Boustany Protects $11 Million for Calcasieu Ship Channel and Freshwater Bayou

Press Release

U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD, R-Southwest Louisiana, today praised an Army Corps of Engineers decision to suspend reprogramming approximately $11 million set aside for the Calcasieu Ship Channel and Freshwater Bayou to dredge the Mississippi River.

"I am pleased with today's decision to leave the funding for the Calcasieu Ship Channel," Boustany said. "After protesting the Corps' original plan both in Washington and in Louisiana, I am glad the Corps listened to my objections. This would have been a crushing blow to operations along the Calcasieu River and Freshwater Bayou, and I will continue to fight to ensure these funds are not taken away from Southwest Louisiana."

Boustany worked with Steve Stockton, Deputy Director of Civil Works, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure Corps officials did not follow through on a plan to redistribute funds from the Calcasieu Ship Channel and Freshwater Bayou to emergency dredging in the Mississippi River. Approximately $11 million would have been shifted from the two Southwest Louisiana projects. In addition, Boustany spoke with House Appropriations Committee members to ensure Southwest Louisiana funds would be replaced, if they are recommitted for emergency operations. While this is a temporary solution, Boustany will continue to work on behalf of the Ship Channel to protect this necessary funding.

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