(Washington, DC) – Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr. M.D. (R-South Louisiana) issued the following statement after having important maritime language inserted in the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill:

“I am pleased to have the Notice of Arrival (NOA) Act included in Coast Guard Reauthorization bill.  I introduced the NOA Act to ensure a notice of arrival is not required for certain documented vessels. I am proud this language was incorporated into the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill so Louisiana offshore service businesses will be able to earn a living while continuing to create jobs off the coast of South Louisiana while not being overburdened with regulations.

“I would also like to thank Congressional leadership in working with my office to strip the stand-by vessel provision language creating excessive regulations on the energy and maritime industries. This short-sighted language sought to implement unnecessary regulations when current operating standards already addressed safety. Having heard from numerous voices in South Louisiana, this language would not have enhanced safety. Instead, it would have increased costs for those in the energy and maritime industry by $400 million annually.

“I strongly encourage the Senate to quickly pass this bill in its current form so the President may sign it into law as soon as possible.”

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