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Dr. Charles Boustany (R-Lafayette) issued the following statement after the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council announced that they will award a project grant totaling $7,259,216 to Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies (RESTORE) Act. The primary objective of the project is to address Gulf shoreline erosion and replenish storm surge protection by building an enhanced dune and back barrier marsh habitat in Jefferson Parish

Dr. Charles Boustany (R-Lafayette) supported passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 (H.R. 5303). This vital legislation authorizes United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) projects and activities to improve maritime infrastructure, support specific flood protection projects, and continue coastal restoration efforts in Louisiana. WRDA has passed the House by a vote of 399 – 25. The bill now heads to conference with S. 2848, which cleared the Senate by a vote of 95 – 3 earlier this month

In June 2016, Governor Edwards announced the formation of the Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment. The Task Force is working to find investment solutions to address transportation needs in Louisiana and will ultimately issue a recommendation to the Governor for legislative action in 2017.

Today at noon, the City of New Orleans will list over 170 new adjudicated properties available for sale at CivicSource.com external link. These properties were adjudicated to the City due to unpaid property taxes. The properties went unsold at tax sale and in many cases have been off the tax rolls for years, not generating annual tax revenues for the City

Mayor Landrieu and City officials reminded residents that new flood insurance rates are going into effect on Sept. 30, 2016. More than 53 percent of all properties in New Orleans were removed from Special Flood Hazard Areas (“A” zones) and as a result, will benefit from more affordable flood insurance

Mayor Mitch Landrieu will join City Officials to remind residents of the updates to the new FEMA flood insurance rates that go into effect for New Orleans this Friday, Sept. 30, 2016.

Regional leaders and stakeholders along with industry and economic development partners attended a meeting of Governor John Bel Edwards’ Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment to discuss infrastructure concerns, plans and funding in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. The Houma - Thibodaux Metropolitan Planning Organization and the South Central Planning and Development Commission hosted the meeting at SCPDC in Houma, Tuesday evening, at 6 p.m

U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) issued the following statement regarding today’s passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA) out of the U.S. Senate. WRDA 2016 will help improve flood control, water infrastructure development, and coastal hurricane protection throughout Louisiana. After today’s overwhelmingly bipartisan passage, the legislation will head to the House of Representatives, who could vote on the legislation next week. As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Vitter was essential in authoring and advancing WRDA 2016.

Jefferson Parish has received notice of selection through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance program for four (4) project applications with 36 reconstruction properties and 115 elevation properties that meet FEMA’s priorities described below. This total of $28.9M is the largest federal share to a single jurisdiction in this 2016 funding cycle. In addition to elevation and reconstruction components at each identified location, Jefferson Parish has included climate resilience mitigation measures such as rain barrels, pervious pavement, and bio-swales into the applications in an effort to assist with erosion control and water retention

Regional leaders and stakeholders along with industry and economic development partners attended a regional meeting of Governor John Bel Edwards’ Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment on Monday. Hosted by the North Louisiana Economic Partnership and the Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments, the meeting was held at the BHP Billiton in Shreveport

U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) joined the Louisiana Congressional delegation and the Delta Regional Authority’s (DRA) Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill in announcing $72 million of investments to go toward supporting economic development, entrepreneurs, workforce training, and job creation in Louisiana’s Delta region.

Regional leaders and stakeholders along with industry and economic development partners attended the first meeting of Governor John Bel Edwards’ Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment. Hosted by GNO, Inc. and the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, the meeting was held at the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s Regional Transportation Management Center

Dr. Charles Boustany (R-Lafayette) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded $5,701,387 in grant funding to five Louisiana organizations under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program.

Sami Khalil, Storm Water Management Supervisor with the Department of Environmental Affairs has been selected as one of three top winners for the WEF National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards program.

Yesterday, U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.), Chairman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee (SBC), hosted the Honorable Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Honorable Julian Castro, Secretary of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in South Louisiana as they toured the flood-impacted areas in Livingston, Ascension, and East Baton Rouge parishes