Congressman Steve Scalise and Congressman Cedric Richmond successfully passed an amendment to ensure critical funding for coastal restoration projects in Louisiana. The amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill passed by a vote of 216 to 177.
“The House sent a strong message that restoring our coast is a national priority by transferring $10 million from the Department of Energy to the Corps’ account that allows us to jump start the Louisiana Coastal Area plan, ” Scalise said. “Today marks the start of hurricane season, and it’s only fitting that our amendment to restore Louisiana’s eroding coastline and revitalize the barrier to weaken future storms was passed by the House on this day. Coastal restoration is vital to flood protection and to our Gulf ecosystems and communities, and I will continue fighting tirelessly to restore America’s eroding wetlands and revitalize our coast.”
“ Today marks a major victory in Louisiana’s fight to restore our wetlands,” Richmond said. “ I also want to thank President Obama for taking a stand for Louisiana, by refusing to move forward on the House Energy and Water Appropriations Act unless it included money for coastal restoration. The $10 million in funding we passed today ensures that Louisiana will have the resources to continue the rebuilding of our wetlands to protect Louisianans from hurricanes and flooding.”
Garret Graves, Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana expressed support for the amendment.
“Over a dozen critical restoration projects were authorized for construction four years ago, ” Graves said. “ The Corps of Engineers has not turned the first grain of sand to begin these critical efforts. The Scalise – Richmond amendment is a great step that will finally break the bureaucratic barrier that has prevented the restoration of our coast.”
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Dredging Today Staff, June 4, 2012;