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Scalise Urges House Leadership to Support Recovery Funding

July 31, 2008

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise today sent a letter to the House Democratic Leadership urging them to include remaining funding for hurricane recovery issues in upcoming legislation. Legislation to fund recovery from Midwest flooding is expected to reach the U.S. Senate floor in September and would then come to the House.

In his letter, Scalise asks Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Democratic Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) and Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-OH) to allow local governments a longer payback period for their local cost share on levee funding and to include critical funding for our hospitals and crime prevention in upcoming legislation.

“While much progress has been made in the recovery process, many challenges still remain,” Scalise said. “It’s very important that the Democratic Leadership recognizes the need for the 30-year pay back provision for the local cost share for levees, the funding for our regional hospitals and funding for crime prevention. Regardless of what vehicle the legislation takes, this critical funding should be part of the language.”

The following is a copy of the letter Scalise sent today.

July 31, 2008


Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Speaker of the House

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Majority Leader

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)
Majority Whip

Rep. David Obey (D-OH)
House Appropriations Chairman

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your recent trip to Southeast Louisiana. I would first like to express my gratitude to you for supporting 100-year flood protection in Southeast Louisiana. The most recently passed Supplemental Appropriations bill included $5.8 billion for hurricane and flood protection projects. The bill also included language requiring the Corps of Engineers to provide an official cost estimate on the “Pump to the River” project. This project will divert flood waters to the Mississippi River instead of Lake Pontchartrain and will provide valuable hurricane storm surge protection in our region. This project is now undergoing a 90-day review period by the Corps.

The funding included in the last supplemental for Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity (LPV), West Bank and Vicinity (WBV), and Southeast Louisiana (SELA) projects is vital. However, language in the bill will require the State of Louisiana to pay nearly $1.5 billion over the next three years as a local match. The State of Louisiana and local governments have contributed well over $200 million in local cost share on federal levee projects. In addition, federal levees failed to perform to proper standards during Hurricane Katrina. The federal government must take responsibility for the failure of these levees and guarantee that the levees are finally built to provide 100-year flood protection. In order to ensure this level of protection, the local cost share must be waived or a 30-year payback provision on the local cost-share should be allowed.

Similarly, the health care infrastructure in the New Orleans region was destroyed by Katrina and remains in a very delicate state. This year alone, local hospitals are projecting annual losses of over $130 million. The State-run “Big Charity” hospital and federal Veterans Administration Hospital remain closed and are unlikely to open before 2013. While these facilities remain closed, the financial stability of the existing hospitals and, more importantly, the sustainability of the services they provide, are crucial to the health and well-being of our citizens. Included in the Senate’s initial Supplemental Appropriations bill was a provision that would have provided $350 million to hurricane-impacted hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi that are still in critical need after Katrina. I request your support for this provision. Without sufficient and immediate help, patients in Southeast Louisiana may face reduction or elimination of hospital services.

Finally, I request your support of the criminal justice system in the New Orleans region. The Senate included additional funding through the Byrne Grant program for crime assistance for hurricane-impacted areas along the Gulf Coast. Violent crime in the New Orleans area has reached near-epidemic proportions since Hurricane Katrina. We must provide local law enforcement agencies with additional support so that they can curb the violent crime that has presented an overwhelming impediment to the recovery of our region.

Louisiana citizens are grateful for the support of our fellow Americans. While much progress has been made, many challenges still remain. I write today to request your continued support for the recovery of the Gulf Coast region. It is imperative that this Congress pass legislation that includes a waiver or 30-year repayment of the local cost-share for federal levees in Southeast Louisiana, critical funding for hurricane-impacted hospitals, and funding for crime assistance. Thank you again for expressing your commitment to Southeast Louisiana. I look forward to working with you in the future to ensure immediate action on these issues.

Sincerely,
Congressman Steve Scalise

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309