The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Omnibus appropriations bill, which includes critical funding to move forward the Port of Charleston’s deepening project and opportunities for maintenance funding for the Port of Georgetown.
The bill passed 359-67 with support from S.C. Congressmen Joe Wilson, Trey Gowdy, Mick Mulvaney, Jim Clyburn, and Tom Rice.
“The South Carolina Ports Authority is extremely proud of the leadership demonstrated today by members of our delegation, ” said Bill Stern, SCPA Board Chairman . “ Their support of this critical piece of legislation allows our harbor deepening project to continue to move forward, and South Carolina benefits from their commitment to the Port and its role in our state’s prosperity and economic development .”
The bill includes funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue its Feasibility Study of the Post-45 Harbor Deepening project, which expects to receive its Chief’s Report in September 2015.
The bill also provides construction funds for Charleston that could enable the deepening project to move forward without delay upon receipt of the Chief’s Report.
Additionally, it contains language pertaining to emerging harbors that could provide opportunities for the Port of Georgetown to compete for maintenance funding to restore its harbor depth.
The bill will move to the Senate for a vote before being passed to the President’s desk for signature.
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Press Release, January 17, 2014