Louisiana Recovery Authority Board Member Lauds Congress for WRDA Passage

By Anonymous

A member of the Louisiana Recovery Authority’s board is praising the U.S. Senate for passing a water bill that provides more than $3.6 billion for hurricane-protection projects in Louisiana.

Chet Morrison is urging President Bush to sign the bill.

The U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year passed similar WRDA legislation, so the act only requires the signature of the president to become law.

The last Water Resources Development Act was approved about seven years ago.

Morrison said the Senate, in approving WRDA this week, “made another significant commitment to Louisiana’s recovery.”

WRDA funds would establish the Louisiana’s Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration project, expedite closure of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet and establish the Morganza to the Gulf project and other projects,” Morrison said.

The projects “will enhance protection for our wetlands, navigation routes and our seafood rich coastal communities,” he said. “WRDA can easily be described as one of the most important pieces of legislation passed by Congress in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.”

Passage of the legislation “gives new hope and confidence to the people of Louisiana that more than two years after the worst natural and man-made disaster in U.S. history, our long-term recovery needs have not been forgotten,” he said.

“We urge President Bush to follow Congress’ lead, sign this bill into law and renew the commitment he made in Jackson Square to ‘do what it takes’ to help citizens throughout Louisiana and the Gulf Coast to rebuild their communities and their lives.”

Credit: CityBusiness Staff Report

(Copyright 2007 Dolan Media Newswires)

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