An appropriations bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives includes $588,000 in construction funds for the Army Corps of Engineers to advance the deepening of the Savannah Harbor.

Rep. Jack Kingston said Thursday that while the amount is small, the money is construction instead of planning. Kingston says the shift from planning to implementation is critical for keeping the project on schedule.

Approval of the start of work on the project is expected in the middle of 2012.

The measure awaits final approval in the Senate and the president's signature.

Tags: Jack Kingston, Port of Savannah, harbor deepening, Savannah Harbor deepening