Yesterday, Congressman Gene Green spoke in front of the Committee on the Budget in a hearing regarding his priorities for the federal budget for fiscal year 2013.
Congressman Green emphasized that Democrats and Republicans must work together to produce a budget that simultaneously helps meet our economic, health care, energy, and social challenges.
Port of Houston
“Another priority in the 29th District is the Port of Houston. Our Port is the largest petrochemical port in the country and moves the second largest amount of cargo in the country. The commerce that occurs at our port is critical to our nation’s energy and chemical sectors and to our country’s ability to trade and move goods throughout our country.”
“The number one issue that the Port faces is maintenance dredging that keeps the Houston Ship Channel at a depth and width that allows barges to access the Port. Due to silting, only 0.4% of the channel is dredged to its proper depth. Studies have shown that the direct economic impact of losing 1 foot of draft is $373 million due to lost business opportunities. If the dredging crisis at the Port continues to worsen, this cost will quickly escalate so we must continue to fund port maintenance and increase it if possible, ” concluded Green.
[mappress]
Dredging Today Staff, March 9, 2012