Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Introduces the Empower Energy Exporting Communities Act

September 21, 2026 Press Release Reinvests existing revenues into South Texas infrastructure and public services without creating a new tax. Contact: Alexis Torres Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced the introduction of H.R. 10434, the Empower Energy Exporting Communities Act . This legislation would establish an Oil & Gas Community Trust Fund to support infrastructure and public services in communities near major oil and gas export ports, without creating a new tax. South Texas is home to several major energy export hubs, including the Port of Corpus Christi and the Port of Brownsville. “South Texas serves as a crucial gateway for the distribution of oil and gas exports to international markets,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “It is only right that our region directly benefits from the operations it supports. The establishment of a trust fund would not burden taxpaying Americans but instead reinvest already existing revenue from oil and gas companies to advance South Texas’s infrastructure of opportunity from our roads, bridges, and clean drinking water to public education and much more.” Specifically, Congressman Gonzalez’s bill would direct the Oil & Gas Community Trust Fund to be financed by 3% of corporate income tax revenues received from oil & gas companies. These funds would be used to make payments to eligible communities, including counties, parishes, municipalities, or Tribal communities located within 50 miles of a major port of export. The funds can only be used for infrastructure and public service investments, and payments cannot exceed the proportion of total trust fund dollars that matches its share of national exports. The full bill text is available here . Issues : Transportation & Infrastructure Energy & Environment