WASHINGTON – The United States Senate tonight passed an omnibus appropriations bill on Tuesday.  According to Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., a senior Senate appropriator, the bill includes hundreds of millions of dollars for Louisiana projects secured by the Senator. The legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature.  

According to Politico.com, “the decisive Senate vote came on a 62-35 roll call in which Democrats finally reached the 60-vote super majority threshold that had eluded them only last week. Eight Republicans joined in the motion to cut off debate, allowing Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to succeed even with three of his own Democrats defecting.” 

According to the Washington Post, "The bill appeared in jeopardy again after  Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) demanded a vote on his amendment to force Congress to approve its own cost-of-living increases each year, rather than allowing the raises to take effect automatically. The measure was politically attractive to members of both parties, but it failed after Reid warned it would jettison the entire bill, and vowed to bring the congressional pay issue to the floor separately.

The following are details provided by Senator Landrieu that outlines the costs and benefits to the nation and to Louisiana:

“I am proud to use my seat on the Appropriations Committee to ensure that Louisiana’s needs are not overlooked,” Sen. Landrieu said. “If we relied on Washington and predetermined formulas to fund critical programs, Louisiana would lose out to more densely populated, urban states. I advocated for Louisiana projects in this bill because they are important to the people and communities in my state. There will always be a need to direct appropriations dollars based on the reality on the ground, and I have supported the greater government transparency this legislation includes.”

The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 (H.R. 1105) contains the nine Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bills that were not completed in the 110th Congress. The legislation balances the need to make critical investments in the nation’s future with strict accountability measures to ensure American tax dollars are spent wisely. The Congressionally-directed spending in the legislation has been reduced by five percent since last year.

“This legislation builds on the infrastructure investments in the recently-enacted economic recovery act that sent nearly $4 billion to Louisiana,” Sen. Landrieu said. “This bill represents the Senate’s effort to increase accountability, eliminate wasteful spending and strengthen government programs. The result will be more police officers on the streets, safer highways and better health care service in rural America.”

CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Of the $5.4 billion in the legislation for the Army Corps of Engineers, Sen. Landrieu helped secure approximately $400 million for 68 Louisiana projects. This total includes $13.9 million for dredging the Calcasieu River and Pass and more than $9 million for Comite River Diversion Project construction – a flood control initiative for East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension parishes. 

Sen. Landrieu also inserted language for 20 Corps projects in Louisiana, which will decrease the amount of time required to budget, develop and approve potential projects for construction.

“Hurricanes Katrina and Rita demonstrated the great need in Louisiana for improved storm protection, flood control and coastal restoration,” Sen. Landrieu said. “The $400 million for Louisiana in this appropriations bill, combined with the estimated $460 million for Louisiana Corps projects in the economic recovery legislation, will begin to get shovels in the groundto protect our communities.”

ENERGY

The Omnibus Appropriations Act invests in energy programs nationwide, including for energy efficiency, basic energy science, renewable energy research, nuclear power facilities and technology loan guarantees. 

In addition to the formula funding and grants Louisiana will receive, the bill provides funding for Louisiana energy projects that Sen. Landrieu secured. This includes $1.9 million for the Clean Power Energy Research Consortium, a joint venture among Louisiana universities to promote alternative fuels. Participating Louisiana universities include Louisiana State University, the University of New Orleans, Tulane, Southern University, Nicholls State University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Senator Landrieu also secured $427,250 for Bionanotechnology Research at Louisiana Technical University, which will focus on alternative energy such as algae-to-biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol, coal-to-liquids and coal gasification.

“Louisiana is proud to be both an oil and gas producing state and on the front lines of the alternative energy revolution,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Louisiana’s universities will play a key role in advancing technology and ensuring that our state is part of new energy solutions.”  

TRANSPORTATION

This appropriations bill also addresses key transportation programs that were underfunded by the previous administration. The measure provides $40.7 billion for national highway construction, $15.39 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration and $10.1 billion for national transit projects.

The legislation also addresses many of Louisiana’s specific transportation infrastructure needs. In all, 27 Louisiana projects received a total of more than $21 million, which Sen. Landrieu secured, including about $1 million for improvements to Louisiana Highway 1 – a critical energy corridor – and $1.9 million for Interstate 69 in Shreveport.

EDUCATION

            The omnibus appropriations bill includes billions of dollars for national education initiatives, including programs for disabled and disadvantaged students, Pell grants for college students, Head Start and afterschool programs.

In addition to these initiatives, Sen. Landrieu championed Louisiana education projects that will receive millions of dollars in this appropriations bill. The Landrieu-sponsored funding includes: $951,000 for Louisiana Tech University for a K-12 cyberspace education program in cooperation with members of the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology of North Louisiana; $714,000 for the St. Bernard Parish School Board for educational programming, including the purchase of educational equipment for a cultural arts facility; $428,000 for the University of New Orleans for supporting and developing charter and district-run public schools in New Orleans; and $381,000 for Northwestern State University for technology upgrades.

HEALTHCARE