Representative Richmond Celebrates the Passage of RESTORE and RAMP Acts

Statement

Today, Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) released the following statement in response to the inclusion of the RESTORE and RAMP Acts in H.R. 4348, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II, which passed in the House of Representatives today. The RESTORE Act will guarantee that 80 percent of the Clean Water Act fines resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are returned to the Gulf States. The RAMP Act will ensure that Louisiana ports and rivers are fully maintained, stabilize the price of goods, and allow our businesses to be internationally competitive.

"As we approach the 2nd Anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the passage of this legislation is a critical step in what will continue to be a concerted, bipartisan effort to send 80 percent of the fines from the disaster to the Gulf States," said Rep. Cedric Richmond. "There is no question about whether Louisiana's coast will be restored. Because of the dire national security and economic impacts, it must happen. Today's vote assures me that we have the support we need to restore our wetlands."
"Today also marks a second, significant victory for the state of Louisiana. The RAMP Act, which will ensure that our rivers and ports are fully dredged, will keep the price of goods from rising, and make our small businesses more competitive worldwide," said Rep. Richmond. "I'm also excited that the RAMP Act will provide funding so that the sediment the Army Corps of Engineers dredges every day will be used to rebuild wetlands. Today's decisive action reaffirms that Louisiana's ecosystem and economy will continue to recover and prosper."

H.R. 3408 passed the full House of Representatives by a vote of 293-127. It will be sent to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

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