Starr-Camargo Bridge Expansion Act

Floor Speech

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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.

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.

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.

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Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I reserve 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.

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