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Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan is strongly advocating for the approval of the Sabine-Neches Navigation District’s loan application from the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund.
In a recent letter to Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, Jr., Phelan emphasized the economic importance of the Sabine-Neches Waterway and urged the commission to approve the loan to support the district's deepening project.
“The Sabine-Neches Waterway, the third-largest by tonnage and the largest liquid bulk cargo waterway in the nation, generates billions in revenue and supports over 288,000 permanent jobs,” Phelan wrote, highlighting the waterway’s role in handling diverse cargo, from consumer goods to natural gas and military equipment, through the ports of Beaumont and Port Arthur. The proposed deepening from 40 to 48 feet will reportedly allow larger ships to access these ports, improve traffic management, and maintain competitiveness with other U.S. ports. Additionally, the project promises to create jobs and stimulate economic development in House District 21 and Southeast Texas.
During the last legislative session, Phelan helped secure $600 million for maritime port projects and led efforts to capitalize the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund with $400 million for the first time since its creation in 2015.
The Sabine-Neches Navigation District’s loan application is currently under review by the Texas Department of Transportation and could be presented to the Texas Transportation Commission for approval as early as July 30, 2024.