Maverick County Third International Bridge Presidential Permit Review Fast-Tracked By President Biden
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
Maverick County, Texas’ application as lead sponsor for a third international bridge United States Presidential Permit, in collaboration with the private investment company, Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC, was fast-tracked by President Joe Biden’s approval and subsequent signing of the $866.3 Billion National Defense Authorization Act on December 22, 2023, providing for the United States Department of State to fast-track the Presidential Permit Review process for four new or expanded international bridges along the Texas-Mexico border including the joint public-private partnership international bridge known as Puerto Verde Global Bridge in northern Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas between Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC and Maverick County.
A bi-partisan legislative group composed of U. S. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, Congressmen Henry Cuellar, Congressmen Tony Gonzales, Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez, and Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz sponsored legislation to streamline the U. S. Presidential Permit Review process for the four proposed new or expanded international bridges across the Rio Grande River including Eagle Pass, Brownsville, and Laredo, Texas.
U. S. Senator Cruz drafted the stream-lined Presidential Permit review process legislation and snuck it inside the voluminous National Defense Authorization Act presented to President Biden for his approval and signature in December 2023. President Biden approved and signed the National Defense Authorization Act, streamlining the Puerto Verde Global International Bridge Presidential Permit Review process in northern Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas.
The streamlined Presidential Permit Process will establish a maximum 120 day timeline for President Biden to approve or disapprove the presidential permit for these four bridges on the Texas-Mexico border, including the Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas. The regular process takes several years for approval.
Pursuant to the new streamline review process, the U. S. Department of State has 60 days to recommend to President Biden whether to approve a permit for each proposed bridge project on the Texas-Mexico border. In the event that President Biden does not approve the permit within the shortened 60 days timeline, the presidential permit will automatically be granted.
Environmental reviews will still be required for each bridge project before construction commences, but the environmental reviews will not be utilized to delay construction of each bridge project.
Maverick County Commissioners Court under the direction of County Judge Ramsey English Cantu and County Commissioners Roberto Ruiz, Olga M. Ramos, and Rossana Rios approved on July 7, 2023 a resolution endorsing the private investment firm of Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC proposal to design, construct, finance, and operate a third international bridge named Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge and agreeing to become the lead sponsor of the third international bridge Presidential Permit application before the United States Department of State.
Maverick County Commissioners Court abandoned Maverick County taxpayers investment of over $100,000 for a feasibility study and interest of over 10 years in developing a county-owned third international bridge in lieu of endorsing the private firm’s Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge proposal upon approving the resolution at the July 7, 2023 meeting. Thus, Maverick County became the lead sponsor of the private third international bridge application.
The July 7, 2023 Resolution approved by Maverick County Commissioners Court provides “the County commits to be the lead sponsor of the Puerto Verde’s Application to obtain a Presidential Permit for its Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge…and the County will further evaluate any financial commitment and will need final Commissioners Court approval to proceed with any financial commitment for construction of said project at a future date.”
Maverick County allegedly will not receive any direct revenues from the private Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge nor will it be responsible for any costs to build the third international bridge, but the Resolution leaves the door open to Maverick County taxpayers potentially reviewing and approving any financial commitment for construction of the private international bridge.
A major complaint of Maverick County taxpayers of Maverick Commissioners Court quick approval of the Resolution endorsing the private international bridge was a lack of public meetings, town hall meetings, and lack of a county appointed citizens committee to review the private proposal and the lack of a county economic and financial impact feasibility study.
Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu posted on his county Facebook page on January 4, 2023 that “Today is a great day for South Texas as Congressman Henry Cuellar, Senator Ted Cruz, and numerous officials from both sides of the border announced a new law that was signed by President Biden on December 22, 2023 for the Presidential Permit for 4 new Bridges in Texas. This now will begin the review process for our communities to have said areas validated and cleared prior to final signature. Maverick County is looking forward at assuring a true Public-Private Partnership to reach a greater goal with transformational opportunities for new jobs and development of our northern portion of Maverick County. Stay tuned to additional Public Meetings regarding the next steps and the great benefits from this project will bring to our community.”
Senator Cruz stated at a press conference held on January 4, 2024 in Laredo, Texas that “Every year, Texas and Mexico have a roughly $800 billion in trade and commerce that comes across this border. That’s jobs in Texas. That’s jobs in Texas. That’s the lifeblood of South Texas….So, then we began drafting legislation, I introduced it in the Senate, to expedite these bridges. We hair it adopted in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and then it was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act….So, we’re here to celebrate a tremendous bipartisan victory, a victory for Texas….The community in Laredo worked hard to make this happen.”
Congressman Henry Cuellar stated at the January 4, 2024 press conference celebrating the new law that “ Bridges serve as economic lifelines for our border communities, facilitating international trade, commerce, and tourism….We need to expand our ports of entry, and these changes will ensure that proposed construction projects at the World Trade Bridge, Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, and other bridges along the U.S.-Mexico border avoid unnecessary construction delays.”
Maverick County taxpayers are anxious to learn more from Maverick County Commissioners Court and the Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC the details of the proposed Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge in Maverick County.
