SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – The Honorable Michael Collins (R-GA) recently concluded a three-day tour of Army Corps of Engineers projects across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, gaining firsthand insight into the initiatives spearheaded by the Corps’ newest district—the Caribbean District.
With a portfolio surpassing $10 billion in Civil Works, Military Construction, and Interagency and International Services, the Caribbean District plays a critical role in enhancing infrastructure resilience and economic vitality throughout the region.
A member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Congressman Collins explored the San Juan Harbor Navigation Improvement Project, a recently completed project to expand and deepen the harbor channels to support larger container vessels and liquid natural gas (LNG) tankers—ensuring reliable energy access and facilitating the flow of over 75 percent of Puerto Rico’s non-petroleum maritime commerce.
Collins showed significant interest in the Corps’ dredging program and the ongoing extensive collaboration the Corps has with the dredging industry. He also praised the collaboration between the Corps and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, noting on social media that the project exemplifies a “public-private partnership success story that we should strive to replicate for all federal projects.”
During briefings on the district’s operations, Congressman Collins expressed strong interest in streamlining U.S. Army Corps of Engineers processes and identifying efficiencies. He repeatedly emphasized concerns over the lengthy duration of project completion and frequently inquired whether the delays were due to internal Corps procedures, other federal agencies, or Congressional actions.
As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, Collins also used the trip to advocate for modernizing the federal permitting process and reforming the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The congressional delegation also spent time viewing ongoing storm and flood risk mitigation initiatives, along with touring the Corps’ Caño Martín Peña Ecosystem Restoration Project. Aiming to reconnect the San José Lagoon with San Juan Bay, the project seeks to reestablish tidal water flow between the San José Lagoon with San Juan Bay. This is a vital component of the San Juan Bay Estuary—the only tropical estuary in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program. Degraded conditions in the area also pose health and safety concerns for neighboring communities.
The delegation also traveled to the island of St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where they visited multiple flood risk management projects on the Island sponsored by the Virgin Islands Department of Public works. Congressman Collins also met with the Virgin Islands Port Authority to discuss current and potential navigation studies.
The work carried out by the Caribbean District promises to boost commercial navigation, bolster energy reliability, and protect key economic infrastructure essential to economies of both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“These projects demonstrate the strength of collaboration and innovation in delivering infrastructure projects that truly make a difference,” said Caribbean District Deputy Commander Maj. Ricardo Herrero. “Our district’s work here in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is not only modernizing critical infrastructure systems but also protecting communities and supporting long-term economic growth.”