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The Future
& Economy

"I want to be able to think about the future and feel hopeful about it"

Reviving South Texas: From Forgotten to Frontier – TX-34th Leads America's Future

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We've been overshadowed by the Northern Texas Triangle. It's time to unleash South Texas's untapped potential. For decades incompetent and visionless leaders have brought us nothing but low wage jobs. Its time for change.

 

I'll designate a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in TX-34th focused on Spaceflight and Energy – two sectors America must dominate this century.

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Here's how we'll spark an industrialization boom not seen since WWII:

  • Fast-track permits, slash taxes, rezone land, and sunset obsolete regulations – unleashing private innovation at warp speed. This is the Republican formula that has not been applied to our area due to decades of failed Democratic leaders

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  • Nuclear Renaissance on our Coast: Build America's most advanced reactors on our abundant land. Power the grid, desalinate water to end drought, and pioneer safe, limitless energy.

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  • Solar Explosion: Carpet vast areas with panels and batteries, harnessing Texas sunshine and lowering energy costs ACROSS the entire district (big tech is going to pay for this in exchange for the excess capacity)

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  • Port Powerhouses: Upgrade Brownsville and Corpus Christi for LNG export terminals, defense manufacturing, and shipbuilding revival – bringing blue-collar jobs back to America. Enough scrapping ships in our port - it's time to build again

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  • Starbase: Earth's Premier Spaceport – Going to Mars and colonizing a new world begins here in TX-34th! We will launch humanity's multi-planetary future from this district if I have anything to say about it!

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  • Lithium Refinery in Robstown: Transform it into a global battery powerhouse, fueling EVs, grids, and starships. China is beating us on rare earth minerals, and it is largely a refining problem. We will use our ports, rail networks, and workforce to become a refining powerhouse

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  • Agri-Tech Revolution in Our Farmlands: Our farmers are being forgotten but we can put our magic valley back on the map

    • Advanced Humanoid Robots: Automate farming, boost yields 10x

    • Seed Tech & Bioreactors - Engineer drought-proof crops, vertical farms and advanced reactors

    • AI-Optimized Precision Ag - Feed the world sustainably

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  • AI Data Center Boom: Leverage our new energy abundance for massive facilities – delivering 6-figure tech jobs to South Texas families for the first time. We will not let this raise our electric bill. We will use this to LOWER electric bills across the region - demonstrating a new partnership where tech companies help fund power generation

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  • Supercharged Connectivity:

    • Link us to Northern high-speed rail – no one left behind. Drive a mass tourism boom to the island using a rail line

    • Fast-track I-69 completion – finally connecting our metros to the U.S. Interstate system.

    • Work on a public transit tunnel system to connect various sections of the valley and cut down on surface traffic

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  • Gulf Paradise Unlock: Accelerate the second bridge to Padre Island and build a world-class vacation destination – beaches, resorts, and eco-tourism drawing millions. Develop the north side of the island to be a world class destination along the Gulf

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New Ideas to Supercharge Prosperity:

  • Talent Pipeline: Launch free tech bootcamps and Space Academy partnering with our most advanced companies like SpaceX and Tesla – training locals for rockets, robots, and reactors. 

  • Family-First Incentives: $10K baby bonuses, homeschool co-ops, and zero property tax for young families.

  • Defense & Security Hub: Attract hypersonic missile factories, border defense contractors and cyber command centers – protecting America while creating elite jobs.

  • Crypto & Blockchain Free Zone: Zero caps on mining powered by our nuclear/solar – turning TX-34th into America's Digital Gold Rush.

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The Vision: Transform one of America's poorest regions into its richest frontier. Our kids won't leave – they'll lead the world.

Join me: Think Bigger 🚀

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Extended Framework for Economic Development

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I will keep filling in details to this as we go but it just the summation of the above goals into a basic timeline I view as both aggressive and reasonable. I will keep beating a dead horse - but ONLY an engineer could deliver on this type of project. The alternative is likely a larger number of strip malls and minimum wage employers

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Phase 1: Immediate Response (0-3 Months)

Goal: Establish the Special Economic Zone framework, slash barriers to innovation, and launch talent programs to kickstart growth amid economic under performance.

  • Designate SEZ and Fast-Track Reforms: Declare a SEZ in TX-34 encompassing Brownsville, Corpus Christi, and Robstown, with fast-tracked permits, tax cuts (e.g., zero property tax for qualifying firms), rezoning of 50,000 acres, and sunset of outdated regulations. Leverage federal Opportunity Zones under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for incentives.

    • Cost: $10M for administrative setup from state funds/federal grants.

    • Potential Stakeholders: Governor's Office, TxEDC, local governments; federal: IRS, Commerce Dept.

  • Launch Talent Pipeline Programs: Initiate free tech bootcamps and Space Academy in partnership with local manufacturing employers, training 1,000 locals in rockets, robots, and machining. Administer via federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grants.

    • Cost: $5M from state workforce funds/DOL.

    • Potential Stakeholders: UTRGV, TSTC; federal: DOL, NASA.

  • Roll Out Family-First Incentives: Implement $10K baby bonuses, homeschool co-ops, and zero property tax for young families to boost population retention, modeled on existing state programs. Much of this is already underway by the Turmp administration and we will push on the federal government to pilot those resources here first, as goodwill gesture for the illegal border crossings that occurred over our region during the Biden presidency

    • Cost: $20M initial pilot from state budget/HUD family support.

    • Stakeholders: Texas Dept. of Family Services; federal: HUD.

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Phase 2: Short-Term Innovation (3-18 Months)

Goal: Deploy initial energy and tech projects, upgrade ports, and pilot agri-tech to build momentum and attract investments.

  • Major Solar Deployment: Install solar panels and batteries across 20,000 acres, harnessing RGV sunshine to lower district energy costs. Big tech firms fund excess capacity via PPAs, tying into federal ITC under the Inflation Reduction Act.

    • Cost: $200M from private investments/IRA grants.

    • Potential Stakeholders: Solar firms, utilities; federal: DOE.

  • Port Powerhouses Upgrades: Modernize Brownsville and Corpus Christi ports for LNG terminals, defense manufacturing, and shipbuilding, including $43M channel deepening. Shift from scrapping to building via federal Maritime Administration support.

    • Cost: $500M from port revenues/BIL.

    • Potential Stakeholders: Port authorities; federal: MARAD, DOD.

  • Agri-Tech Revolution Pilots: Deploy humanoid robots, AI precision ag, and bioreactors on 10,000 farmland acres to boost yields 10x and develop drought-proof crops, building on USDA-funded agrivoltaics in the RGV.

    • Cost: $50M from ag grants/USDA.

    • Potential Stakeholders: Texas Dept. of Ag, farmers; federal: USDA-NIFA.

  • Crypto & Blockchain Free Zone Setup: Establish zero-cap mining zones powered by new energy, complying with recent PUC registration rules for grid stability.

    • Cost: $10M for infrastructure from private miners.

    • Potential Stakeholders: PUC, crypto firms; federal: SEC.

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Phase 3: Medium-Term Infrastructure (1-3 Years)

Goal: Scale major industrial projects, centering on energy abundance and high-tech hubs to create elite jobs.

  • Nuclear Renaissance Build: Construct advanced SMRs on coastal land to power the grid, desalinate water, and support industry, integrating with ongoing Corpus Christi desal plans. Leverage federal NRC approvals and Energy Act funding. (see water framework for how that reactor fits into desalination but it will also provide power to the region. 

    • Cost: $1-2B from bonds/BIL/PPPs.

    • Stakeholders: TWDB, utilities; federal: DOE, NRC.

  • Lithium Refinery in Robstown: Expand Tesla's ongoing facility into a global battery hub, using ports and rail for refining rare earths to counter China. Address water concerns via ZLD tech.

    • Cost: $500M from private/TxEDC grants.

    • Potential Stakeholders: Tesla, TxEDC; federal: USGS, DOE.

  • AI Data Center Boom: Build massive facilities using nuclear/solar power to deliver 6-figure jobs without raising bills, demonstrating tech-funded generation. Mitigate energy demands via federal ARPA-E innovations.

    • Cost: $1B from tech firms/BIL.

    • Stakeholders: Tech companies; federal: DOE.

  • Starbase Expansion: Enhance as Earth's premier spaceport, supporting Mars missions and boosting tourism/jobs, building on SpaceX's multi billion dollar regional impact.

    • Cost: $300M from SpaceX/Texas Space Commission.

    • Potential Stakeholders: SpaceX; federal: NASA, FAA.

  • Defense & Security Hub Development: Attract hypersonic missile factories and cyber centers, leveraging Corpus Christi's aviation assets and federal contracts. Create a Brownsville tech hub providing high paying entry level careers.

    • Cost: $200M from DOD grants.

    • Potential Stakeholders: Local bases; federal: DOD.

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Phase 4: Long-Term Diplomacy and Connectivity (3+ Years)

Goal: Complete infrastructure and unlock tourism/defense potential for sustained prosperity.

  • Supercharged Connectivity Builds: Finalize I-69 completion, bundle our region into any northern high-speed rail, and develop public transit tunnels in the Valley. Accelerate via federal BIL funding for non-tolled routes or Private enterprise development of a light rail system

    • Cost: $1B from TxDOT/BIL.

    • Potential Stakeholders: TxDOT; federal: FHWA. Brightline

  • Gulf Paradise Unlock: Construct second bridge to Padre Island and develop north-side resorts for eco-tourism, drawing millions and spurring a mass tourism boom.

    • Cost: $800M-$1B from state/BIL.

    • Potential Stakeholders: Cameron County; federal: FHWA.

  • Ongoing Diplomacy for Trade/Security: Negotiate interstate compacts and federal appropriations for port/defense enhancements, ensuring TX-34 leads in global trade.

    • Cost: Minimal admin/federal appropriations.

    • Stakeholders: State Dept.; federal: Commerce, DOD.

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 Summary

  • Overall: Total cost $5-7B over 5 years. Funding mix: state/federal/private, with heavy reliance on BIL, DOE, USDA, DOD, and congressional advocacy. Monitor via TxEDC metrics for GDP growth and job creation. Risks mitigated through SEZ fast-tracking and sustainable energy. Create a capitalist boom over the entire district. 

  • Jobs Created: 50,000-75,000 high-wage positions, including 20,000 in space/energy (building on SpaceX's 24,000), 10,000 in ports/defense, 15,000 in AI/data centers/tech, and 10,000 in agri-tourism—reducing poverty and retaining youth.

  • GDP Boost: $20-30B annual increase by 2030, driven by $13B from Starbase alone, plus billions from lithium, ports (e.g., LNG exports), and AI—positioning TX-34 as a top growth district amid Texas's projected 1.3% statewide job rise.

  • Industries Spurred: Leadership in spaceflight (Mars colonization hub), clean energy (nuclear/solar powering tech), critical minerals (lithium refining), advanced ag (AI robots feeding globally), and digital assets (crypto mining)—fostering $100B+ in investments and exports.

Paid For By Jay Nagy For Congress

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