U.S. Senator Tom Carper has highlighted significant Delaware wins in the bill America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA) – a major bipartisan, bicameral water infrastructure bill that Senator Carper co-authored along with Senators John Barrasso, Ben Cardin and Jim Inhofe.
“This infrastructure bill delivers for Delaware and families across our country, and I’m proud that it’s on its way to be signed into law,” said Senator Carper at the Port of Wilmington yesterday.
“It makes smart investments in critical water infrastructure we don’t see every day, but that Delaware and families in every state rely on, such as drinking water systems, dams, reservoirs, levees, and ports. And this bill creates a nurturing environment for good-paying jobs here at home, incentivizes businesses to buy and use American products, and authorizes funding for EPA to expand investments in clean drinking water for the first time in more than two decades.”
Specifically, for the Port of Wilmington, this bill increases the existing height limit authorization for the deposit of dredge material from the Delaware River dredging project from 10 feet to 35 feet, which is a necessary development to expand the Port at the new Edgemoor location and double its annual output.
This is the first major infrastructure bill to pass this Congress.
The legislation advances key programs and makes much-needed legislative changes to support clean drinking water systems, waterways, beaches, and port projects, such as the expansion of the Port of Wilmington.
It directs the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make vital improvements to water infrastructure to prepare Delaware – the lowest lying state in the country – for the growing risks of climate change.
Last week, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 99-1 and is on its way to the President’s desk to be signed into law.