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Cornyn Meets With Southeast Texas Chamber Leaders: Discusses local priorities, including economic development, infrastructure and ports U.S. Sen.

John Cornyn, R-Texas, on Wednesday hosted a meeting with Southeast Texas Chamber of Commerce leaders in his Washington office to discuss a number of priorities for the local community.

Topics on the agenda included working to expand local job opportunity, infrastructure improvements and port security.

Among those joining Sen.

Cornyn for the meeting were Jim Rich, President of the Beaumont Chamber; Sabrina Gray, President of the Greater Orange Chamber; and Mary Ann Reid, President of the Greater Port Arthur Chamber.

“This meeting with Southeast Texas chamber leaders was a good opportunity to receive an update on the issues that matter most to their communities,” Sen.

Cornyn said.

“I remain committed to working with local leaders to facilitate economic growth and expand job opportunities in Southeast Texas.” Sen.

Cornyn added, “Workforce training partnerships are an important way to equip local residents with the skills necessary to fill good jobs.

Also, I am pressing congressional leaders to make permanent key tax relief passed in recent years, so Southeast Texans can keep more of their hard-earned money and local working families will not see record tax hikes.” Another project of regional and national significance is the Sabine-Neches Waterway project.

Sen.

Cornyn spoke with Army Secretary Pete Geren on Tuesday, to ask him to work closely with the Army Corps of Engineers so Congress can move forward with authorizing the Sabine-Neches Waterway deepening.

The project is important for our nation’s energy transportation network, local infrastructure, and will also increase job opportunities.

Increasing refinery capacity is also a win-win for the local area, Sen.

Cornyn said, because it will help bring down record gas prices and boost local jobs.

Finally, Sen.

Cornyn said we must place the necessary priority on port security, both for local and national safety and economic stability.

On a related note, Sen.

Cornyn hosted a briefing earlier this year on Hurricane Rita Housing Recovery with Michael Gerber, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), Shaun Davis, Executive Director of the South East Texas Regional Planning Committee, local elected officials, and representatives from several Councils of Government in the region.

Community leaders and officials provided updates on the status of recovery and repairs in their respective regions.

Sen.

Cornyn also met with Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames to discuss several local issues.