Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) toured areas of Gulfton where a federal grant will enable comprehensive infrastructure improvements to construct and repair sidewalks, improve drainage with green stormwater infrastructure, and plant trees, benefiting more than 37,000 residents in the neighborhood.  The tour comes after Congresswoman Fletcher helped secure $43,438,830 for the City of Houston from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).  Houston Public Works Director Carol Haddock and Gulfton Citizens Advisory Council President Tammy Rodriguez led the tour.  Elijah Williams, Senior Advisor for Infrastructure for the City of Houston; Nadia Martinez, Secretary of the Gulfton Super Neighborhood Council; Barry Ward, Executive Director of Trees for Houston; and other community leaders joined the Congresswoman for the tour.

“Gulfton is a vibrant part of Texas' Seventh Congressional District and I was glad to join community leaders and planners on this glorious day to walk through the neighborhood and discuss what kinds of improvements this important investment can provide for Gulfton residents,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I am grateful for the strong partnership that brought this plan and this critical federal grant to our community and I look forward to continuing our work together to bring more investments and improvements home.”

In 2022, Congresswoman Fletcher voted for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which established the Neighborhood Access and Equity program at DOT.  In 2023 and again in 2024, she continuously advocated for federal grant funding for this project by writing several letters to DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg.  Earlier this month, following Congresswoman Fletcher’s advocacy, the City of Houston was awarded more than $43 million in federal funding for the project.

Congresswoman Fletcher is a member of the Regional Leadership Council, which is made up of 12 members of Congress from across the country, and works to enhance coordination between federal agencies, Congress, and regional stakeholders to ensure the accomplishments of the 117th Congress—including the IRA—are implemented as quickly and as effectively as possible.