FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        PRESS CONTACT:

 January 23, 2014                                                                      Brenda Lopez 956.544.8352

MEDIA ADVISORY: Congressman Filemon Vela Brings Congressman Rahall and Congressman Bishop to South Texas to Tour Vital Infrastructure and Environmental Projects

Members of Congress set to visit the Port of Brownsville, Bahia Grande Restoration Project, and South Padre Island Beach Restoration Project

BROWNSVILLE, TX – On Friday, January 24, 2014, Congressman Filemon Vela will host Congressman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and Congressman Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.).  Their agenda includes a visit to the Port of Brownsville, a tour of the Bahia Grande Restoration Project and a briefing at the South Padre Island Beach Restoration Project.  Following their meetings with the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and local officials, Reps. Vela, Rahall, and Bishop will be available to answer questions from the media regarding their trip at Congressman Vela’s Brownsville office (333 Ebony Ave.) at 5:30 p.m.

Congressman Rahall is the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over our Nation’s highways, railways, airports, seaports, bus lines, and pipelines, as well as the Economic Development Administration (EDA), Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  

Congressman Bishop serves as the Ranking Member of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over water resources development, conservation and management, water pollution control and water infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup.  A number of agencies administer programs that address one or more of these issues including the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Through its Civil Works Program, the Corps constructs projects for the purposes of navigation, flood control, beach erosion control and shoreline protection, hydroelectric power, recreation, water supply, environmental protection, restoration and enhancement, and fish and wildlife mitigation. 

"I invited my colleagues to South Texas to see first-hand the positive impact that projects such as dredging at the Port of Brownsville and restoring the Bahia Grande can have on our local economy and environment,” said Congressman Vela.  “Cameron County’s location on the US-Mexico Border--abutted by the Laguna Madre--creates unique infrastructure and water development challenges and opportunities. Additionally, if SpaceX becomes a reality, it is important to have the infrastructure in place to support the venture.  It is an honor to bring Congressman Rahall, Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Congressman Bishop, Ranking Member of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee to South Texas.”

Friday, January 24th

Brownsville, TX

Who:   Congressman Filemon Vela, Congressman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and Congressman Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.)

What:              Press availability 

When:              5:30 p.m.

Where: Filemon Vela's Brownsville Congressional Office          

            333 Ebony Ave.          

            Brownsville, Texas 78520

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