U.S. Senator Bob Casey yesterday visited the Port of Philadelphia to highlight work on the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening Project and reveal the next steps in the dredging process.
“ This project is about creating and retaining thousands of jobs in Pennsylvania, which is why I will continue to fight to see this to completion,” said Senator Casey. “I am gratified that new work is set to begin on dredging an 11 mile segment of the channel — this will put more people back to work and bring the full economic benefits of the project closer to being realized.”
Dredging on an 11 mile stretch of river from the Walt Whitman Bridge to near the airport is scheduled to begin soon, Senator Casey announced yesterday at a press conference with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey, and other federal, state and local officials.
Senator Casey has fought to move the project forward because it will create jobs and have a positive economic impact on Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Senator Casey has helped to secure over $74 million for the deepening project since taking office. During the past year, he has led efforts by the congressional delegation to provide $16.9 million for the project in the Army Corps’ FY 2012 work plan. As a result, contracts are being finalized and people are being put to work deepening the channel.
Senator Casey also led the charge to include $31 million in the President’s FY 2013 budget, securing the project in the President’s budget for the first time in 10 years. To advocate for the project, Senator Casey has had correspondence, conversations and meetings with President Obama, Vice-President Biden, OMB Director Lew, Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy and other high ranking members of the Administration.
In the Fiscal Year 2012 Energy and Water Bill, Senator Casey sponsored an amendment to provide additional funding to the navigation account under the Construction budget for the Army Corps in efforts to increase the likelihood that this project will receive funding.
[mappress]
Dredging Today Staff, August 8, 2012