MCALLEN – Lawmakers are celebrating a new bill that will expand how cities and companies are able to pay to speed things up at the international bridges.

The Cross Border Trade Enhancements Act allows Customs and Border Protection to receive outside money to pay for extra hours at the bridges. It also sets up a permanent way for the government to receive donations for building and infrastructure improvements.

Rio Grande Valley cities and businesses are interested in paying for expenses the federal government isn’t ready to pay.

McAllen will continue its plan to pay for infrastructure expansions on the Anzalduas Bridge.

The passage of the bill will make the planning easier.

“Let’s say they find a mistake or something, we’re going to have to wait a year to resubmit. Now we’re going to be able to resubmit it as soon as we make the corrections or make the adjustments,” City of McAllen Superintendent of Bridges Rigo Villarreal said.

The bill’s sponsors said the new law expands existing pilot programs that allowed these kinds of donations on a more limited basis.