USA: House Approves Funding for Delaware River Deepening

In a major victory for the Delaware Valley region, yesterday the House approved $29.4 million in federal funding for the deepening of the Delaware River Main Shipping Channel.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (PA-07) worked tirelessly, together with his colleagues including Rep. Bob Brady (PA-01), to secure this funding in the Energy and Water Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2013.

“I appreciate the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in passing this significant funding,” said Meehan. “Thousands of jobs and the economic growth of our region depend on this deepening project. As the only port on the east coast restricted to a 40 foot shipping channel, our region is put at a disadvantage. Deepening the channel will allow our region to stay competitive and create and retain much-needed jobs.”

The deepening of the Delaware River Main Shipping Channel is expected to increase cargo by 2.4 million tons to the Port of Philadelphia. The deepening project, originally approved by Congress in 1992, has broad bipartisan support however funding for the project has been stalled.

Meehan has been a leader in the fight to deepen the Delaware River shipping channel. Meehan has personally appealed to the President and Congressional Committee leaders for their support of the project, citing the economic growth and sustainable job creation that it will bring to the region. Meehan has met with local leaders in the business and labor communities, as well as senior officials from the Philadelphia District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to discuss the project.

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Dredging Today Staff, June 7, 2012;