Energy and Water Funds to Come to Area

The U.S. House has approved Energy and Water spending legislation in which Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) was successful in including $755,000 to dredge St. Joseph Harbor and $139,000 to dredge New Buffalo Harbor.

Upton, who’s been gravely concerned with the unprecedented rate of spending in Washington, supported the Energy and Water bill as it only increased funding by less than one tenth of one percent over last year’s level.

The St. Joe Harbor is of utmost priority for Upton, who has delivered millions of dollars for seasonal dredging, including $793,000 in the omnibus spending package that the President signed into law in February.  Thousands of jobs depend on the ability to move cargo on the Great Lakes and the St. Joseph port is an integral part of that system.  The measure, H.R. 3183, passed by a vote of 320 to 97.

Upton also supported a “Buy American” amendment introduced by Rep. Ed Pastor (D-AZ) that prohibits any funds in the bill from being used to purchase passenger motor vehicles unless they are purchased from Ford, GM, or Chrysler.  The amendment passed by a vote of 261 to 172 and was included in the overall package.

“This funding is a big win for our community at a time when we could really use a lift,” said Upton.  “The last thing folks can afford right now are increased costs for everyday goods – keeping our commercial harbor open for business has a wide ripple effect on our local economy and keeps costs down for local residents.  With major infrastructure projects on I-94, U.S. 31, and I-96, materials delivered to the St. Joe Harbor will save taxpayers millions of dollars, which in turn means more money for job creation and repairing critical infrastructure.  Our roads are also in a terrible state of disrepair, but with our commercial harbors fully operational, we keep countless trucks off the roads, lessening some of the wear and tear and traffic as well.”