Rep. McBride Applauds Defeat of Amendments Attacking Delaware River Protections

WASHINGTON, DC — Tonight, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) voted NO on two amendments to the Energy & Water Development Appropriations Act (H.R. 4553) that sought to strip funding from the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) and block enforcement of its ban on fracking. Both amendments failed on the House floor.

“These actions were a direct attack on Delaware’s water, health and environmental future,” said Rep. McBride. “The Delaware River Basin Commission’s fracking ban protects drinking water for more than 13 million people. Rolling back that protection, or punishing the commission for doing its job, isn’t just misguided—it’s dangerous.”

The two amendments, offered by Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), would have:

• Amendment #24: Blocked all federal funding to the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC);
• Amendment #23: Prohibited the use of federal funding to implement the DRBC’s 2021 fracking ban.

Both amendments were voted down with bipartisan opposition.

“The Delaware River isn’t a partisan issue—it’s a lifeline for our communities, our economy, and our health,” McBride continued. “I’m grateful the House saw these amendments for what they were and voted them down.”

McBride praised the DRBC’s leadership in safeguarding the watershed and reaffirmed her commitment to protecting clean water in Delaware.

“We’ve worked too hard to protect the Delaware River to let it become a casualty of politics,” she said. “I’ll keep working to ensure it remains a source of life—for this generation of Delawareans and the next.” 

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