Washington, DC- Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today released the following statement after the passage of the bipartisan Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, which is part of a larger water resources bill known as the Water Resources Development Act:

“This is a major win for the environment. Water is one of our most precious resources. This legislation will make the Delaware River Basin cleaner and stronger, ensuring the best quality drinking water supply while supporting & sustaining wetlands, and protecting and improving what has long been a habitat for so many species of fish and wildlife,” said Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01).

Despite its multi-billion dollar annual impact on our region, Delaware River Basin restoration efforts receive limited federal resources compared to similar watersheds across the country. This legislation creates a Delaware River Restoration Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and authorizes a $5 million annual competitive grant program and technical assistance to leverage federal resources available to the Basin.

Rep. Norcross is an original sponsor of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act. The measure now heads to the United States Senate.

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Congressman Donald Norcross is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Budget Committee, and serves as Assistant Whip in the 114^th Congress.

 http://norcross.house.gov