El Paso Standard

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) testified before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure during the committee’s Member Day hearing. The hearing was an opportunity for Members to highlight issues of high importance to their communities as the Committee works to reauthorize and fund various transportation and infrastructure programs.  

In her remarks, Congresswoman Escobar advocated for the inclusion of her Community Project Funding requests for Fiscal Year 2024, continued federal funding for infrastructure and transportation in El Paso, including the El Paso International Airport and the upcoming Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization, and our ports of entry; as well as highlighting the positive impact these priorities would have on the future of transportation in El Paso. 

Click here to watch a video of her remarks and read her testimony as delivered below: 

“Thank you, Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen for hosting this Member Day hearing. I have the honor of representing El Paso, Texas, a community on the U.S. – Mexico border and one of the busiest trade corridors in the country. The El Paso Ports of Entry serve as critical gateways to global trade, moving nearly $82 billion in trade and commerce annually through our land ports. This committee plays a meaningful role in ensuring our community has the infrastructure to support the region’s transportation network which contributes to our local, state, and national economy. I would like to take this opportunity to expand upon several of our regional priorities for your consideration. 

“Firstly, thank you, Ranking Member Larsen, for visiting El Paso earlier this year to see the infrastructure investments we’re making at our Airport and, will soon make, at the Bridge of the Americas. Chairman Graves, I would like to invite you down to our community anytime to see these investments for yourself!  

“This year, I am excited to have submitted several transportation and infrastructure Community Project Funding requests that would make critical investments in our region. 

“One of which is a $4 million funding request for the El Paso Regional Ports of Entry System Development Study and Operational Plan to conduct a study of the key needs of all land ports from Tornillo in El Paso County, Texas to Santa Teresa in New Mexico. The goal of the study will be to initiate a plan comprehensive to all ports and infrastructure corridors as a unique regional system. Our Land Ports of Entry network needs key improvements and analysis to develop a targeted understanding of how they should be developed as a cohesive transportation system. 

“Next, I want to shift to a few priorities that will play critical roles for the future of transportation in El Paso. The first being an exemption, through the FAA, to the “perimeter rule” to allow for non-stop flights between El Paso (ELP) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Our region's significant military presence from serving the two largest DoD installations in the nation, Fort Bliss, and White Sands Missile Range; passenger demand; and airline competitiveness would all benefit from such a change. A study by the Brookings Institution also found that adding a single nonstop flight from Reagan National to a new city generates $100 million in economic activity and 1,000 new jobs. That is why I urge this committee to consider including in this year’s FAA this request to allow for "beyond-perimeter" exemptions.  

“The second request is to increase funding for the FAA’s Airport Import Improvement Program (AIP) which provides more than $3 billion in entitlement and discretionary grant funds for a network of more than 3,300 eligible airports, including the El Paso International Airport.  

“The third request is to expand federal funding opportunities to support projects like the El Paso Northeast rail spur and overpass initiative, which involves connecting the Union Pacific rail line in Northeast El Paso to more than 5,000 acres of City-owned contiguous developable land. The land is ideal for large-scale economic development projects with significant private capital investment, stimulating tens of thousands of quality jobs. 

“The fourth request is to support increasing funding for RAISE Grants and other federal funding opportunities that support the revitalization of communities and development of green spaces through projects such as the Deck Plaza project, a 7-acre project site located in I-10 Downtown El Paso. Projects like the deck port reconnect communities, promote infill, and add quality of life in cities’ central core.  

“Lastly, a new Land Port Infrastructure Development Grant Program is needed to bolster border infrastructure projects and operational efficiency improvements. International bridges in communities like mine must be modernized to keep with the pace of exponential increases in trade from with Mexico, especially as we re-shore and near-shore manufacturing. Investment in port modernization will strengthen supply chains, improve operational capabilities and infrastructure capacity, and spur economic growth.

“I urge you to support these requests and thank you for your time and leadership.” 

Original source can be found here.