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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
POLLED OUT OF COMMITTEE
MAJORITY FAVORABLE
April 13, 2011
H. 3784
S. Printed 4/13/11--S.
Read the first time March 15, 2011.
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 3784) to request President Barack H. Obama to include in his 2012 federal budget funding for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study regarding the deepening , etc., respectfully
Has polled the Concurrent Resolution out majority favorable.
TO REQUEST PRESIDENT BARACK H. OBAMA TO INCLUDE IN HIS 2012 FEDERAL BUDGET FUNDING FOR THE U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING THE DEEPENING OF CHARLESTON HARBOR TO AT LEAST FIFTY FEET SO THAT IT CAN ACCOMMODATE LARGER CONTAINER SHIPS EXPECTED TO CALL AT THE PORT WHEN THE EXPANSION OF THE PANAMA CANAL OPENS IN 2014.
Whereas, the deepening of Charleston Harbor is absolutely necessary for the State of South Carolina to be able to accommodate the world's largest container ships that will be moving through the Panama Canal in 2014; and
Whereas, if the Port of Charleston is not deepened to at least fifty feet, South Carolina will miss this new traffic and it will make the Port of Charleston noncompetitive over time; and
Whereas, a feasibility study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the first step in the process to move forward with the three hundred million dollar dredging project that would allow Charleston, already the Southeast's deepest harbor, to fully accommodate the world's largest container ships; and
Whereas, President Barack Obama's $4.6 billion Civil Works budget for 2012, released recently, unfortunately did not include the four hundred thousand dollars necessary for the Charleston Harbor deepening study, although the Port of Charleston contributes far more than this each year to the federal treasury in terms of duties and taxes; and
Whereas, it is critical that federal money be used to pay for the feasibility study. If South Carolina goes forward with the deepening study and project without any federal commitment, the State would be responsible for the entire cost and any future maintenance, thereby putting South Carolina at a competitive disadvantage against other states that are able to secure federal money for port projects; and
Whereas, federal, state, and local officials of all parties and at all levels believe that an expanded and deepened Charleston Harbor is essential to the continued economic growth of the Southeast region of the United States and is a key element in a globally competitive United States economy; and
Whereas, for all of the above reasons, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly request President Obama to reconsider his decision not to include in his 2012 federal budget the four hundred thousand dollars in funding necessary to pay for the feasibility study so that the process of proceeding with this dredging project, so critical to job growth and a robust economy in the states of the Southeastern region, can begin without further delay. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly hereby request President Barack H. Obama to include in his 2012 federal budget the funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study regarding the deepening of Charleston Harbor to at least fifty feet so that it can accommodate larger container ships expected to call at the port when the expansion of the Panama Canal opens in 2014.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, the Honorable Barack H. Obama.
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