Washington – The American Trucking Associations applauded the enactment of the Starr-Camargo Bridge Expansion Act. The law will give the private company that owns the bridge the authority to increase the capacity of the crossing in South Texas. The project will be fully funded by user fees; no taxpayer dollars will be required.
“Trade between the U.S. and Mexico totaled nearly $800 billion last year and sustains millions of American jobs, but border bottlenecks threaten to limit economic growth,” said American Trucking Associations Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. “We applaud Senator Cornyn and Congressman Cuellar for leading this effort to expand the Starr-Camargo Bridge in South Texas. By increasing the capacity of this critical link in the supply chain, this legislation will help prevent truck drivers from being stuck in traffic, catalyze the return of manufacturers to North America, and support businesses and farmers on both sides of the border.”
“As an important trade route between the U.S. and Mexico, the Starr-Camargo Bridge has made significant contributions to the economy of South Texas and the nation,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Now that this legislation has been signed into law, we will be able to help resolve traffic congestion and supply chain issues, improve efficiency, and ensure U.S. trade continues to grow.”
“In 2023, Mexico ranked first among all U.S. trading partners, with $798.8 billion in total trade in goods. The Starr-Camargo Bridge facilitates hundreds of millions of dollars of this cross-border trade and serves as a crucial connector between South Texas and Mexico,” said Congressman Cuellar. “The proposed expansion project will ease congestion, reduce truck idling at the port of entry, and help alleviate supply chain issues. I would like to thank Senator Cornyn, Senator Cruz, Senator Kelly, Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Meeks, Representative Lawler, Representative Castro, and the American Trucking Association for their leadership and help in getting this done.”
The Starr-Camargo Bridge Expansion Act, which passed the Senate unanimously and the House by voice vote, was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R- Texas), and Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Mike Lawler (R-New York), and Joaquin Castro (D-Texas).
The international bridge, first opened in 1966, facilitates hundreds of millions of dollars in trade between the United States and Mexico each year. It serves as an efficient route between the Rio Grande Valley and Mexican cities like Monterrey and Mexico City. The bridge’s previous authorization for construction expired, and an extension was required to pursue the planned expansion project. The bridge will not require a presidential permit to expand since it predates the 1972 International Bridge Act.