Scalise Congratulates Saints on House Floor

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise today spoke on the House floor to congratulate the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. Scalise also brought Rep. Andre Carson of Indianapolis to the floor to honor the Saints. Carson came to the floor in a Saints tie to make good on a friendly wager with Scalise.

“After all we've been through during the last four years, Tom Benson said it best when he stated that the Super Bowl is not only a victory for the City of New Orleans, but also for the whole State of Louisiana and we’re back!” Scalise said. “This is a unique bond between the Saints and their fans that is unrivaled in all of sports. Tom and Gayle Benson, Rita Benson LeBlanc, Coach Payton, Drew Brees and the entire team have been an integral part of our region's recovery after Katrina, and the Saints have served as a catalyst and an inspiration to thousands of New Orleanians who made the decision to come back and rebuild.

“Not only have the Saints helped unite our entire region, but they also serve as a platform to tell the rest of the nation that New Orleans is back as a world-class city. Millions of Americans across the country have embraced the Saints as the modern-day version of America’s Team, and we welcome them all to the growing ranks of the Who Dat Nation!”

In January, Congressmen Steve Scalise of New Orleans and André Carson of Indianapolis made a friendly wager on the outcome of Super Bowl XLIV. Under the terms of this challenge, the Congressman whose team lost had to deliver a statement on the floor of the House honoring the winner while wearing a team tie provided by the winner.

Scalise also rounded up Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) to co-sponsor the resolution congratulating the Saints. Shuler was a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints in 1997 and a constituent of Scalise’s district in the Louisiana House of Representatives during that time. Scalise and Shuler played together on the Congressional football team that defeated the Capitol Police in a charity game last fall.

The Saints are headquartered in the first Congressional District and Congressman Scalise has represented them since 1996 during his time in the Louisiana State House of Representatives and the Louisiana State Senate. In 1999 Scalise worked on and voted for the lease that would keep the Saints in New Orleans. In 2006 as a member of the Louisiana House Appropriations Committee, Scalise supported the rebuilding of the Louisiana Superdome after Hurricane Katrina which helped ensure the Saints would stay in New Orleans.

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Contact: Luke Bolar
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