“Delaware Senator Tom Carper has always known what needed to be done to keep the region healthy and vibrant. After learning that Sen. Carper has decided to retire following this current term, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) would like to take this time to extend our immense gratitude to Sen. Carper, who has been instrumental in raising national awareness of the Delaware River Watershed and continues to be one of the most influential clean water champions.
“A public servant for nearly half a century, Sen. Carper has been elected to serve as Delaware's State Treasurer, a U.S. Congressman, Governor, and in the U.S. Senate. During his time in the Senate, Sen. Carper has served on the Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee — including as its chairman. Throughout his tenure, Sen. Carper has consistently worked to advance and defend sensible policies that safeguard clean drinking water, protect against harmful pollution, and conserve crucial wildlife habitats for our Delaware River Watershed communities. Simultaneously, he has actively fostered job creation and economic expansion, fully recognizing the crucial role the Basin plays in both the region's environment and economy.
“In his final term as Senator, Sen. Carper reintroduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (DRBCA), which would modify key program elements to expand equity throughout the Basin by helping underserved rural and urban communities better access funding for important water quality and conservation measures. Reauthorization would fund critical on-the-ground restoration, conservation, and community engagement projects throughout the Basin and protect the existing bill through 2030.
“Sen. Carper has long been a champion of this legislation and has led the fight to increase annual appropriations to the program at a time when demand for federal investments far outstrips funding. In fiscal year 2022 alone, the federal government received more than 60 proposals requesting more than $26 million, far exceeding the $14 million available.
“The Coalition is proud to have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Senator Carper during his tenure and we look forward to continuing our shared work with the entire Delaware Delegation, as well as Sen. Carper’s successor. In honor of Sen. Carper’s lasting legacy, we are calling on his colleagues in Congress to not only pass this reauthorization legislation but also to increase the appropriations amount for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program - a funding source to address conservation needs throughout the Basin.“
Additional Remarks:
Statement from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Delaware:
"Thank you to Senator Carper for being a longtime champion of the environment. As governor, his administration significantly increased funding for the Delaware Open Space program resulting in historic investments to conserve natural lands at Cape Henlopen and the White Clay Creek," said TNC Delaware and Pennsylvania Executive Director Lori Brennan. "As U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee chair, Senator Carper was a key architect of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and a strong voice for cleaner air and water and addressing both the causes and impacts of climate change. The Nature Conservancy will miss his advocacy for Delaware's people, wildlife and our natural world when he retires in 2024."
Statement from The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE):
"Senator Carper has been a champion for the people and natural resources of the Delaware River and Bay, said Kathy Klein, Executive Director for the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. I want to express our sincere gratitude for his decades of environmental advocacy as Delaware's congressman, governor, and senator. We will miss his unwavering support for PDE, the National Estuary Programs and his leadership in support of the reauthorization of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act. We wish him all the best and hope he will continue to use his voice for the Delaware River Basin."
Statement from the Delaware Nature Society (DNS):
“Those of us in Senator Carper’s home state of Delaware are inexpressibly grateful for all he has done for the environment here, and for the people of the United States,” said Jen Adkins, Executive Director for the Delaware Nature Society. “As governor in 1993, he increased funding for protection of open spaces and strengthened protection of our wetlands, acts that seem almost prescient now. As our U.S. Senator, he has been a tireless advocate of action to counter climate change and to protect and restore the Delaware River Watershed. We applaud his commitment to ensuring action on the environmental provisions under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act during the remainder of his term and wish him a very happy and well-deserved retirement in 2024.”
Media Contact:
Meagan Schaefer
meagan.schaefer@njaudubon.org
609-330-4883