Congressmen Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Charles Boustany (R-LA) have announced that Louisiana could receive millions to fund harbor maintenance and dredging projects.
The Cassidy-Boustany amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act of 2014 will re-direct funds from the Department of Energy’s administrative offices to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to provide funding to port and waterway infrastructure projects such as the Calcasieu Ship Channel.
The Cassidy-Boustany amendment is a positive step forward in providing the necessary resources to dredge the Calcasieu River Channel and other Louisiana navigational waterways.
“Strengthening our ports and waterway infrastructure is critical to our energy security and Louisiana’s economy. In Louisiana, billion dollar liquid natural gas (LNG) export terminal projects have been announced. This will create thousands of jobs. These projects, and the jobs that come with them, is why we must ensure our channels are well maintained and properly dredged. The Cassidy-Boustany amendment increases the funding to accomplish this, ” said Congressman Cassidy.
The House-led bill allocates $100 million more than the Senate bill for U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Operation & Management, and approximately $40 million more than the Senate bill for dredging activities.
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Press Release, July 11, 2014