John Continues Fight For Increased Calcasieu Ship Channel Funding

John Continues Fight For Increased Calcasieu Ship Channel Funding

Washington, D.C. - In an ongoing effort to secure much needed funds for one of South Louisiana's vital waterways, Louisiana Congressman Chris John today called on President Bush to uphold his pledge to 'keep America's ports open for business' and fully fund dredging and maintenance operations crucial to the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

John, along with Senators Breaux and Landrieu, secured $4 million in emergency funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the channel in May. While these added funds were instrumental in keeping the ship channel operational this year, federal budget shortfalls and misplaced priorities have once again led to under funding through the fiscal year 2005 budget.

"I appreciate the President's support of my earlier request for $4 million in emergency funding to dredge the channel, but there's still a long way to go to stabilize that vital waterway's financial needs," stated Congressman John. "The ship channel is key to the economy of South Louisiana and critical to America's energy security."

Recently, President Bush pledged an additional $15 million in funds for dredging and deepening the Columbia River ship channel in Oregon because without the funds, the waterway was in danger of losing valuable traffic. Building on his earlier efforts, Congressman John today called on the President to make a similar pledge to the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Louisiana in order to provide full funding for our vital waterway.

"If it's good enough for Oregon, it should be good enough for Louisiana. A strong America begins right here at home in Calcasieu Parish. The Ship Channel is vitally important to our local economy - it leads the nation in LNG imports - and its traffic can and does have a direct impact on energy prices across the nation," added John.

Earlier this year, Congressman John introduced federal legislation to insure the reliable funding that Louisiana waterways have not been able to count on in recent years due to federal budget constraints. John's "Essential Waterways Operations and Maintenance Act of 2004" would set aside a percentage of customs duties each year specifically to fully fund the operations and maintenance of important waterways in Louisiana, such as the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

"The budget is tight this year, everyone acknowledges that, but if we can find the money for Oregon's waterways we should be able to find the money for Louisiana's," added John. "Our economy and our security depend on it and I will not give up the fight."

(A copy of Cong. John's letter to the President is attached below.)

September 22, 2004

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC, 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Thank you for your support this past May on an allocation of $4 million in emergency funds for dredging in the Calcasieu River. While those funds will go a long way towards supporting efficient operations in the Calcasieu Ship Channel this fiscal year, they also represent only the first step towards a guarantee of adequate funding for this important transportation artery that is vital to local, state, and national security and economic concerns.

In holding to your commitment "to keeping America's great ports open for business," you recently pledged an additional $15 million for the Columbia River Ship Channel. In light of this commitment, I respectfully request that you also support Louisiana's waterways by adding $8,515,000 to your original FY 2005 request for the Calcasieu River and Pass Operations and Maintenance account. This money would not represent a "new start" program. Rather, it would fund the Calcasieu Ship Channel at the level required to maintain authorized depths and widths.

The Louisiana port system is one of the largest port systems in the world, bringing millions of tons of cargo into and out of the country. Hundreds of firms are located in Louisiana as a result of this world-class infrastructure. In particular, adequate dredging of the Calcasieu Ship Channel will have national significance. As the Ship Channel leads the nation in liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, adequate maintenance of this waterway can have a direct effect on energy prices across the nation. The Federal Strategic Reserve is located adjacent to the waterway, and the Calcasieu Ship Channel provides a critically strategic entranceway for crude oil imports from the western hemisphere that are not subject to feared embargoes.

Thank you again for support of our request for emergency funds this year. By amending your request for the Calcasieu Ship Channel in FY 2005, we can prevent a similar situation in the coming fiscal year, while promoting economic development in Louisiana and helping to stabilize energy prices across the nation. I look forward to working with you further on this issue.

Sincerely,
s/Chris John
Member of Congress