Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the full Appropriations Committee approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The government spending bill now goes to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for its consideration.
"Provisions in the Energy & Water government funding bill will bolster job creation and strengthen Georgia's economy. The bill invests $65 million in the Savannah Harbor, develops waterway infrastructure across our state, and reinforces industries dependant on imports and exports as well as funds energy research, nuclear security, and the Army Corps of Engineers," said Congressman Sanford Bishop.
"We are very grateful for the commitment of the Georgia delegation and their colleagues on the Appropriations committee to see ports properly funded. The commitment to the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) as a priority of the Congress is clear and the increased funding for energy and water programs overall provides the Corps of Engineers with the capability of fully funding SHEP construction for fiscal year 2017. This project is critical to national trade and economic growth for generations to come," said Jim Walters, Chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority.