Henry Bonilla: “I rise in support of H.R. 254. This legislation will reauthorize the North American Development Bank (NADBank) and allow…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 254. This legislation will reauthorize the North American Development Bank (NADBank) and allow NADBank to make grants and loans to improve water supplies and the environment along the border at more flexible rates. As I travel my district, which includes approximately 800 miles of the U.S-Mexico border, I am repeatedly reminded of the tremendous need for potable water, wastewater treatment, and municipal solid waste management. Many towns in my district have directly benefitted from the investment brought by NADBank over the years. In Del Rio, the construction of a potable water treatment plant, the replacement of water pumping facilities and a potable water ground storage tank was recently completed with the help of NADBank financing. In Eagle Pass, NADBank is currently financing the replacement of two water treatment plants and the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant. Thanks to NADBank investment, water distribution lines and wastewater collection lines will be installed and water storage facilities built to serve 15 colonias surrounding Laredo in the near future. Uvalde recently benefitted from NADBank financing of landfill expansion and equipment purchases for efficient operation. Many of these important projects would not have been possible were it not for NADBank investment. Thanks to this investment, environmental conditions and living standards along the border have been dramatically improved.”