Jindal Supports Bill Bringing More Than $2 Billion to Louisiana

Press Release

Jindal Supports Bill Bringing More Than $2 Billion to Louisiana

Congressman Bobby Jindal (LA-01) today voted in favor of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA - H.R. 1495), which passed the House by a margin of 394-25. WRDA allocates more than $2 billion for actions to restore Louisiana's coastal wetlands over the next decade, including the Morganza to the Gulf project, a plan for the closure and environmental restoration of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal Lock, Ouachita River Levees, the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System, and the Red River Below Denison Dam.

The Morganza to the Gulf project was included after Jindal successfully convinced the White House to rescind their objection to its inclusion in the bill. The bill would also authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out a Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) program for ecosystem restoration, and create a federal-state task force to participate in developing and implementing the plan.

"Today is a very good day for the state of Louisiana, with the House authorization of more than $2 billion coming home to improve our state's storm protection and rebuild our coastline," Jindal said. "The passage of this bill represents a recognition by the rest of the nation of the importance of protecting Louisiana's coast. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly send this bill to the President for his signature, so that we can bring home the funding in this bill as soon as possible. The last time a WRDA was signed into law was in 2000, and we no longer have the option of waiting."

Jindal also helped passed legislation (H.R. 6111) in Congress last year that will bring hundreds of millions of dollars in offshore energy revenues to Louisiana over the next 10 years, and $650 million a year after 2017 according to U.S. Senate estimates. These revenues will also be used for coastal restoration and hurricane and flood protection.

"By increasing protection for Louisiana's families, we are protecting not only our generation, but also our children's and grandchildren's," Jindal said. "I am very pleased that the Administration has softened their stance on Morganza to the Gulf, which will provide essential hurricane protections to those in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes. Though I certainly would have preferred an unqualified endorsement for Morganza to the Gulf from the Administration, I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that Morganza and other important projects remain intact."

WRDA will now move to the Senate for further action.

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