Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-Lafayette) today was named to two key House Transportation & Infrastructure panels that have broad jurisdiction over legislation that affects all of Louisiana’s citizens.  Boustany has been tapped to serve on the Highways, Transit and Pipelines Subcommittee, as well as the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.

“Both of these panels cover the many challenges that continue to confront our state, particularly in the wake of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina,” Boustany said.  “I am eager to continue finding solutions to Louisiana’s transportation needs.”

In the 110th Congress, the Highways, Transit and Pipelines Subcommittee will begin work on the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.  The current authorization bill, which provides key federal funding for highway and transit construction projects as well as state highway and trucking safety programs, expires in 2009.  The subcommittee oversees approximately 75 percent of the budgetary resources at the Department of Transportation, and has jurisdiction over the work of six agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

“Billions of dollars of consumer goods are transported over Louisiana’s highways on a daily basis,” Boustany said.  “We deserve to receive the necessary funding to improve our roads and make them safe for citizens throughout our state.  I will continue to do all that I can to convince my Democratic colleagues that highway improvements, as well as the completion of I-49, are priorities for all of us in Southwest Louisiana.”

The Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee has jurisdiction over matters relating to water resources development, conservation and management, water pollution control and water infrastructure.  The panel also has jurisdiction over issues of particular concern to Louisiana such as flood control, levees, coastal restoration, wetlands conservation, and wastewater infrastructure, as well as oversight of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  In the 110th Congress, U.S. Representative Richard Baker (R-Baton Rouge) will serve as the panel’s ranking member.

“I look forward to working with my friend and colleague, Richard Baker, to highlight the severity of the issues affecting Louisiana’s coast, particularly protecting our wetlands and property from future disaster,” Boustany added.  “The failure to get a comprehensive Water Resources Development Act completed in the last Congress was a disappointment, but I’m confident that we can address this comprehensive bill in the next two years.  I also look forward to pressing the Corps of Engineers to complete their study of hurricane protection for Southwest Louisiana.”

As Vice-Chairman of the Water Resources Subcommittee in the 109th Congress, Representative Boustany secured funding for the first-ever U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study of hurricane protection in Cameron, Calcasieu and Vermilion Parishes.  The study includes looking into the feasibility of a 12 foot armored levee along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW).  It is the first step in providing hurricane protection and storm damage reduction to the coastal parishes of Southwest Louisiana.