Casey Presses Obama To Finish Delaware R. Dredging

US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) has urged the Obama Administration to include adequate funding for the Delaware Deepening project in its upcoming Fiscal Year 2016 budget. During a meeting with Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy, Casey discussed the role the deepening of the Delaware will play in job creation and economic growth in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

“Deepening the Delaware will have a significant economic impact for the Port of Philadelphia and all of Southeastern Pennsylvania,” the Senator said. “I had a productive conversation with Assistant Secretary Darcy and will continue to urge the administration to adequately fund the Delaware Deepening project. Finishing this project will support 38,000 jobs and has the potential to create more. It will also make our city’s port and businesses competitive other ports throughout the country.”

The project will deepen the Delaware River channel from 40 feet to 45 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, having the potential to create more 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. According to an economic impact study by the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, the Delaware River currently supports over 38,000 jobs.

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