TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE GEORGE P. BUSH, COMMISSIONER April 24, 2017 President Donald J. Trump The White House 1600 Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: We write today to urge you to include in your national infrastructure plans a coastal barrier system for the Houston/Galveston bay area. The Texas coast possesses an extensive port system that is crucial not only to the United States? economy but also to our national security. The coastal barrier system will require $15 billion in federal funds to protect this vital area. We are currently working with the Texas state legislature to ensure Texas will financially support the operations and maintenance cost for the coastal barrier system. The key component of the Texas coast is the Houston/Galveston bay area. Comprised of six counties that run from Freeport, Texas in the west to the eastern Texas border in Orange and Jefferson counties, the Houston/Galveston system is responsible for 428 million tons of cargo annually. This vast, complex area is home to the Port of Houston, the country?s second busiest port, providing over $600 billion a year in direct output to the US. economy; the Port of Beaumont, the country?s fourth largest port, handling more military cargo than any other port in the and Freeport, which is home to the nation?s largest Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The area is responsible for over half of the country?s jet fuel, is home to 29% of the country?s oil-re?ning capacity and is the number one supplier of energy products (aviation fuel, gas, etc.) to the US. military. The Houston/Galveston bay area is a national treasure. Its port systems produce over 3 million direct and indirect jobs nationwide, and it is largely unprotected from hurricane related storm surge. In 2008, Hurricane Ike devastated the upper coast of Texas. The storm surge killed 74 people and caused $29.5 billion in damages, becoming the third most devastating hurricane in US. history. The deadly storm missed the Port of Houston; however, a direct hit from the hurricane would have resulted in over $100 billion in damages. 1700 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701?1495 PO. Box 12873, Austin, Texas 78711-2873 512463-5001 glotexasgov Since Hurricane Ike, multiple entities have been working towards a barrier system that would protect the 6 million people that live in the region, as well as the industry that is critical to the national economy. Through the work of the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District, Texas Galveston, the Greater Houston Partnership, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership and the Texas General Land Of?ce, multiple studies have all led to the same conclusion: a forward line of defense that has been termed the ?coastal barrier system.? This system, beginning in Orange County and ending in Brazoria County, would provide protection to the six counties at an estimated construction cost of $15 billion. The coastal barrier system proposed would be built to a lOO?year event standard, and modeling has concluded that it would have prevented 87% of the damages incurred by Hurricane Ike. Many scientists today believe that Hurricane Ike was a ?good miss,? meaning we were fortunate that it did not cause more damage. Hurricane Ike was a large Category 2 hurricane that changed course at the last minute thus avoiding a direct hit to the Port of Houston. That was nearly 10 years ago, and little has been done to protect the area?s critical infrastructure. Should the Houston/ Galveston bay area sustain a similar or even larger storm, the economic damages to the state and the country would be catastrophic. As a dedicated team, we have spent the past two years building support for this protection system among our federal Congressional delegation, state senators and representatives, industry, local of?cials and their communities. The Texas General Land Of?ce is currently working with the Army Corps of Engineers on the development of a barrier system for the region and other large- scale projects across the entire Texas coast. These projects are in an excellent position to ?turn dirt? as early as next year and start the process of ?nally protecting the coast of Texas. We believe we have all the support necessary; what we need is the $15 billion in funds to protect this crucial part of the nation?s economy. Building the proposed coastal barrier system is an historic opportunity to safeguard our nation?s economy, our national security and millions of citizens? lives and livelihood. Sincerely, 2/ Commissioner, Texas General Land Of?ce Dr. William J. Merrell, Texas A&M Galveston, Ike Dike Founder Robert Eckels, President, Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District Scott Joslove, President & CEO, Texas Hotel & Lodging Association James F. Thompson, Chief Executive, Global Programs, AECOM James D. Dannenbaum, President & CEO, Dannenbaum Engineering Bob Mitchell, President, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Dr. Samuel D. Brody, Director, Center for Texas Beaches and Shores Bob Harvey, President & CEO, Greater Houston Partnership Earl Shipp, Vice President of Gulf Coast Operations, Dow Chemical Hector Rivero, President & CEO, Texas Chemical Council William L. Raba, President, Raba Kistner Todd Staples, President, Texas Oil and Gas Association David C. Fisher, Director & CEO, Port of Beaumont Vicki Fullerton, Chairman of the Board, Texas Association of Realtors Floyd Gaspard, Port Director, Port of Port Arthur L.M. “Matt” Sebesta, Jr., County Judge, Brazoria County, Texas Jimmy Sylvia, County Judge, Chambers County Mark Henry, County Judge, Galveston County, Texas Joe Deshotel, State Representative, District 22 Wayne Faircloth, State Representative, District 23 Dennis Paul, State Representative, District 129 Ed Emmett, County Judge, Harris County, Texas Dade Phelan, State Representative, District 21 Jeff Branick, County Judge, Jefferson County, Texas Theresa Rodriguez, President, Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership Stephen Brint Carlton, County Judge, Orange County Mike Shields, Executive Director, Baytown / West Chambers County Economic Development Foundation Larry Taylor, State Senator, District 11 Cindy H. DeWease, President & CEO, Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Dr. Greg Bonnen, State Representative, District 24 Craig S. Beskid, Executive Director, East Harris County Manufacturers Association John P. Cyrier, State Representative, District 17 David S. Murphy, Chairman, Galveston County Economic Development Alliance Bobby Hocking, President, Galveston County Mayor and Council Members Association Jerry Mouton, Mayor, Deer Park, Texas Julie Masters, Mayor, Dickinson, Texas Jeff Sjostrom, President, Galveston Economic Development Partnership Robert White, Mayor, El Lago, Texas Joyce Calver McLean, Chair, Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees Kevin M. Holland, Mayor, Friendswood, Texas Gina M. Spagnola, President and CEO, Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce Colleen Hicks, President, La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce Cheryl Sanders, Mayor, Anahuac, Texas Stephen DonCarlos, Mayor, Baytown, Texas Billy Combs, Mayor, Beach City, Texas James D. Yarbrough, Mayor, Galveston, Texas Sylvester Turner, Mayor, Houston, Texas Carl Joiner, Mayor, Kemah, Texas Bobby Hocking, Mayor, La Marque, Texas Louis R. Rigby, Mayor, La Porte, Texas Pat Hallisey, Mayor, League City, Texas Greg Smith, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools, Clear Creek Independent School District, Texas Nick Dixon, Mayor, Mont Belvieu, Texas Michel J. Bechtel, Mayor, Morgan’s Point, Texas Mark Denman, Mayor, Nassau Bay, Texas Johnny Isbell, Mayor, Pasadena, Texas Jeff Tambrella, Mayor, City of Santa Fe, Texas Glenn Royal, Mayor, Seabrook, Texas Jon Keeney, Mayor, Taylor Lake Village, Texas Lloyd W. Graham, Superintendent of Schools, La Porte, Texas, Independent School District