ATLANTA (AP) — Three Georgia politicians have written to President Barack Obama urging him to include the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project authorization increase in his budget amendment to Congress.
Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, and Rep. Jack Kingston, of Georgia's first congressional district, wrote to Obama Monday saying they're concerned with the lack of support for the project in the fiscal year 2014 budget.
The budget allocated just $1.28 million for the harbor expansion project — which is expected to cost $652 million.
Savannah and other ports on the East and Gulf Coasts are racing to deepen their harbors to make room for supersized cargo ships expected to begin arriving in 2015 after the Panama Canal finishes a major expansion.
The Republican politicians say the expansion could create more than 11,500 jobs.