The Partnership has set priorities on energy and the coastal barrier.

Additional focus areas include transportation, economic development, flood mitigation, international trade and more.

As the Energy Capital of the World, the Partnership and its member companies pursue federal policies investing in Houston’s position in leading the global energy transition and creating high-quality, high-growth job. Through leveraging members’ expertise, the Partnership works with lawmakers to advance the region’s energy competitiveness and secure Houston’s position as a leader in the global energy transition.

Recently, the Partnership launched the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI). Through this initiative, the Partnership embraces the dual challenge of the energy transition by meeting growing global demand for energy wile lowering emissions. There is tremendous business opportunity in addressing the dual challenge through developing and scaling technologies, creating, and servicing markets for the global energy mix, and investing in energy priorities.

The Partnership is committed to bringing this message to Congress and working with lawmakers to utilize Houston’s leadership and advance our energy competitiveness.

The 2022 Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) provides opportunities to advance the region’s infrastructure through navigation, flood damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration projects. The Partnership supports congressional authorization and funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Coastal Texas Study, which includes the development of a coastal barrier. The Corps completed a signed Chief’s Report on the Coastal Texas Study in September, advancing eligibility for congressional authorization and funding. 

The Partnership supports the efforts between the congressional delegation, the Corps, and the non-federal sponsors – the Texas General Land Office and the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) – to move this project forward. In WRDA 2022, we support congressional authorization for new construction of the projects in the Coastal Texas Study. We request continuing contract authority so that the Corps can draw down a predictable amount of federal funds, particularly for the mission- critical gate system. We urge consideration of waiving the GCPD’s interest accrual on Sabine to Galveston projects until November 1, 2025. A pause on interest accrual will help the GCPD deliver the project with the strongest benefits to the region and taxpayers. 

Preventative infrastructure projects, like the Coastal Barrier, can help mitigate the devastation from a catastrophic storm surge and save tens of billions of dollars in disaster recovery funding by protecting vulnerable communities. The coastal barrier is also an investment in our national economic security. The Houston region is home to one of the largest concentrations of refining and petrochemical complexes in the world, and a storm’s direct hit to the unprotected ship channel would have devastating economic consequences across our nation.