U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) paid a visit Tuesday, Aug. 9, to Corpus Christi, where port officials took him on a boat tour of the ship channel. The hour-long tour landed at the Solomon P. Ortiz International Center for a brief news conference. 
Cruz answered questions about the construction delay on the new Harbor Bridge, the role the port plays in the nation’s energy market, and changes to the coastal city. 
"Obviously, we want to make sure the bridge that is constructed is safe,” he said. “That's a critical priority everyone agrees with. We also want to see the bridge actually be finished and completed because, at the higher height, it will enable much larger vessels to come in and out of the port than is currently available.”
The Texas Department of Transportation halted construction in July, citing safety issues with the cable stays on the bridge.
Cruz also talked about visiting Corpus Christi when he was growing up.
“When I was a kid, Corpus was a much quieter town,” he said. “It was a smaller town. It was a beautiful coastal resort. But today, Corpus Christi is a booming energy metropolis.” 
He called it a “beachside resort with a whole lot of Midland, Texas,” including high-paying jobs in oil and gas.