Senator Coons sees job opportunities in Delaware River dredging
It has been a big week for the Delaware River, and for the new jobs that will come to the region when the river is deepened to accommodate larger ships and more trade.
On Wednesday, Senator Coons announced that the Army Corps of Engineers designated nearly $17 million for the dredging project in their 2012 work plan. Today, the release of President Obama’s budget plan for Fiscal Year 2013 included another $31 million for the dredging project.
“Deepening the Delaware River is really about keeping our region and our nation competitive in the global economy,” Chris told the News Journal. “Deeper waters mean bigger ships can come in and out of the Port of Wilmington. That means new opportunities for businesses in the region and more jobs here in Delaware. I'm glad it's part of the President's budget proposal and will work to protect it in Congress."
This project deepens the Delaware River channel from 40 to 45 feet in order to accommodate larger vessels. This will reduce shipping costs and make maritime transportation more efficient, bringing more trade and making our region more attractive to private investment. The project is expected to create an estimated 75,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout the Delaware Valley. This includes permanent, high-paying jobs as well as short-term construction jobs that will aid an industry hit hard by the economic downturn.
After listening carefully to Delawareans and determining the dredging delivers on their desire to create jobs while also protecting our environment, Chris has been fighting hard to ensure the project has the resources necessary to proceed. Working with Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), he filed a bipartisan amendment to the FY 2012 appropriations bill that sought to increase federal funding for ongoing navigation projects. The final FY 2012 appropriations bill included $74 million for the account, which was used to fund the Delaware River deepening as well as other projects across the country.
Additionally, Senators Carper, Coons, and Casey sent letters to Assistant Secretary of the Army-Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy and the Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew in December asking for additional funding for the dredging project.