Rep. Melancon Secures $800,000 for South Louisiana Infrastructure Projects in House Bill

Secures Earmarks for Belle Chasse Bridge, New Iberia Multipurpose Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 24, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that includes $800,000 in earmarks Congressman Charlie Melancon (LA-03) secured for projects in the Third Congressional District.  The funding was included in the fiscal year 2010 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill (H.R. 3288).  This annual funding bill invests in transportation infrastructure, transportation safety, neighborhood revitalization, rural economic development, foreclosure prevention, and housing assistance for the disabled, elderly, homeless veterans, and other vulnerable Americans. Secures Earmarks for Belle Chasse Bridge, New Iberia Multipurpose Center
July 24, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that includes $800,000 in earmarks Congressman Charlie Melancon (LA-03) secured for projects in the Third Congressional District.  The funding was included in the fiscal year 2010 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill (H.R. 3288).  This annual funding bill invests in transportation infrastructure, transportation safety, neighborhood revitalization, rural economic development, foreclosure prevention, and housing assistance for the disabled, elderly, homeless veterans, and other vulnerable Americans.

“Transportation and infrastructure projects are critical investments in south Louisiana’s economic development,” said Rep. Melancon.  “There are many deserving projects in the Third Congressional District, and in a year when earmarks were being slashed, I am pleased House leadership supported my funding requests for these two projects in Belle Chasse and New Iberia.  As Congress writes the new five-year transportation authorization bill this year, I will work to secure authorization for more south Louisiana projects so they will be in line for future federal funding.”

Congressman Melancon secured the following earmarks in the House-passed Transportation and HUD appropriations bill:

• $500,000 for Belle Chasse Bridge in Plaquemines Parish. Funding will be used by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development toward the architecture and engineering phase of a new bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, replacing the existing tunnel in Plaquemines Parish.

• $300,000 for the New Iberia Multi-Use Conference Center.  The City of New Iberia will use the funding toward construction of a multi-use center in New Iberia, which will be used as an evacuation center and supply hub during emergencies.

A complete list of the earmarks Congressman Melancon requested for the Third Congressional District this year can be found on his website by clicking here.

A list of the Louisiana transportation projects Congressman Melancon has requested authorization for in the bill currently being drafted by Congress can be found here.