Rep. Weber Announces More Than $2 Million for Southeast Texas Projects Included in FY27 Commerce, Justice, Science Funding Bill

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) announced funds for three projects in Texas' 14th Congressional District were included in the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act after the legislation advanced out of the full House Appropriations Committee.

The bill includes more than $2 million for projects serving communities across Texas' 14th Congressional District:

• $1.05 million for Texas A&M University at Galveston's Disaster Resilient Texas initiative to improve online disaster risk assessment and communication capabilities for Gulf Coast communities vulnerable to severe weather events.
• $500,000 for the University of Texas Medical Branch's (UTMB) New Approach Methodologies Repository & Shared-Service Center to support biomedical research and strengthen scientific collaboration and innovation.
• $500,000 for the City of Beaumont's public safety technology and infrastructure improvements to help equip first responders and strengthen emergency response capabilities.

"Living on the Texas Gulf Coast teaches you pretty quickly that preparation matters," said Rep. Weber. "We've seen what hurricanes can do. We've seen the importance of a strong emergency response. We've also seen the incredible work being done by researchers and medical professionals right here in Southeast Texas. These investments support the people and institutions working every day to keep our communities safe, informed, and moving in the right direction. I'm proud to help bring these priorities to the table as the FY27 appropriations process moves forward."

The broader legislation also strengthens key national priorities by:

• Increasing funding for the National Weather Service to help protect Americans from severe weather and eliminate radar coverage gaps.
• Focusing Department of Justice grant funding on efforts to combat the opioid crisis, address child exploitation, eliminate the rape kit backlog, and prevent school violence.
• Maintaining strong support for NASA's Artemis program to help ensure American astronauts are the first to return to the Moon.

"The TX-14th Congressional District is one of the most flood-impacted areas in the nation, yet communities too often lack access to critical information, such as predicted property damage in advance of a storm," said Dr. Sam Brody, Director, Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT). "IDRT's new publicly available online risk communication system will be the first of its kind to deliver timely, accurate, and understandable information that helps individuals reduce the impacts of flood events. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Randy Weber for his support of this work and his enduring commitment to protecting the communities of the upper Texas coast."

"Texas is a leader in biomedical innovation," said Dr. Jochen Reiser, President and CEO of the UTMB Health System. "This funding will expand use of customizable devices for specialized health-related projects at UTMB, such as organ-on-a-chip and organoids, to accelerate drug development and advance new treatments. We are currently using such emerging systems to develop treatments for preterm birth, preeclampsia, and neurologic disorders. UTMB is grateful for Representative Weber's support for our institution, as we focus on enhancing quality of life with cutting-edge technologies for our patients."

"We are grateful to Congressman Randy Weber for securing this important investment in Beaumont's public safety infrastructure," said Christopher S. Boone, City Manager for Beaumont. "This funding will help us expand high-quality camera coverage, strengthen our technology network, and give our public safety teams better tools for real-time monitoring and response."

The Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is now eligible for consideration on the House Floor before moving to the United States Senate.

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