Rep. Watson Coleman Secures $715,000 in Funding for Delaware River Basin Commission
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) visited the Trenton Boat Launch along the Delaware River, joined by New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Deputy Executive Director Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann and invited guests. The Congresswoman secured $715,000 in funding that will support several DRBC programs to provide clean, sustainable, secure, and equitable water resources in the region. This funding came as a part of the omnibus government funding legislation that Congress passed on December 23, 2022.
“As a Member of the House Appropriations Committee,” said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman,“I play an important role in deciding where and how the federal government invests money. As the only appropriator from the New Jersey congressional delegation, I’m working to ensure that New Jerseyans’ tax dollars come right back home. I’m grateful for President Biden’s leadership through the investing in America Agenda and its key provision of environmental justice. Every American deserves to live in a safe and healthy community and the Delaware River Basin Commission project is an investment in the future of clean and safe water quality for years to come."
“The Delaware River Basin Commission’s longstanding coordinated approach to water resource management has led to significant improvements in water quality and ecological enhancements across the region over the years,” said New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “Congresswoman Watson Coleman’s leadership in obtaining federal funding will allow the DRBC to better meet the challenges of water supply planning in the face of climate change and the need for stricter water quality standards. I join with my DEP colleagues in thanking the Congresswoman for her commitment to protecting this resource that is so important to all of us.”
“The DRBC thanks Congresswoman Watson Coleman for her leadership and continued support of our mission and efforts to manage, protect and improve our shared water resources in the Delaware River Basin,” said DRBC Deputy Executive Director Kristen Bowman Kavanagh. “As an agency based in West Trenton, we are proud to call the Greater Trenton community our home – but the ripple effects of this funding will be felt throughout the Basin and beyond. Federal funding supports critical science-based plans, programs and policies helping to provide clean, sustainable, secure and equitable water resources for the benefit of over 14.2 million people.”
“The Capital City is thankful to Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman for her steadfast advocacy for water quality both in and around Trenton,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. “I am glad that we have an advocate in Washington bringing in federal funding to help ensure that the Delaware River Basin Commission has the resources required to maintain high water quality along the Delaware River, so that future generations can continue to enjoy the historic body of water in our backyard.”
The Delaware River Basin spans 13,539 square miles, includes parts of four states, all or portions of 42 counties, 868 municipalities, multiple government entities and jurisdictions, and twenty-two congressional districts. The Delaware River Basin Commission is a unique federal-interstate commission that supports water quality protection, water supply allocation, flood loss reduction, drought management, water conservation, permitting, watershed planning, and recreation in the Basin.
Signatory funding supports DRBC engineering, science, research, monitoring and regulatory programs providing: clean and healthy water for people and wildlife; water resiliency to address climate change and extreme conditions such as floods and droughts; water availability and economic growth by having enough water to meet all of our current and future needs; and water equity to ensure that everyone in our communities share equally in the benefits and stewardship of our shared water resources.
The funding for the Delaware River Basin Commission comes in addition to 14 other organizations and projects in New Jersey’s 12th District that will receive federal community project funding. The projects include infrastructure improvements, youth programs, health initiatives, and more.