FEDERALPRIORITIES 2026
FederalprioritiesfortheHoustonPortregionstrengthenthenation’sbusiestexporthubandglobal petrochemicalcenterbymodernizinginfrastructure,boostingmobility,supportingworkforce development,andsecuringcriticalimportstosafeguardsupplychainsandUS competitiveness
PORTINFRASTRUCTURE
$22MinBUILDgrantfundingthroughtheFASTProgramto acceleratePhase2oftheBayportSouthernAccessRoad, strengtheningacriticalnationaltradecorridor
HR 3705/S1278toimprovevesselsafetyandnavigationin coastalwaterways,reduceportdisruptionsandeconomic lossescausedbylow-visibilityconditions
EquitableHMTFallocationstoEnergyTransferports,boost navigationprojectefficiency,costsavings,andensureWRDA languagepreventsunduefeesondistricts.
FREIGHTMOBILITY
DRIVESafeActtotraindriversunder21toeasethetrucker shortage 6-axle,91,000-poundtrucks:Allowedon Interstatestomovegoodsmoreefficiently Surface TransportationBoardreform:Expandingaccessto competitiverail,boostingfreightmobility
INFRASTRUCTURE&TRANSPORTATION
Asurfacetransportationreauthorizationsignedintolawin 2026thatboostsinfrastructureinvestments,fundingforthe HighwayTrustFund,strengthenedsupplychains, modernizedwatersystems,andcommonsensepermitting.
WORKFORCEDEVELOPMENT
Fullyfund/implementshort-termWorkforcePellGrants alongwithrecognizingtheimportanceoffundingworkforce trainingprogramsandregionalcentersofexcellence
COASTALTEXASPROJECT
Requestfor$25millioninFY2027federalappropriationsfor theprojecttoenableUSACEtoassistwiththedesignand environmentalcompliancefortheBolivarRoadsGate SystemandtheWestGalveston–BolivarPeninsulaBeach andDuneSystems
TARIFFEXEMPTIONSFORCRITICALINPUTS
Federallegislationcreatingaclearexemptionprocessfor importedmaterialsorequipmentwhennodomestic alternativeexists.
PORTINFRASTRUCTURE
TheHoustonShipChannelisanassetthatfacilitatesthesafe,efficienttransportofAmericanfuels,petrochemical productsandgoodsthatconnectnotonlyU.S.industriesbutalsocountlessconsumerstoglobalmarkets.
ECONOMICALLIANCESUPPORTS
$22MinBUILDgrantfundingthroughtheFASTProgramtoacceleratePhase2oftheBayportSouthernAccess Road,strengtheningacriticalnationaltradecorridor.
IMPACTS
Reductionoftruckcongestionstrengtheningnationalsupplychains
Improvehowfogadvisoriesarecommunicatedtodecisionmakersinmaritimeindustries,coastalcommunities, andemergencymanagement.
ECONOMICALLIANCESUPPORTS
H.R.3705/S.1278toimprovevesselsafetyandnavigationincoastalwaterways,reduceportdisruptionsand economiclossescausedbylow-visibilityconditions.
IMPACTS
Strengthenssupplychainreliability
EnsureWRDAlanguagepreventsunduefeesonnavigationdistrictswhilesupportingequitableHMTFallocationsto EnergyTransferportsandcostsavingsthroughgreatercontractflexibilityandreducedadministrativeburdens.
ECONOMICALLIANCESUPPORTS
EquitableHMTFallocationstoEnergyTransferports,boostnavigationprojectefficiency,costsavings,and ensureWRDAlanguagepreventsunduefeesondistricts.
IMPACTS
Fundingstabilityforthesupplychain
FREIGHTMOBILITY
TheU.S.chemicalindustryisgrowing,adding1M+shipmentsannuallyand600K+extratrucktripseachyear.Rail policieshaven’tbeenupdatedin40years,limitingsafe,competitiveaccess.
ECONOMICALLIANCESUPPORTS
DRIVESafeActtotraindriversunder21toeasethetruckershortage.6-axle,91,000-poundtrucks:Allowedon Interstatestomovegoodsmoreefficiently.SurfaceTransportationBoardreform:Expandingaccessto competitiverail,boostingfreightmobility.
IMPACTS
Safe,efficient,andcompetitivefreighttransportation
INFRASTRUCTURE&TRANSPORTATION
Despiterecentprogress,U.S.infrastructurestillreceivesaCgradefromtheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers, underscoringtheneedforcontinuedinvestmentandmodernization.
ECONOMICALLIANCESUPPORTS
Asurfacetransportationreauthorizationsignedintolawin2026thatboostsinfrastructureinvestments, fundingfortheHighwayTrustFund,strengthenedsupplychains,modernizedwatersystems,andcommon sensepermitting.
IMPACTS
Strengthenedinfrastructureinvestment,supplychains,andmanufacturingcompetitiveness.
WORKFORCEDEVELOPMENT
WiththeexpansionofPortHoustonandcontinuedindustrialgrowthit’simportantthatourcollegesmeetjob demand,attritionandskillenhancementthatprovideseconomicopportunitytostudents.
ECONOMICALLIANCESUPPORTS
Fullyfund/implementshort-termWorkforcePellGrantsalongwithrecognizingtheimportanceoffunding workforcetrainingprogramsandregionalcentersofexcellence.
IMPACTS
Developworkforcepipelinesformaritime,supplychain,advancedmanufacturing,andpetrochemicaloperations
COASTALTEXASPROJECT
AuthorizedbyCongressin2022,isthelargestcoastalprotectioneffortinU.S.history.Theprojectprotectscoastal communities,criticalecosystems,andnationallysignificantenergyandindustrialinfrastructure.
PartnersincludetheUS ArmyCorpsofEngineers,TexasGeneralLandOffice,andtheGulfCoastProtectionDistrict
ECONOMICALLIANCESUPPORTS
Requestfor$25millioninFY2027federalappropriationsfortheprojecttoenableUSACEtoassistwiththedesign andenvironmentalcompliancefortheBolivarRoadsGateSystemandtheWestGalveston–BolivarPeninsula BeachandDuneSystems.
IMPACTS
Protecttheregionfromstormsurge,safeguardnationallysignificantindustrialinfrastructure,andstrengthenlongtermcoastalresilience
TARIFFEXEMPTIONSFORCRITICALINPUTS
IndustriesacrosstheHoustonportregionreportrisingcostsduetotariffsonimportedrawmaterialsand equipment
LEADERSHIP/ ATTENDEES
THANKYOUTOOURSPONSORS
ELECTEDOFFICIALS,GOVERNMENTAGENCIES&SUPPORTSTAFF
DennisPaul,TexasHouseofRepresentatives,StateDistrict129
AdrianGarcia,HarrisCountyCommissioner,Precinct2
MikeLykes,ChiefofStaff,HarrisCountyCommissioner,Precinct2
HankDugie,GalvestonCountyCommissionerPrecinct3,Baytran
CharlesJohnson,Mayor,CityofBaytownTX
JasonReynolds,CityManager,CityofBaytownTX
JacobPowell,Councilman,CityofBaytownTX
ThomasReeves,DirectorPublicAffairs,CityofBaytownTX
JimSweeney,Mayor,CityofSeabrookTX
MichelBechtel,Pres.,GulfCoastProtectionDistrict,FormerMayor,CityofMorgan'sPoint CoalterBaker,ExecutiveDirector,GulfCoastProtectionDistrict
EmilyWilliams,GovernmentRelationsSpecialist,GulfCoastProtectionDistrict BUSINESSORGANIZATIONSANDASSOCIATIONS
HectorRivero,President&CEO,TexasChemistryCouncil
MiaMcCord,VPGovtAffairs,TexasChemistryCouncil
MaryJaneMudd,ExecutiveDirector,EastHarrisCountyManufacturersAssociation
AmySkicki,President&CEO,BayTran
StephenReynolds,DirectorPublicPolicy,GreaterHoustonPartnership
ElizabethHale,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,GulfCoastAuthority
PatrickAnderson,ProventureConsultants,GulfCoastAuthority
EDUCATIONALPARTNERS
RobertBaker,ProfMaritimeBusAdmin,TexasA&MGalveston
ChristianBionat,ViceChancellor,SanJacintoCollege
JeffPearce,CoordinatorEducationandWorkforce,SanJacintoCollege
RobynCardwell,AsstViceChancellorBiotech,SanJacintoCollege
JohnStauffer,AssociateViceChancellorMaritime,SanJacintoCollege
PORTINFRASTRUCTURE
CamRahmn-Spencer,DirectorGovernmentAffairs,PortHouston
MattGlass,2ndOfficer,HoustonPilots
ShareenLarmond,President,WestGulfCoastMaritimeAssn
PRIVATESECTOR
RussellCarter,Director,BusinessDevelopment,BohlerEngineering
TimBerry,MarineSuperintendent,ExxonMobil
VincentDiCosmino,CorporateVP,TargaResources
AndrewHealy,SrManagerFederalGovtRelations,LyondellBasell
TimVail,WaterGroupDirector,HDRInc.
AndrewMaxa,SrProjectMgr,Ports&Maritime,HDRInc.
KevinMerrill,VPOperations,TeaditGroup
RobbieRiggs,President&CEONorthAmerica,TeaditGroup
MarkRuffin,VPSalesandEngineering,TeaditGroup
ECONOMICALLIANCEHOUSTONPORTREGION
ChadBurke,President&ChiefExecutiveOfficer
ChadCarson,VPEconomicDevelopment
KarenGregory,GovernmentContractsManager
KailynGonzales,BusinessSystemsAnalyst&ExecutiveAssistant