Recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the Delaware River Basin Commission

Floor Speech

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Mr. DELGADO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). On this day 60 years ago, when concurrent compact legislation ratified by Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Congress became law, the DRBC was born.

It was a seminal moment in water resource management: it marked the first time that the federal government and a consortium of states formed a regional body to establish a coordinated approach to manage a river system. The DRBC--made up of the four governors and a senior U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official--work collectively to protect the basin's water quality and supply allocation, address droughts and flooding, and ensure that future generations can enjoy all that the river has to offer.

The Delaware River is the longest un-dammed river in the U.S. east of the Mississippi. It provides drinking water for more than 17 million Americans. Its watershed generates $25 billion in annual economic activity and contributes $21 billion worth of ecosystem goods and services each year. It's critically important that we protect this precious resource.

That's why I started the first-ever Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus with my colleague, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. Our caucus supports conservation efforts for the basin and raises the profile of this ecological gem and economic driver. I look forward to continuing to work with the DRBC on our shared goals, and I congratulate the Commission on 60 years of outstanding work.

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