William Tauzin: “my State, Louisiana, is suffering the worst national ecological disaster in the history of this country. Every year we…”

“my State, Louisiana, is suffering the worst national ecological disaster in the history of this country. Every year we lose up to 35 square miles of the most precious wetlands in America. The comprehensive energy bill we passed yesterday on this House floor and sent to the other body contains money, for the first time, billions of dollars, to address that national economic disaster. Louisiana contributes over $5 billion a year from offshore development. We get less than 1 percent back. That bill we sent to the other body contains billions to begin to restore and protect those vanishing wetlands, the biggest environmental program, bigger than the Chesapeake Bay, bigger than the Everglades. I cannot speak about the other body and how they vote, but let me issue a warning: No one in this Congress who votes against that comprehensive energy bill and that environmental package, no one in this Congress better show their face in south Louisiana if they vote against that comprehensive energy bill.”