Senator Casey Called On Administration, Congressional Committees to Include Investment in Project
Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that the recently announced Congressional budget agreement includes $20 million in funds to continue the Delaware Deepening project. The project, which will deepen the Delaware River channel from forty feet to forty-five feet in order to accommodate larger vessels has the potential to create jobs in Southeastern Pennsylvania and drive the region’s economy in the coming decade.
“I’ve consistently urged the Administration and Congress to fund this project because it has the potential to transform the region’s economy through the creation of good paying, family sustaining jobs,” Senator Casey said. “Deepening the Delaware will ensure that the Port of Philadelphia continues to be an attractive location for small and large vessels. In the coming months I’m going to continue to press the Administration and Congress to commit the necessary resources to finish this project.”
Senator Casey has been a strong advocate for the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening Project and has urged President Obama, Vice President Biden and other key administration officials to include this project in the President’s budget. Since joining the Senate, he has helped to secure over $90 million for the project.
The project will deepen the Delaware River channel from forty feet to forty-five feet in order to accommodate larger vessels. This will reduce shipping costs, make maritime transportation more efficient and make the channel safer and more reliable. Once the channel is deepened, there will be an estimated increase of 2.5 million tons of cargo to the Port of Philadelphia, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. In addition, this project will create thousands of short-term jobs that aid an industry that has suffered significantly in this economic climate.
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