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Press Release

For Immediate Release
August 8, 2008
Contact: Sean C. Bonyun
(202) 225-3761

**PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY**
BREAKING NEWS: St. Joe Harbor Back Open for Business - First Freighter Arrived @ 8:30am this Morning
Upton is thrilled - Rep. helped deliver $1.8 million to reopen harbor after seeking emergency declaration in March

ST. JOSEPH, MI – Today, Friday, August 8th, at 11:30am Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) will welcome the first commercial vessel of the shipping season to Dock 63.  The freighter Sam Laud delivered the first commercial shipment of the season this morning - 12,800 tons of limestone for the construction of the I-94/U.S. 131 interchange in Kalamazoo County.  The widening of I-94 is also top priority for Upton and he was successful in securing in excess of $40 million in Congress for the expansion project.

Upton requested an emergency declaration for the harbor in March a day after soundings the Corps conducted revealed severe shoaling which has rendered the harbor inaccessible to commercial vessels. The harbor, a vital cog in the local economy, is of utmost priority for Upton, who has delivered millions of dollars for seasonal dredging of St. Joe Harbor through the years.

PRESS CONFERENCE
Friday, August 8th
11:30am
Dock 63
220 Wayne Street
St. Joseph, MI

On site contact: Al Pscholka w/ Upton’s office – (269) 861-3092

All members of the media are strongly encouraged to attend.

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