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Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) announced that two projects prioritized by El Paso Water will receive a total of $7,875,000 in new Army Corps funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help the borderland improve its stormwater infrastructure.

Specifically, the Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with El Paso Water, will use $3,825,000 for the construction of the Clardy Fox Pump Station and $4,050,000 for the design and construction of the Northgate Diversion Channel. Last December, Congresswoman Escobar sent a letter to the U.S. Army for Civil Works and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers championing both projects. 

“Last year, our region saw record amounts of rainfall which led to devastating stormwater damage. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Army Corps of Engineers can continue its successful collaboration with El Paso Water to use $7.8 million to repair and improve our stormwater infrastructure, mitigate future rainfall events, and strengthen our community’s resilience to climate change,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “I am proud to have worked to secure this funding and look forward to working with the Biden administration as it continues to make key progress towards implementing the largest long-term investment in America’s infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century.”

These new federal investments come as the Biden administration announced that the Army Corps of Engineers will invest $14 billion in 500 projects across the nation that focus on strengthening key water infrastructure projects, improving resiliency to the climate crisis, and restoring the environment, while creating jobs and economic opportunity in communities like El Paso.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Congresswoman Escobar voted for on November 5, 2021, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on November 15, 2021. 

This historic law will create millions of good-paying union jobs with a once-in-a-century $35 billion investment in rebuilding infrastructure in Texas, including roads and bridges, ports of entry, clean drinking water and wastewater systems, electric grid, and high-speed broadband networks.