Coastal Restoration

Louisiana’s coastal wetlands are home to nearly one-third of the domestic seafood consumed in the lower 48 states and eighty percent of American offshore energy production occurs off our delicate coast.  Our coastline also provides critical protection against hurricanes and the destructive storm surge that subsequently threatens property and lives.  

The Louisiana Congressional delegation worked to secure passage of historic legislation that opens 8.3 million new acres in the Gulf of Mexico to oil and natural gas production and shares 37.5 percent of new revenues with coastal, energy-producing states, including Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.  These critical funds will be used for wetlands restoration, hurricane protection and flood control projects.  Louisiana is projected to receive at least $13 billion over the next 30 years under the 2006 law. 

I have worked hard to ensure Southwest Louisiana remains a priority in plans to rebuild Gulf wetlands and provide comprehensive hurricane and storm protection.  The Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) study, the largest coastal restoration project in American history, contains a project I championed, the Southwest Coastal Louisiana Study.  As the first comprehensive hurricane protection and coastal restoration effort in our area, this study will identify and expedite critical projects to protect and rebuild coastal communities in Vermilion, Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes.  I also successfully pushed the state legislature to ensure Southwest Louisiana has adequate representation on the Governor’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA).

Ensuring the Gulf is fully restored in the wake of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster is also a priority.  I support the Gulf Coast Restoration Act which, among other things, creates a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, and ensures that BP fines pay for the restoration of the coast. 

Be assured, I remain committed to the restoration of the Gulf Coast and will continue to work with the Corps of Engineers, state and local officials and stakeholders to expedite these plans to restore our precious wetlands. 

If you would like to speak with my staff about coastal restoration and water resources legislation, please contact my Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-2031.