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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. William H. Keller |
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Keller bill to expand Philly's ports sent to Senate
HARRISBURG, Aug. 5 – The state House today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Bill Keller, D-Phila., which would help Philadelphia expand and develop its ports to more business, bringing tens of thousands of jobs to the city.
The bill (H.B. 666) would authorize and direct the state to convey to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority land in Philadelphia's 39th Ward that is necessary to expand the Port of Philadelphia. The governor would need to authorize the conveyance.
Keller, a former longshoreman, said expanding the port would bring at least 25,000 jobs to the city and allow the Port of Philadelphia to become a leading port in the United States.
"Conveying this land from the state to the city is the just first but critical phase of that process," Keller said. "The Port of Philadelphia needs to operate at its fullest capability. Developing this land would bring tens of thousands of new jobs to the city and to local residents. The potential for economic growth spurred by that amount of job development is undeniable. And it's needed now more than ever, given the city's current financial crisis."
Keller noted the Port of Philadelphia surpasses all ports in the United States based on its rail capabilities.
"Three Class A rail lines run through the Philadelphia port area," Keller said. "We can harness the power of those rail lines on port property and make Philadelphia and Pennsylvania the leading industrial port on the East Coast."
The 39th Ward is located wholly in Keller's 184th Legislative District.
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