Rep. Melancon Supports Aid for Struggling Louisiana Families

Press Release

Today, Congressman Charlie Melancon (LA-03) voted for an emergency extension of long-term unemployment benefits for thousands of Louisianians. With House passage today, the legislation will go to the President to be signed into law.

"The double blow of the oil disaster and the moratorium will mean that, through no fault of their own, more Louisianians will need to rely on unemployment benefits until they can find work again," said Rep. Melancon. "These are benefits that workers have paid into when times were good, and now that the job market in south Louisiana is struggling, they will need to draw on these benefits to get by. I will keep fighting to convince the Obama Administration to end the moratorium so that our economy can begin to recover and Louisianians can get back to work."

The BP oil disaster has impacted three major sectors of Louisiana's economy -- fishing, offshore energy production, and tourism -- affecting thousands of workers. Congressman Melancon has been pressing the federal government to end the moratorium on deep-water drilling and clarify new regulations for shallow-water drilling that have created a "de facto" moratorium in the Gulf. The offshore energy industry is a major economic engine for south Louisiana, providing thousands of jobs and supporting numerous locally-based service companies in Congressman Melancon's Congressional district.

Congressman Melancon has also called on BP to suspend bonus payments to top-ranking executives and apply the money toward helping Louisianians impacted by the oil spill in the Gulf. In a letter to BP's Chairman, Congressman Melancon noted that BP CEO Tony Hayward's 2009 bonus of $3 million would cover the cost of salaries for 50 offshore workers who have lost their jobs due to the moratorium imposed because of the oil spill.

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