WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, applauded committee passage of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. Murphy secured $500,000 in the bill to conduct a feasibility study to deepen New Haven Harbor – Connecticut’s largest deep water commercial industrial port that is essential to the state’s economy. The bill also includes Murphy’s Buy American amendment to compel the U.S. Department of Energy to use American-made iron, steel, and other domestically manufactured products in the maintenance or repair of Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities. Murphy also secured $6.5 million for the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to protect Connecticut homes and businesses that rely on heating oil in case of a disruption in fuel oil supplies.  

Murphy released the following statement:

“Today, I worked to secure $500,000 for continuing research on what it would take to deepen New Haven Harbor – a project that could bring more commerce to Connecticut’s shoreline and boost our economy. We also took a major step toward ensuring that the supplies and manufactured goods we need to build fuel storage facilities around the country come from American companies. Momentum is building for cracking down on those who skirt Buy American laws, and today’s action is another step forward.” 

“Commercial ports and manufacturing businesses are bedrocks of Connecticut’s economy. Together, they generate billions of dollars each year and enable consumers around the globe to buy goods made right here in Connecticut.  I’m thrilled that I was able to secure major support for these two economic drivers today.”