U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) renewed his call on Friday for $3 billion in storm surge risk reduction and restoration projects in Louisiana to be included in the Water Resources Development Act, H.R. 5303.
In a letter to leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Boustany called for a signed chief’s report for the Southwest Coastal Louisiana Study to be included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).
“As we continue recovery efforts following this historic flooding, we must repeatedly stress the importance of storm risk reduction projects throughout our state,” Boustany said. “Southwest Louisiana serves as an economic driver for the entire nation, providing critical energy infrastructure and agricultural production, as well as necessary port access allowing for uninterrupted commerce. We must take action to protect Louisianans living and working on our coast. I strongly urge House leadership to authorize these vital projects in this year’s WRDA bill.”
After Hurricane Rita struck Louisiana in September 2005, Boustany found that no comprehensive report had been undertaken to identify southwest Louisiana’s coastline storm surge and coastal erosion threats.
In response, Boustany fought to authorize the Southwest Coastal Louisiana Feasibility Study and secured funding to ensure that it was implemented.
“Throughout the last few weeks, I have traveled to the affected parishes to assess flood damage and assist local, state and federal officials in coordinating resources and recovery efforts on the ground,” Boustany wrote. “Hundreds of thousands of Louisiana residents are suffering in the aftermath of this storm, many having lost everything they own, and some even losing their lives. The need for the storm surge risk reduction projects specified in the Southwest Coastal Louisiana Feasibility Study is now more apparent than ever. I again urge (committee leaders) to include the study’s recommendations, substantially in accordance with the chief’s report dated July 29, 2016, in the 2016 House WRDA legislation.”