Casey Has Been Congressional Leader In Push for Investment in Project That Significant Job Creation Potential / Senator Casey Has Helped Secure $125 Million for Project
Philadelphia, PA- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) joined Vice President Joe Biden on a tour of the Delaware Deepening Project. Senator Casey has been a congressional leader in pushing for resources for the project and has helped secure $125 million in investment over the previous years.
“I was pleased to join Vice President Biden today to discuss this deepening project that is so critical to our region’s economy,” Senator Casey said. “Vice President Biden has given a significant amount of personal attention to this effort and I appreciate his support. Moving forward it’s critical that we continue to invest in this project until it’s finished. Deepening the Delaware will transform the Port of Philadelphia for the future and has the potential to lead to significant job creation.”
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 provide the potential to create thousands of short-term jobs that aid an industry that has suffered significantly in this economic climate.
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