U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on Aug. 22 announced his new fellow co-chair of the bipartisan caucus he leads that advocates for funding and conservation needs throughout the Delaware River Watershed, which touches 23 congressional districts across parts of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) will take on the role for the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus, which Rep. Fitzpatrick co-founded in April 2021 with former U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY), who earlier this year was appointed as the lieutenant governor of New York.
“I am honored to have Representative Blunt Rochester join me as a co-chair of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said on Monday. “It is critical that we continue to invest in conservation efforts and improving environmental policies through American innovation will maintain our basin and grow our economy.”
The Delaware River Watershed generates $25 billion in annual economic activity and annually contributes $21 billion worth of ecosystem goods and services, according to Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office. Spanning 12,800 square miles, the watershed also supports 600,000 jobs. And with more than 6.4 billion gallons of water withdrawn from the watershed every day, it provides drinking water for 13.3 million Americans — more than four percent of the U.S. population. The watershed is also a critical refuge for more than 90 species of fish and 400 types of birds, and annually hosts more than 250 species of migrating birds.
“The Delaware River Watershed is comprised of historic waterways and diverse habitats that must be protected,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “I’m honored to serve as co-chair of the bipartisan Delaware River Watershed Caucus, alongside my colleague Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, to lead the fight in Congress to invest in the Delaware River Watershed so we can preserve our waterways, support wildlife, and restore water quality all while improving communities across the states in the watershed.”
Kelly Knutson, director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, voiced support for Rep. Blunt Rochester’s new title with the caucus and said the coalition looks “forward working with both her and Rep. Fitzpatrick as we advocate for increased funding that protects clean water and supports a thriving ecosystem.”