More than 54,000 jobs in the region are dependent upon the Port of Philadelphia alone.

Mr. Speaker, Delaware River's regional ports handle approximately 58 million tons of cargo yearly.

One in 5 Americans is touched by the Red Cross every single year.

There can be no doubt that the transportation sector is the most critical sector of our economy.

These are our borders, and we have to secure our borders.

Three quarters of the East Coast's refinery capability is located in the Philadelphia region.

Delaware River Power Squadron is dedicated to boating safety through education and civic activities in several locations in Philadelphia while also serving the boating public throughout southern Pennsylvania, the Delaware River, and the Chesapeake Bay.

Furthermore, both Pennsylvania and New Jersey Departments of Environmental Protection have evaluated the sediment to be dredged and also found it to be not toxic.

Girls Incorporated of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey continues to advance their cause and to strengthen their community by aspiring to open a Girl's Center for Philadelphia.

Mr. Speaker, the Delaware River deepening project is important for my constituents, for our region and for the entire nation. I trust that, when they examine the facts about it, every one of my colleagues will join me in supporting it.

Thirty years ago, in 1976, the notion of organized activity to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was an extremely controversial one.