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.
The Partnership launched the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) and has been working with leaders and stakeholders at the local, state, and federal level to align policies and programs for a modern world. Through this initiative, the Partnership embraces the dual challenge of the energy transition by meeting growing global demand for energy while 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) authorizes opportunities to advance the region’s infrastructure through navigation, flood damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration projects. The Partnership is grateful for authorization and supports funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Coastal Texas Program, which includes the development of a barrier flood gate and levee system designed to protect national security assets, economic vitality, and human life.
The Partnership supports the efforts between the region's congressional delegation, the Corps, and the non-federal sponsors – the Texas General Land Office and the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) – to continue moving this project to construction. We request funding for the Coastal Texas Program. 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 Texas Program, 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.
The Partnership supports the widening and deepening of the Houston Ship Channel to provide safe and efficient transit for each vessel traversing the busiest deep-draft trade waterway in the nation. With the project included in WRDA passed by Congress at the end of 2020 and $142 million in Corps funding included in the agency's FY 2022 work plan, we continue to work collaboratively with the federal government, Port of Houston Authority, and private industry to ensure the project's completion.
The Partnership supports significant investment in infrastructure designed to protect both our economy and our people from future severe weather events. Recent major flooding events revealed the billions of dollars in needed investments in the Houston region’s flood mitigation and storm surge infrastructure. We will continue to support policies that improve resiliency and fund infrastructure needs for flood mitigation and storm surge protection.
The Partnership supports the region in implementing federal formula funding and pursuing competitive resources from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to meet the region’s transportation needs. Given the interdependency of our regional, national, and international markets, maximizing the region’s economic prosperity depends on efficiently moving goods and people throughout the region.
The Partnership supported efforts by the Texas Department of Transportation, City of Houston, and Harris County to enter into a Voluntary Resolution Agreement – which was adopted by the three entities – to address complaints made under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on the evaluation of the I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP). NHHIP would be a transformative project to alleviate congestion, enhance safety, expand transit options, and address flood mitigation and disaster evacuation needs.
The Partnership supports free and fair international trade through accountable trade and investment agreements. The Houston region is a global logistics hub where 17% of the economy and 330,000 jobs are directly tied to exports. Supporting open international trade and international investment agreements creates jobs in the region while securing a strong and diverse economy.
As America’s most diverse city, Houston’s foreign-born population plays a significant role in driving our region forward. The Partnership supports immigration reforms that meet the needs of greater Houston’s business community and the region as a whole. It is important to address immigration issues that have a disproportionate impact on our area to ensure talent is available to meet the needs of our companies.
The Partnership supports federal investment in the Houston region’s higher education institutions to ensure the current and future workforce meets the needs of the economy and accesses rewarding careers. The Partnership plays a leading role in improving regional coordination and alignment between industry, the public workforce system, public schools, higher education institutions and community-based organizations to produce the talent for a 21st century economy. The Partnership also supports policies to increase access to reliable and affordable broadband connectivity, which is essential for every individual’s education, employment, healthcare, and participation in the economy.
The Partnership supports policies, programs, and investments which encourage inclusive economic development in the greater Houston region and across its major industry sectors, including energy, life sciences, manufacturing and logistics, commercial aerospace and aviation, and digital technology. Economic development initiatives help to maintain a diverse local economy, while creating and retaining jobs, and improving the quality of life of greater Houston.
The Partnership's impact work happens through Committees, which convene business and community leaders to fuel the growth and vitality of the Houston region.
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