On the anniversary of Hurricane Rita, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and U.S. Senator, Mary Landrieu tonight urged President Bush to sign the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA) into law, after the US Senate voted today 81-12 to approve the bill. WRDA now heads to the White House for approval. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill.

"I am asking the President to rescind his veto threat and sign this bill into law. WRDA will authorize billions of dollars to strengthen Louisiana's levees and to protect our coast," said Governor Blanco. "We have waited years for WRDA, and we cannot wait any longer. If we are to be prepared for future storms, we must act now."

According to Governor Blanco, WRDA would authorize $3.6 billion in critical restoration and protection projects for Louisiana, including the Morganza To The Gulf

According to Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., the bill has $3.6 billion, or 17 percent of its total, for hurricane protection, flood control and navigation projects in Louisiana. It will now be sent to the President’s desk for signature, but he has threatened to veto the bill.

Sen. Landrieu said:

“Today the Senate put an end to the seven-year wait for the authorizations necessary to invest in critical water projects for our nation. We have been waiting for a green light for these projects -- for wetland protection, dredging our vital navigable waters and ports, for flood protection, for levees, and, in Louisiana’s case, for a breakthrough, historic commitment to coastal restoration and flood protection.

“This bill is a key part of our Katrina and Rita recovery package. South Louisiana cannot recover fully without the $3.6 billion in authorizations in the bill, a historic high for Louisiana that includes a significant step toward a comprehensive coastal restoration system.

“A quarter of America’s oil and gas is either supplied or transported through the Mississippi River Delta in South Louisiana, but this energy infrastructure is at great risk and is vulnerable. That’s why this bill and the security it provides is important, not just to Louisiana but to the country.

“I am asking the President to reconsider his veto threat. But if he vetoes the bill, I am joining with my Louisiana colleagues in working to override it.”

Unrelated to WRDR, the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding commented on the Second Anniversary of Hurricane Rita which caused over $11 billion in damage to southwest Louisiana, southeast Texas, and parts of Mississippi and Arkansas”  Today we pause to note both the second anniversary of Hurricane Rita and the courageous perseverance of the people affected by it,” Powell said. “These folks are quietly rebuilding their lives and their communities and I want to emphasize that they are not forgotten. I am always open to hear their concerns, and am eager to continue the dialog we have maintained over the last two years. The people of this region continue to rise to the historic challenge of recovery, and demonstrate an ability to be industrious and hardworking when it comes to their rebuilding.”  Rita made landfall on September 24, 2005 as a category 3 hurricane devastating nearly everything in its path and taking 120 lives. Including the response to Hurricane Katrina, the federal government allocated over $110 billion toward the region’s rebuilding efforts. For the last twenty-two months, the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding has been engaged in facilitating and streamlining various components of the recovery effort, providing key federal support and resources to local leaders, and reinforcing the federal government’s  commitment to the people of the Gulf Coast”.

In a statement forwarded to Bayoubuzz, Donald Powell, did not mention whether  he would be in favor of the WRDR bill, however, his support of the legislation certainly would be useful to prevent a Presidential veto.



 

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