Carney introduced H.R. 644 in February 2013 along with several bipartisan cosponsors

WASHINGTON — Congressman Carney today released the following statement in response to Senator Carper’s introduction of a Senate companion to H.R. 644, The Delaware River Basin Conservation Act.

“I commend Senator Carper on the introduction of this critical legislation,” said Congressman Carney. “This bill will help protect the Delaware River Basin by improving coordination between government, private, and non-profit entities. This legislation focuses our efforts on the most effective projects and implements a competitive grants project, ensuring we are being good stewards of the Delaware River Basin and taxpayer dollars.”

Congressman Carney introduced legislation in the House last year along with a group of ten bipartisan representatives from Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. The legislation would improve restoration and conservation efforts in the Delaware River Basin by requiring the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and conservation activities in the entire Basin. The legislation bolsters conservation efforts by optimizing collaboration and increasing resources for on-the-ground and community-based projects.

“The Delaware River Basin Conservation Act is the product of bipartisan and bicameral cooperation, and I’m grateful for Senator Carper’s hard work in the Senate,” said Congressman Carney. “The Delaware River Basin provides our state and our region with an abundance of resources, from drinking water to wildlife. We need to do all we can to conserve and restore the health of the Basin, and this legislation is a huge step in the right direction. I look forward to working with Senators Carper and Coons to move this legislation forward.”

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