[StBernard] Water Resources Bill Approved by U.S. Senate

[Westley Annis]

Dear Friend, 

I wanted to share this information with you on the Senate's recent passage
ofthe Water Resources Development Act, which includes vital coastal, flood
and hurricane protection measures for Louisiana. 

This bill is now headed to the president for his approval andwill soon be
making a positive impact in Louisiana.  

Sincerely, 
David Vitter

For Immediate Release

September 26, 2007


Vitter Applauds Senate Passage of WRDA Bill
Includes Vital Coastal, Hurricane and Flood Protection Measures    

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Sen. David Vitter today applauded the U.S. Senate
passage of the Water Resources Development Act Conference Report.  As a
member of the U.S. Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee and as
U.S. Senate negotiator for the House-Senate legislative conference on the
bill, Vitter was among those who drafted the bill and worked to secure these
critical priorities for Louisiana in the legislation.

           "When I came to the U.S. Senate, the WRDA bill contained only one
project for coastal protection.  I specifically lobbied for a position on
the EPW committee to work on this legislation and am thankful that the
committee has recognized Louisiana's needs and included 17 coastal
restoration projects in this final bill," said Vitter.  "This WRDA bill is
historic.  It authorizes major improvements in hurricane and flood
protection projects for Louisiana.  It closes and restores MRGO.  It
authorizes the full 100-year level of protection for the greater New Orleans
area.  It expedites the authorization process for up to category 5 hurricane
protection for all of south Louisiana, and it initiates comprehensive
coastal restoration for our state."

           The final WRDA agreement also includes Vitter's proposed
Louisiana Water Resources Council comprised of independent experts to
peer-review all Army Corps of Engineers planning and engineering.  It also
creates an integration team to analyze construction plans and ensure
efficient and cost-effective implementation and proper project performance.

           "Hurricanes Katrina and Rita reinforced how necessary integration
and prevention are to preventing and avoiding disastrous flood and storm
damage," said Vitter.

           The Louisiana Coastal Area provisions in WRDA represent the first
comprehensive restoration program for coastal Louisiana, establish a science
and technology program of at least $100 million, require consistency and
integration in all of the programs and ensure that they work together.

           "We're losing a football field every 38 minutes and lost 217
squares miles of coastal wetlands and land in merely two days - the days
that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit our coast," added Vitter.  "These LCA
provisions authorize 16 coastal restoration and protection projects in south
Louisiana totaling billions of dollars and set the groundwork for the
continued long-term efforts to save and protect Louisiana's coast."

           The WRDA Conference Report also authorizes nearly $900 million
for the Morganza to the Gulf hurricane protection project.  This
authorization builds upon the $30 million Vitter provided in the recent
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill and approves construction of 72
miles of levees, 12 floodgates, 12 water control structures and the lock on
the Houma Navigation Canal.

           Other important provisions Vitter secured in the final WRDA
agreement to strengthen south Louisiana's coastal, flood and hurricane
protection, include:

*	$90 million in improvements to the hurricane protection system in
Lafourche Parish
*	$100 million for hurricane protection in Jean Lafitte and lower
Jefferson Parish
*	Language to require the Corps of Engineers to expedite work on the
Inner Harbor Navigation Canal lock project.

           Negotiators also agreed on an expedited authorization process for
future hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects to be
authorized in the U.S. Senate through the category 5 study to be released in
December.   "Prior to the provisions in this final bill, a mechanism to
address pressing protection needs with flexibility and expedited authority
did not exist. This bill lays a foundation for future hurricane, coastal and
flood protection measures," said Vitter. 

           The WRDA Conference Report retained Vitter's MRGO amendment,
which requires the closure of the MRGO, restoration of the lost wetlands and
improvements to prevent storm surge from reaching St. Bernard and Orleans
parishes. 

           "As a Senate negotiator on this legislation, I also worked to
remove harmful provisions threatening the health of Lake Pontchartrain and
holding hostage billions of dollars in coastal and hurricane protection work
in our state for the out-of-date Bonnet Carre diversion," added Vitter.

           WRDA is now headed to the president's desk for approval.  This
summer, Vitter wrote a letter to President Bush pledging to override any
veto threats to the WRDA bill.

           "I will do all I can to ensure that any potential veto of this
vital water resources bill is overturned," Vitter said.  "The WRDA bill is
seven years past due, and as we today commemorate the second year since
Hurricane Rita hit our coast, the administration should remember and respect
the promises they made to Louisiana."

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