Energy and Water Development - Member Day

House Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies

2025-04-08

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The Energy and Water Subcommittee held a hearing on critical infrastructure challenges in Texas and California, focusing on port efficiency, water resource management, and agricultural adaptation. Congressman Randy Weber testified on the urgent need to deepen the Sabine Navigational Waterway and upgrade coastal defenses in Texas, emphasizing that degraded waterways hinder the export of energy and military supplies. He highlighted the current 40-foot channel limit, which forces ships to offload cargo in stages, resulting in significant delays and inefficiencies. Congressman Jim Costa detailed California's evolving water challenges, including the increasing reliance on atmospheric rivers and groundwater overdraft, and advocated for full funding of water operations programs and canal repairs to ensure agricultural and environmental sustainability. Both witnesses underscored the complex interplay between climate change, infrastructure aging, and regional economies, calling for stronger federal coordination between agencies and bipartisan action to ensure water and energy resilience in the face of environmental and economic pressures.

Participants

Transcript

hearing will come to order good morning i'd like to welcome everyone to today's energy and water member day hearing today our fellow members will have the opportunity to testify on issues under the jurisdiction of this subcommittee that are important to them each witness will have five minutes to present their testimony members of the subcommittee   will then have the opportunity to ask questions if they'd like to do so.  I know everyone has busy schedules today, so I will forego any extended remarks.  I look forward to learning more from our colleagues on their priorities for the fiscal 26 energy and water bill.  At this time, I'd like to recognize my friend, Ms. Kaptur, for any opening remarks she'd like to make.  Ms. Kaptur.   Thank you, Chairman Fleischman, and thank you to our colleagues who come before us today.  We appreciate very much the time you've taken to be here and advocate for your communities, and I look forward to hearing your priorities, learning more about your part of the country, including federal programs of importance to you and your district.  I yield back.  I'd like to thank the ranking member.   We will now turn to our witnesses.  First up, I'd like to welcome Congressman Randy Weber from the state of Texas.  Mr. Weber, you're recognized for five minutes, sir.
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Unknown (SPEAKER_04)
Are we on?  We are on.  Okay.  Well, good morning, Mr. Chairman, ranking member of the capture.
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The Honorable Randy Weber
and the ranking member, DeLauro and Cole, Chairman Cole, who I don't see.  But I am Randy Weber.  I have the great honor of representing Texas 14th District, which is the Gulf Coast of Texas, starting at the Louisiana line and going down the curve of Texas.  Let me tell you, my district is not just a dot on the map, nor is it just a curve.  It is the beating heart of American energy, trade, and security.  Why do I say that?  Texas 14 is home to some of the largest refineries in the nation.   We export American-produced LNG through three major terminals.  We operate the most strategic military port in the country.  We move more military personnel and equipment out of the country than any other port in the United States.  On every day, our seven ports operate pipelines and ship channels.  We keep the American economy running and keep our military supplied and keep our military moving, quite frankly.  But here's the hard truth.   If we don't invest in the deepening and strengthening of these waterways, if we let them degrade, they silt in, as most of y'all will know, then what's the point of all this energy production?  Because we can't move it out.  What good is having oil and gas if we can't move it out safely and efficiently?  What good is an American energy dominance?  If the infrastructure support is crumbling, we will fall woefully behind.   The Sabine Nationals Waterway is the longest waterway in the Gulf Coast, second only to the Mississippi River.  It is one of the most critical waterway systems in our country.  The impact of the Sabine Nationals Waterway is undeniable.  The waterway moves over, check this out, 194 million tons of cargo every single year.  And it is the largest crude oil and LNG exporter in the nation.   The waterway has not undergone any improvements in over fifty five zero years and improving this waterway by deepening the channel from 40 feet to 48 feet will allow larger ships to come up into the channel and get the cargo a lot more quicker and a lot more efficiently Unleashing the power of American energy by enabling future growth and increases in shipping volumes which helps with trade by the way the port of Galveston is
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The Honorable Randy Weber
One of my other reports operating since 1825, believe it or not, it was formed by the Mexican government before Texas won its independence in 1836, is a vital commercial hub in my district handling both cargo, not only cargo energy, but cruise traffic, cruise terminals.  We have a lot of cruises out of Galveston.  Each year, Galveston Port moves over 4 million tons of cargo and welcomes over 1 million cruise passengers every year.   To stay competitive and accommodate modern fleets, channel dredging and harbor improvements are absolutely essential.  Not to mention, we also have what's called Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Project, which is necessary for the Gulf Coast because we have so many hurricanes.  We're prone to so many hurricanes.   That project is to reduce the risk for storm surge for the millions of folks and the energy businesses who live on the coast and are very critical industries that keep the U.S. up and running.  The Texas legislature, y'all, understands that investing in our future is in that infrastructure is investing in our future.   That's why the state of Texas has stepped up with funding for the Brazos River floodgates, which are critical structures on the Gulf Intracoaster Waterway that has been in place since the 1940s.

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