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CHARLESTON (AP) -- Deepening the Charleston Harbor shipping channel in South Carolina has moved a bit closer to happening.

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday approved language calling for expedited studies of the next harbor deepening project in Charleston.

The language, added by U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., was included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2010. The House and the Senate still must approve.

The harbor shipping channel is now 45 feet deep but the South Carolina State Ports Authority wants a deeper channel to handle larger ships that will call once the Panama Canal is expanded in four years.

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