Scalise leads broad coalition in calling on President to pledge his support for coastal restoration

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise today led a broad, bi-partisan coalition calling for President Barack Obama to support a full and complete plan to restore Louisiana’s eroding coastline. In a letter to the President, the coalition called on President Obama to publicly reaffirm his support for long overdue coastal restoration and protection efforts along the Gulf coast, specifically by supporting a reinvestment of fines collected by BP for coastal restoration.

“I brought this group together to make it clear to the President that we have diverse support for a tangible plan to restore Louisiana’s eroding coastline,” Scalise said. “As we approach the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana continues to lose more than a football field of wetlands every 38 minutes, and we are calling on the President to make a clear commitment to dedicate the use of funds from the Gulf oil spill to coastal restoration projects. The time for studies is over, now we need action to make this a reality. During the Gulf oil disaster, the nation clearly saw the importance of Louisiana’s marshes and wetlands, and it is vital that we have the support of the Obama Administration in order to restore America’s wetlands that have eroded, and re-establish the barrier to weaken future storms and protect our communities from flooding.”

Joining Congressman Scalise as members of the coalition are the National Wildlife Federation, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Audubon Society, America’s Wetland Foundation, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Members of the Louisiana Congressional delegation, and Women of the Storm.

“Since the BP oil spill, President Obama has made a commitment to invest resources into Louisiana's vanishing coastal wetlands,” said Karla Raettig, the National Campaign Director for Coastal Louisiana Restoration at the National Wildlife Federation. “Now is the time for action. We must revive Louisiana's coast, which provides critical habitat for hundreds of species of fish and wildlife, thousands of jobs, and can offer critical protection from storm surge for coastal communities.”

“There is no better way for President Obama to demonstrate that he wants to protect Louisianans from another Katrina than for him to announce his full support for using BP fines to restore the once vital coastal wetlands that used to provide hurricane protection for the state's residents,” said Paul Harrison, Senior Director for the Mississippi River, Environmental Defense Fund.

“This letter makes it clear that we all stand united for the health of coastal Louisiana,” said Mike Daulton, Senior Director of Government Relations for the National Audubon Society. “We need the President to follow through on his pledge to restore the ecological systems that support life and livelihoods across the Coast. And we need other elected representatives to follow his lead.”

Since the 1930’s, more than 2,300 square miles of Louisiana’s vital marshlands have disappeared. An estimated 200 square miles of coast were destroyed in 2005 by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita alone. Scalise has been a long-time proponent of comprehensive hurricane and flood protection as well as coastal restoration efforts.

A copy of the coalition’s letter is attached, and the full text of the letter follows below:

August 26, 2010

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

We, the undersigned, come together as a broad coalition of elected representatives, community leaders, and stakeholders with a common vision for creating a sustainable and permanent Louisiana coast. We applaud your support for coastal restoration and protection. As you plan your trip to South Louisiana to mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we ask you to reaffirm your commitment to coastal restoration in Louisiana by explicitly offering your support for providing significant short and long-term funding to restore Louisiana’s wetlands beyond restoration of the damage caused directly by the BP spill.

Coastal Louisiana has lost 34 square miles of wetlands annually for the past 50 years. Our coastal wetlands are crucial for our very survival, yet they continue to disappear at an unsustainable rate. During your campaign and the 2009 Katrina anniversary address, you spoke to the need to “strengthen the wetlands and barrier islands that are the Gulf Coast’s first line of defense.” We are greatly appreciative of the commitment you have shown thus far. This year, at the fifth anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, there is no better time to show your solidarity with the people of Louisiana than by expressing your full support for investing the fines collected from BP back into coastal restoration for Louisiana. Carol Browner signaled your support for investing these fines into coastal restoration when she said that you “absolutely support the notion of returning it to the region.” Mr. President, Louisiana’s wetlands are dying, leaving our citizens vulnerable to storm surge and jeopardizing the diverse ecosystem that provides for our abundant wildlife and fisheries. During your visit to Louisiana, we urge you to personally and publicly announce your support for investing the fines associated with this spill in rebuilding Louisiana’s coastal wetlands, as well as moving quickly with large-scale projects that would be credited toward the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process.

A sustained and long-term source of investment in restoring the wetlands is also necessary. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has underscored the fact that coastal states assume the environmental risks of offshore energy production. However, in contrast to onshore states, coastal states receive only a tiny fraction of oil and gas revenues. We urge you to support putting in place a sustained dedicated source for reinvestment into these communities including immediate dedication of a share of federal OCS energy production revenue for coastal protection and restoration projects in impacted states.

Thank you again for the work you have done thus far and the efforts your Administration has made to restore the Gulf and prioritize coastal restoration. We stand jointly and individually ready to partner with you in support of this nationally-vital initiative and look forward to hearing you address these important issues during your visit to Louisiana.

Sincerely,

Governor Bobby Jindal
Senator Mary Landrieu
Senator David Vitter
Congressman Rodney Alexander
Congressman Charles Boustany, M.D.
Congressman Charlie Melancon
Congressman Steve Scalise
Congressman Bill Cassidy, M.D.
Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao
Mayor Mitch Landrieu
Jim Lyon, National Wildlife Federation
Mike Daulton, National Audubon Society
Marcia Aronoff, Environmental Defense Fund
King Milling, America’s Wetland Foundation
Anne Milling, Women of the Storm

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Contact: Stephen Bell
202-870-1461