The Partnership has set priorities on energy and the coastal barrier.

Additional focus areas include transportation, economic development, flood mitigation, international trade and more.

As the Energy Capital of the World, the Partnership and its member companies pursue federal policies with a unique impact on Houston’s position as the Energy Capital of the World. Through leveraging members’ expertise, the Partnership works with policymakers to advance the region’s energy competitiveness and secure Houston’s position as a leader in energy job creation and economic opportunity.

The Partnership launched the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) and has been working with stakeholders at the local, state, and federal level to align policies for an energy-abundant, low-carbon future. Through this initiative, the Partnership embraces an “all-of-the-above" approach to meeting growing global demand for energy while lowering emissions. This is a dual challenge with tremendous opportunity in developing and scaling technologies, creating and servicing markets for the global energy mix, and investing in the future energy system.

The Partnership is committed to bringing this message to Congress and working with lawmakers to utilize Houston’s leadership and advance its energy competitiveness.

To learn more about HETI and the low-carbon value chain in greater Houston, check out the resources here

The 2022 Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) authorizes opportunities to advance the region’s infrastructure through navigation, flood and storm surge damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration projects. The Partnership is grateful for authorization and supports funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Coastal Texas Program, which includes the development of a barrier flood gate and levee system designed to protect national security assets, economic vitality, and human life. 

The Partnership supports the efforts between the region's congressional delegation, the Corps, and the non-federal sponsors – the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) – to continue moving this project toward design and construction. We request funding for the Coastal Texas Program. We request continuing contract authority so that the Corps can draw down a predictable amount of federal funds, particularly for the mission-critical gate system. We urge consideration of waiving the GCPD’s interest accrual on Sabine to Galveston projects until November 1, 2025. A pause on interest accrual will help the GCPD deliver the project with the strongest benefits to the region and taxpayers. 

Preventative infrastructure projects, like the Coastal Texas Program, can help mitigate the devastation from a catastrophic storm surge and save tens of billions of dollars in disaster recovery funding by protecting vulnerable communities. The coastal barrier is also an investment in our national economic security. The Houston region is home to one of the largest concentrations of refining and petrochemical complexes in the world, and a storm’s direct hit to the unprotected ship channel would have devastating economic consequences across our nation.