{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/114th-congress-funding-our-highways-and-boosting-infrastructure", "The 114th Congress: Funding Our Highways and Boosting Infrastructure", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "AUSTIN \u2013 During the 114th Congress, a number of measures to improve Texas and the nation\u2019s infrastructure became law, including a long-term highway funding bill, legislation to streamline legitimate commerce at our ports of entry, and a measure to help speed up the Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 effort to protect Texas\u2019 Gulf Coast region from a major natural disaster. Key transportation developments during the 114th Congress include:\nThe FAST Act (Passed Senate 7/30/15, passed House 12/3/15, passed Senate again 12/3/15, became law 12/4/15)\n A five-year highway and transit funding bill, the first of its kind in over\u00a0a decade.\nProvides certainty to implement much-needed, economy-boosting projects that strengthen our nation's infrastructure and make our transportation systems safer.\nIncludes language that gives Texas flexibility to invest in infrastructure along the border.\nDesignates new high priority interstate corridors in Texas.\n Cross Border Trade Enhancement Act\u00a0(Passed Senate 11/29/16, passed House 12/6/16, passed Senate again 12/10/16, became law 12/16/16)\n Promotes public-private partnerships to boost staffing and make infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry without adding to the national deficit.\nDeveloped with input from border community leaders and transportation industry stakeholders following successful pilot program agreements, including at the Paso Del Norte Bridge in El Paso.\n Starr-Camargo Bridge\u00a0Charter Extension (Passed Senate 3/17/16, passed House 5/16/16, became law 5/20/16)\n Grants the Starr-Camargo International Bridge in Rio Grande City, TX permanent operating authority, allowing the bridge to continue connecting communities across the Rio Grande.\n Texas Coastal Protection (Included in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, which Passed House 12/8/16, Passed Senate 12/10/16, became law 12/16/16)\n Includes a major provision from Senator Cornyn\u2019s COAST Act to help streamline the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 Coastal Texas Protection & Restoration Study along Texas\u2019 upper Gulf Coast.\nRequires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take into consideration certain studies already developed by the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District (GCCPRD) while completing its Storm Surge Suppression Study.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/114th-congress-funding-our-highways-and-boosting-infrastructure"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9658327326178551, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}