In Letter to Key Committee, Senator Casey Calls for Restored Funding
Presque Isle Is Responsible for 1,000 Jobs in Region, Provides $77 Million Economic Boost
Yesterday Casey Worked to Defeat Measure That Could Have Endangered Presque Isle
Washington DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee pushing for adequate funding for Presque Isle beach erosion efforts after the Administration’s budget provided inadequate resources. Presque Isle is responsible for 1,000 jobs in the Erie region and pumps $77 million into the economy through tourist visits. Yesterday, Senator Casey worked to defeat amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that could have threatened Presque Isle long term.
“Presque Isle is responsible for 1,000 jobs and provides a significant economic boost to the Erie region,” Senator Casey said. “It’s critical that Presque Isle has the resources necessary to maintain its beaches and continue its role as an economic generator. I’m disappointed that the Administration’s budget provides inadequate funding for Presque Isle, but I’ll continue to push Congress and the Administration to provide the necessary resources.”
The full text of Senator Casey’s letter can be seen below:
The Honorable Barbara Mikulski The Honorable Richard Shelby
Chairwoman Vice Chairman
Committee on Appropriations Committee on Appropriations
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein The Honorable Lamar Alexander
Chairwoman Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Energy Subcommittee on Energy
and Water Development and Water Development
Dear Chairwomen, Vice Chairman, and Ranking Member:
As the Subcommittee prepares the fiscal year 2014 Energy and Water and Appropriations bill, I would like to request your support for the sand replenishment project at Presque Isle in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Presque Isle State Park, located on Lake Erie, draws over four million visitors annually for a variety of recreational activities and is the top attraction for the regional tourism economy. The Presque Isle State Park is also one of the most visited state parks in Pennsylvania. Tourists spend nearly $77 million annually at Presque Isle and help to create over 1,000 jobs in the Erie region. This project is crucial to the economy in northwestern Pennsylvania and during difficult times we need to make targeted investments in projects that will help our economy grow, continued investment in the Presque Isle project will help maintain this important economic boost.
The beaches at Presque Isle continually battle storm erosion and require annual sand replenishment to address this problem. Without sufficient funding for annual sand nourishment the beach will be subject to continued erosion which could breach the Peninsula and damage the park’s infrastructure. In the past, erosion has caused significant damage to beaches and hiking trails as well as ecosystems that support endangered species that reside in the park. If unaddressed, the damage that erosion causes will threaten the region’s economy.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that you include Presque Isle in the fiscal 2014 appropriations bill. In recent years, this project has annually appeared in the President’s Budget. Unfortunately, that is not the case in the President’s proposal for fiscal 2014. The Committee has regularly ensured that adequate funding is available for this important initiative, and I appreciate your support to date. I respectfully urge you to continue this support by restoring funding for this important project for fiscal 2014.
In closing, let me take this opportunity to thank you for your consideration of this project. I stand ready to provide any additional information to the Subcommittee.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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