Scalise: President’s Establishment of Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force is “Significant Step Forward”

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise today released the following statement after President Barack Obama announced the creation of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. Scalise has been pressing for a coordinated effort between states, local officials, and the federal government, and the formal creation of this partnership is a key component of his bill to dedicate at least 80 percent of BP fines to the Gulf Coast for Coastal Restoration purposes.

“Last month I brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders from across party and political lines with the shared vision of ensuring that fines from the BP spill are reinvested in Gulf Coast states that were impacted by the disaster, and I am glad to see that the administration is embracing and supporting the ideas outlined in my bill,” Scalise said. “The importance of restoring our coast cannot be overstated and it is imperative that we work together without delay to move this legislation forward.”

Scalise’s bill, H.R. 6112, requires that at least 80 percent of the fines assessed to BP under the Clean Water Act be directed to a separate fund for distribution to Gulf States affected by the disaster for the purpose of implementing coastal restoration and other mitigation projects. A copy of the bill can be found at https://thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.6112:

In August, Scalise led a broad, bi-partisan coalition calling for President Barack Obama to support a full and complete plan to restore Louisiana’s eroding coastline, specifically by supporting a reinvestment of fines collected from BP for coastal restoration. More information on the coastal restoration coalition, and a copy of the letter sent to President Obama can be found here.

###

Contact: Stephen Bell
202-226-9113