Mary Gay Scanlon: “As we emerge from the darkest months of the COVID-19 pandemic and some pretty brutal weather, I rise today to offer some…”

“As we emerge from the darkest months of the COVID-19 pandemic and some pretty brutal weather, I rise today to offer some good news and to celebrate a development that is bringing jobs and economic development to my district, along with a renewed connection to our shared heritage with the island of Ireland. Since the founding of our country, the Philadelphia region has been known for some of the best ports and shipyards in America. Also since that time, our area has been home to one of the largest groups of native Irish and their descendants in North America. Fully 20 percent of the people in my congressional district claim Irish heritage, including myself. Over the years, this robust community has developed strong relationships with Irish educational, cultural, and business institutions, including through the Irish American Business Chamber & Network. Therefore, I am very proud and excited to celebrate the new weekly shipping route between the Port of Chester in Delaware County and Cork, Ireland, which will expand our region's leadership as an entryway to America. In addition to bringing critical medical, pharmaceutical, food, and raw material supplies to the East Coast, the shipping route is supporting good-paying jobs and a long-hoped-for renaissance in Chester's riverfront economy, which can be an economic driver for our entire region.…”