WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) secured Louisiana priorities in S.3021, America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which passed the U.S. Senate today. This legislation authorizes the first steps toward reducing flooding and deepening navigation channels across Louisiana.
“As we saw with the 2016 floods that affected nearly every parish in Louisiana, flooding is devastating. It ruins homes and disrupts lives. The best thing we can do to help Louisiana families is to prevent flooding from happening,” said Sen. Kennedy. “This legislation will help us work toward putting strong flood control measures in place. Next, Congress needs to finally reform the National Flood Insurance Program so it’s affordable and sustainable.”
Highlights from the bill include:
- J. Bennett Johnston Waterway 12’ Channel deepening study authorization
- At issue is whether to deepen the channel in order to allow barges to carry bigger loads.
- Northshore flood risk reduction study authorization
- Project to protect St. Tammany Parish.
- Ouachita-Black Rivers navigation study authorization
- At issue is a channel between Jonesville and Arkansas.
- Expedite completion of the following authorized channel deepening studies and flood damage reduction and ecosystem restoration:
- Baptiste Collette Bayou Study (Plaquemines Parish)
- Houma Navigation Canal Study (Terrebonne Parish)
- Bayou Lafourche Study (Lafourche Parish)
- Project for flood damage reduction and ecosystem restoration, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
- Expedite completion of the following authorized flood protection projects:
- Morganza to the Gulf
- Project to protect the Houma area from hurricanes.
- Morganza to the Gulf
- Louisiana Coastal Area
- A number of projects, including Convent/Blind River and Plaquemines Parish.
- Louisiana Coastal Area - Barataria Basin Barrier
- Project to improve areas of Lafourche Parish.
- West Shore Lake Pontchartrain
- Levee to protect the parishes of St. John the Baptist, St. James and St. Charles from hurricanes.
- Southwest Coastal Louisiana
- Project to protect parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermilion and restore ecosystems.
- Expedite completion of flood and hurricane protection projects in disaster areas:
- Minimize and manage flood risk in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
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