Charlie Melancon: “Today I ask everyone to join in supporting one of the most critical bills for Louisiana's recovery in the future. The…”

“Today I ask everyone to join in supporting one of the most critical bills for Louisiana's recovery in the future. The Water Resources and Development Act contains several critical authorizations for hurricane protections throughout south Louisiana. WRDA authorizes the closure of the Mississippi River-Gulf outlet, also known as the hurricane corridor after Katrina, which funneled deadly waters into the heart of New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish, destroying thousands upon thousands of homes and businesses. Also authorized in WRDA is the comprehensive hurricane protection system known as Morganza to the Gulf, a 64-mile system of levees, locks, floodgates, and they are all planned to help the people of this region. Morganza would offer hurricane protection to about 120,000 people in south Louisiana who currently have no defense against storms and are like sitting ducks in the path of the next hurricane. This hurricane protection system is so critical and the local communities have been taxing themselves for years to build this system. It is eminent that we get this bill passed.”