation of goods and costing our economy millions. We need to expand our ports of entry, and these changes to the Presidential permitting process will ensure that proposed construction projects at the World Trade Bridge, Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, and other bridges along the U.S.-Mexico border avoid unnecessary construction delays.”

The newly enacted law focuses on streamlining the process for obtaining Presidential permits required for construction projects at border crossings. Typically, acquiring these permits involves an extensive environmental review, which can take years to complete. The language secured by Dr. Cuellar and Senator Cruz directs the President to issue conditional permits for projects while environmental reviews, mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), are still ongoing.

Dr. Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, has long advocated for the streamlining of the Presidential permitting process for cross-border bridges. Earlier efforts saw him secure language in the Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs House appropriations bill, specifically targeting the reform of the Presidential permit process. This move is expected to expedite the World Trade Bridge expansion project in Laredo, the nation’s largest port of entry, which experienced 7.6 million total vehicle crossings in FY23.

The proposed expansion of the World Trade Bridge aims to add ten lanes, bringing the total to 18 lanes. This expansion is anticipated to enhance trade with Mexico, addressing the increasing commercial traffic witnessed since the bridge's opening in 2000, with 2.5 million northbound commercial crossings recorded in FY23.