RELEASE: Congressman Cloud Secures Critical Funding Path for the Matagorda Ship Channel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Appropriations Committee passed the FY27 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill this week, which contains critical funding supporting work on the Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project (MSCIP). This pivotal project being led by the Army Corps of Engineers will help increase port efficiencies, reduce costs, and risk erosion to local infrastructure.

As Vice Chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee, Congressman Cloud helped secure $31.3 million in New Construction for the MSCIP and $10.7 million for operations and maintenance including funding for oyster mitigation.

The language of the bill also includes direction to the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the PACR (Post Authorization Change Report), which is necessary for the project to be eligible for Congressional authorization and further funding. In an Appropriations hearing earlier this spring, Lieutenant General Graham, who leads the Army Corps of Engineers, provided a commitment to Congressman Cloud that the validation report and PACR would be finished by July 31.

“The widening and deepening of this ship channel is essential for the Port of Calhoun, the entirety of the Crossroads region, and American energy dominance,” Rep. Cloud stated. “As American energy production and exports reach all-time highs, it is critical that Congress continues to invest in the infrastructure necessary to win the energy race. The Gulf Coast of Texas is leading this race, and that is access to Ports like the Matagorda Ship Channel are of utmost priority for this committee and for the Trump Administration,” Rep. Cloud concluded.

Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), Adam Telle, signaled his support of this project to Congressman Cloud in a recent hearing, stating, “I was very pleased to visit Matagorda a few months ago. If you can just think for a minute about what it would mean for our country if we could have a port, that currently is not performing up to its capability, and add an asset to our economy and ability to export petroleum products. This is a key opportunity.”

“It was a privilege to work alongside Chairman Fleischmann—who visited several of the Ports in the region, including the Port of Calhoun, with me earlier this month—in getting this funding secured,” Rep. Cloud concluded.

This bill will now go to the House Floor for future consideration.