Texas Border Business
Brownsville Mayor John Cowen met with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn to discuss water security, regional mobility, trade under the USMCA, and continued economic development in Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley.
According to Mayor Cowen, the meeting focused on long-term water solutions, including plans for a future desalination plant. A desalination plant is a facility that removes salt and other minerals from seawater or brackish water to produce fresh drinking water. Such projects are often considered in coastal regions facing water supply challenges, as they provide an additional source of potable water independent of rainfall.
Regional transportation planning was also discussed in coordination with the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, commonly known as the RGV MPO. A Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, is a federally required regional body responsible for transportation planning and allocation of certain federal transportation funds in urbanized areas. MPOs coordinate among cities, counties, and state agencies to develop long-range transportation plans and prioritize infrastructure projects.
The meeting also addressed the impact of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. The USMCA is the trilateral trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada that replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement in 2020. It governs trade rules across North America, including provisions affecting manufacturing, agriculture, labor standards, and cross-border supply chains. For border communities such as Brownsville, trade policy directly affects economic activity, logistics, and employment.
“These are the kinds of conversations that help move real solutions forward for our residents, our businesses, and our region. Proud to keep working, across all levels of government, to deliver forBrownsville,” Cowen said.
Local and regional officials participated in the discussion, including Donna Mayor David Moreno; Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa; Mission Mayor Norie Garza; Alamo Mayor JR Garza; Mayor Ricardo “Rick” Guerra of San Benito; Mayor Todd Day of Rancho Viejo; Xavier Salinas, Weslaco City Manager; Paco Sanchez, CEO of the RGV Partnership; and Rogelio Chanes, Intergovernmental Relations Manager for the City of Brownsville.
The meeting highlighted coordination among municipal, regional, and federal leaders on infrastructure, trade, and economic development priorities affecting Brownsville and the surrounding Rio Grande Valley communities.
