Cassidy Urges House Leadership to Support Louisiana's Coastal Restoration

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy, M.D. delivered a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor, urging them to support Louisiana's efforts to restore the coast.

Last week, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's Office of Coastal Activities released the final draft of our state's Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast (CMP), a 172 page, step-by-step guide outlining how to save and restore our rapidly eroding coastline, waterways, and wetlands.  This plan is the culmination of countless hours of input and consensus building by elected officials, coastal scientists, industry leaders, and of course the citizens who call the coast their home.

"Today, I respectfully requested that Speaker Boehner and Leader Cantor review our state's Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast (CMP).  I strongly believe they will agree that Louisiana has both the detailed and comprehensive plan needed to restore our coast and the capable, effective, and honest leadership necessary to implement it," said Congressman Cassidy.

"I also urge leadership to support and move forward H.R. 3096, The RESTORE Act.  This critical legislation would ensure that at least 80% of the fines collected from the Gulf Oil Spill responsible parties go the states most affected."

The text of Congressman Cassidy's letter is below, and the Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast (CMP) can be downloaded HERE.

The Honorable John A. Boehner
Speaker of the House
United States House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC  20515

The Honorable Eric Cantor
Majority Leader
United States House of Representatives
H-329, The Capitol
Washington, DC  20515

Dear Mr. Speaker & Mr. Leader,

The coast and wetlands of Louisiana are not just uninhabited areas that need to be preserved for their recreational and asthetic value.  They are home to some of America's most important sources of domestic energy production.  These refineries, pipelines, and distribution centers provide good paying jobs for thousands of Louisiana citizens and affordable energy for millions of Americans.  However, unless we take immediate action to restore the wetlands and barrier islands that offer the best protection for them from hurricanes, they are all at risk for a disruption or shutdown that would have a calamitous effect on energy prices throughout the country.  In addition, when a hurricane approaches a Gulf Coast city like New Orleans, they offer our only hope of weakening these storms and preventing the next Katrina.  Simply put, it is in America's vital interest to have a vibrant and restored Louisiana coastline.

Last week, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana released the final draft of our state's Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast (CMP), a 172 page, step-by-step guide outlining how to save and restore our rapidly eroding coastline, waterways, and wetlands.  This plan is the culmination of countless hours of input and consensus building by elected officials, coastal scientists, industry leaders, and of course the citizens who call the coast their home.

The plan lists in great detail the numerous projects that are essential to the rehabilitation and restoration of Louisiana's coastal areas.  Most of these projects are not new proposals, and in fact many of them have been on the drawing board for decades.  However, what makes this year's CMP so significant and promising is the likelihood of two previously unforeseen revenue streams which will finally allow for construction of these critical projects to commence.

The first of these revenue sources, scheduled to begin in Fiscal Year 2017, would provide Louisiana with 37.5% of the royalties from oil and gas extracted in the deep waters off the Louisiana coastline.  It is essential to note, however, that a state constitutional amendment adopted by Louisiana voters in 2006 ensures that all revenues received as a result of this new source be used only for the type of coastal restoration projects spelled out in the CMP, and specifically prohibits it from being used as general government revenue.

The second source arises from the billions of dollars in fines that BP and other responsible parties will be paying out for their role in the Gulf Oil Spill.  Needless to say, this is a revenue source that all of us in Louisiana and throughout the Gulf Coast wish had never arisen.  That said, with the damage inflicted on our shores and our economy as a result of the spill, it is only fair that the majority of this private money be directed towards the coastal restoration projects identified in the CMP.  to that end, I would again urge you to support and help bring to the House Floor H.R. 3096, the RESTORE Act, which would ensure that at least 80% of all the fines collected from the Gulf Oil Spill responsible parties go to the states most affected.

I raise these issues again because recent reports have suggested that both of these revenue sources may be targeted in the coming months for other purposes.  For example, it has been widely speculated that the increased offshore royalty revenues scheduled to begin in 2017 may be diverted from the Gulf Coast states and instead used as a funding source for a multi-year surface transportation bill.  Such a development would be nothing short of tragic for the people of Louisiana, who have planned and prepared for the numerous coastal restoration projects within the CMP with the expectation that the law passed in 2006 to provide that funding would be maintained.  Similarly, without passage of the RESTORE Act or similar legislation, there is no guarantee that the fines paid for the destruction of our coast and waterways during the Gulf Oil Spill will be used for restoration of those resources and not on typical government spending.

For the last half century, Louisiana has played a pivotal role in providing the energy resources our country has needed to keep up with America's exceptional growth.  This is a legacy we are proud of, but one that we have paid the price for with the rapid deterioration of our coast and wetlands as a result.  All fifty states and our country as a whole are faced with innumerable challenges right now, but none other than Louisiana faces the challenge of losing a football field sized area of our land every 38 minutes, and the danger of another hurricane-related catastrophe that worsens every day this issue is not addressed.

I respectfully request that you and your staff take the time to review the CMP, a copy of which I am enclosing with this letter.  I strongly believe you will agree that Louisiana has both the detailed, comprehensive plan needed to restore our coast and the capable, effective, and honest leadership necessary to implement it.

Sincerely,

Bill Cassidy