Scalise: RESTORE Act Passage Will Represent the Single Most Significant Action Taken to Restore Our Coast in Louisiana's History

Statement

Congressman Steve Scalise today released the following statement after the RESTORE Act was included in the final transportation conference committee package, which is expected to pass both the House and Senate this week and be signed into law by the President.

"Passage of the RESTORE Act will represent the single most significant action taken to restore our coast in Louisiana's history," Scalise said. "Getting the RESTORE Act included in the final transportation conference committee package is a major milestone as we work to ensure the full recovery of the Gulf Coast states from the Deepwater Horizon disaster. We have been working tirelessly on this legislation for two years now, and it was certainly a team effort to finally get to this point. As the lead House negotiator, I would also like to thank Senator Landrieu for her work leading this effort in the Senate, Senator Vitter for his work on the conference committee, all of my Gulf State colleagues, and the entire coalition of conservation, business and grassroots supporters.

"The fact that the House and the Senate came together to iron out an agreement to include the RESTORE Act in the final transportation bill is a significant development for the restoration of Louisiana's coast. It's only fair that the lion's share of BP Clean Water Act fines are dedicated to the Gulf Coast states still dealing with the impacts of the disaster so we can rebuild our ecosystems and our economy. While this announcement is a major victory, I will not rest until this bill is passed by both chambers and signed into law by the President.

"I am disappointed that House and Senate leaders included a provision in the bill that takes FMAP funding already budgeted for Louisiana and spends it on unrelated transportation projects."

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