Members of the Port of Entry Advisory Committee who attended the city’s Washington, D.C., legislative trip reported that the delegation met with federal and international offices but did not return with immediate funding commitments.

Committee members said the delegation — which included city, county, chamber and private-sector representatives — met with U.S. Department of Transportation staff, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) headquarters, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Embassy and state government-affairs staff to press for infrastructure support at Laredo’s ports of entry.

Rick Laredo, who attended the trip, described it as productive. “It was a very productive legislative trip to Washington, DC,” he said. Committee members said meetings focused on the need for improved port infrastructure and on the rationale for expanding multiple bridges to handle traffic and specialized cargo.

Committee members and staff emphasized two points: the trip’s purpose is relationship-building and advocacy, and federal funding decisions can take years rather than weeks. When a committee member asked whether the trip had produced immediate funding for previously discussed bridge projects, staff and attending members said it had not.

The delegation also discussed operational and regulatory topics, including the role of CBP programs, the new CTPAT office and state-level transportation coordination. Committee members said the trip reinforced the importance of ongoing, repeated engagement with federal partners rather than expecting one-time outcomes.

No formal committee action or fiscal commitments were recorded at the meeting in connection with the Washington trip.