Scalise Urges Swift Action on Coastal Restoration
Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement regarding the Gulf Coast Interagency Working Group’s initial report on coastal restoration, protection and sustainability.
“While I am encouraged that the Administration is paying attention to our coastal restoration needs in Louisiana, what we really need from the President is a clear commitment not just to study the problems, but also to authorize and fund immediate revenue sharing so we can restore the coastal wetlands that have eroded, and re-establish the barrier to weaken future storms and protect our communities from flooding,” Scalise said. “In order to provide category five flood protection and properly protect Southeast Louisiana from future storms, we must combine coastal restoration efforts with stronger levees and also barriers that prevent storm surge from entering Lake Pontchartrain.”
Scalise is a long-time proponent of comprehensive hurricane and flood protection as well as coastal restoration efforts that include:
- Coastal Restoration, which could be funded by immediate sharing of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues, to rebuild the damage done by coastal erosion and protect us against future storms, and
Barrier protection at the Rigolets and Chef Menteur passes to prevent storm surge from entering Lake Pontchartrain, - Levee protection for Slidell
- Improvements to the W-14 and Schneider’s Canal in the Slidell area
- Strengthening of the interior canals at 17th Street and Orleans and London Avenues, comprised in Option 2A which includes the “Pump to the River” plan.
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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309