August 22, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) has announced Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) as the new Co-Chair of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus. This bipartisan caucus gives voice to funding and conservation needs throughout the watershed.
Wilmington, DE (August 25, 2022) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced today 36 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund awards totaling $14 million, which includes $4.9 million in funds made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grantees have committed $14.2 million in match, for a total conservation impact of $28.2 million that will restore and protect our land and water resources.
Trenton, NJ (August 16, 2022) - Historic climate legislation, known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R.5376) was passed in both chambers, and signed into law by President Biden.
“The impacts of climate change are already being seen and felt across the Delaware River Basin, which threaten over 13.3 million people who rely on the waters of the Basin. It is essential that we forge a path forward to reduce the impacts of climate change on our communities and limit the devastation in the future,” said Kelly Knutson, Director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW). “We applaud Congress in addressing the urgency of a global climate crisis and look forward to supporting the administration on implementation. The Coalition recognizes this step forward and will continue to advocate for additional policies to further protect the region’s natural resources.”
Trenton, NJ (July 21, 2022) - Late last week in a 220-206 vote, the House passed the Delaware River Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act (DRBCA), included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Coalition applauds the made in order amendment that was offered by Rep Evans (PA), Rep Fitzpatrick (PA) and Rep Blunt Rochester (DE) to the NDAA.
(Harrisburg, PA) - July 11, 2022 - Governor Tom Wolf signed Pennsylvania’s 2023 budget into law on Friday, notably falling short of the Commonwealth’s commitment to fully fund the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). Despite the Governor’s initial budget proposal to fully fund the DRBC with more than the $893,000 that the Commonwealth agreed to, negotiations cut funding to $217,000, the same level that Pennsylvania has been funding the Commission at since 2014.
In a 231-190 vote on June 14, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA).
This legislation will dedicate $1.4 billion annually to proactive, locally-led efforts to recover thousands of at-risk wildlife species, while creating jobs and prioritizing the outdoor recreation economy at a time when our country and planet are facing a biodiversity crisis.
Middletown, DE (March 7, 2022) - Senator Carper joined conservation partners at Thousand Acre Marsh in New Castle County, Delaware today to announce the introduction of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act, which would enhance the current legislation by changing the 1:1 match requirement to a 90% federal investment with 10% match for small, rural, or disadvantaged communities that are submitting restoration projects for consideration, an important step to creating better access to critical conservation and restoration funding.
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