08/31/2018

Senator Brian Birdwell and Representative Geanie Morrison receive TCC Legislative Leadership Awards

Two Texas legislators – State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) and State Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria) – received the TCC Legislative Leadership Award.

Rep. Geanie Morrison and TCC Board Members Jack Wu (Formosa Plastics) & Steve Harville (INVISTA), along with Bill Oswald (INVISTA)

Representative Geanie Morrison is the Chair of the House Transportation Committee and authored TCC’s Port Transportation Corridor law that enables chemical manufacturers to transport fully loaded containers to Texas ports for foreign export. Morrison also serves on the House Higher Education Committee and the Select Committee on Texas Ports, Innovation and Infrastructure.

“Rep. Morrison authored significant legislation during the 85th Texas Legislature that established Port Transportation Corridors and modernized Texas trucking regulations to drive efficiency for shippers,” said Rivero. “Thanks to Rep. Morrison’s leadership, Texas can now provide safe and efficient transport of container shipments and keep our state competitive with other U.S. ports.”

Hector Rivero and Sen. Brian Birdwell

Senator Brian Birdwell chairs the Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee and passed important legislation for TCC in the 85th Legislature to extend the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) until the state meets attainment with all federal National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). TERP is the only tool available to the state to mitigate mobile source emissions from cars, trucks, and off-road equipment. Mobile source emissions account for the vast majority of NOX emissions in the state’s non-attainment areas.

“Sen. Birdwell is a champion for the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP), and our industry is grateful for his leadership and support of this vital program,” said Rivero.

Birdwell is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, and a decorated survivor of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Birdwell also serves on the Senate Finance, State Affairs and Criminal Justice Committee.