President Barack Obama today signed into law the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, authorizing the Brownsville Ship Channel deepening project, making it eligible for federal funding.

The Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project was one of 28 water infrastructure projects nationwide included in the WRDA and submitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to Congress for approval. The project calls for the Port of Brownsville channel to be deepened to 52 feet from its current design depth of 42 feet. When complete, the Port of Brownsville will become one of the deepest ports in the Gulf of Mexico.

“This is the announcement that we were anxiously waiting for and would not have been made possible without the support from our legislative delegation in Washington, D.C., Senator Ted Cruz, Senator John Cornyn, and Congressman Filemon Vela. Their efforts were instrumental in moving this project forward. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude for their leadership and guidance,” said John Wood, Brownsville Navigation District Chairman. “The deepening of the channel strengthens the port’s infrastructure and increases our global competitiveness. It is a catalyst for greater economic opportunities for our entire Rio Grande Valley.”