Rep. Kelly, Sens. Casey, Toomey Support Protecting Presque Isle Beaches
Send joint letter to Asst. Sec. of Army requesting funds for sand replenishment at Presque Isle
WASHINGTON — Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA), Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), and Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) submitted a letter today to Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), requesting that additional funding appropriated to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) through the recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 (the “omnibus bill”) be directed to the Presque Isle Beach Nourishment Project. The full text of the letter can be viewed here.
Statement by Rep. Kelly:
“The Presque Isle State Park beaches are among the most important natural resources in our entire commonwealth. Hundreds of jobs and livelihoods directly depend on them. It is critical that the beaches continue to be replenished in order to protect these jobs as well as to accommodate the millions of families and tourists who visit the Presque Isle shoreline every year. For these reasons I am very glad to be joined by Senators Casey and Toomey in formally requesting that the USACE continue to make sustaining our beaches a top priority.”
Statement by Sen. Casey:
“Presque Isle plays an important role in Northwestern Pennsylvania’s economy and it’s critical that the Army Corps prioritize its maintenance in the coming year,” Senator Casey said. “With approximately 4 million annual visitors, Presque Isle has proven its value as a tourist destination and an engine of economic activity. I’ve repeatedly urged the Administration to protect Presque Isle and I’m hopeful Northwestern Pennsylvania will see additional investment over the next year.”
Statement by Sen. Toomey:
“More than 4 million people visit Presque Isle State Park each year—making it Pennsylvania’s most visited state park," said Sen. Toomey. "Presque Isle is woven into the social fabric of the region and plays a vital part in Northwestern Pennsylvania’s economy. With these factors in mind, I hope that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will continue to prioritize beach replenishment at the park, as it has in previous years.”
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