[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 491 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 491

  Recognizing the need and importance of providing additional Federal 
 funds for the Secretary of the Army to carry out hurricane, coastal, 
     and flood protection and hurricane and flood damage reduction 
       activities and related features in the State of Louisiana.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               March 31 (legislative day, March 13), 2008

 Mr. Vitter submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
             the Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the need and importance of providing additional Federal 
 funds for the Secretary of the Army to carry out hurricane, coastal, 
     and flood protection and hurricane and flood damage reduction 
       activities and related features in the State of Louisiana.

Whereas the restoration of the infrastructure, hurricane, flood protection, 
        ecosystem, and habitat of the State of Louisiana is critical to the 
        United States economy because--

    (1) Louisiana is the key to United States energy security, providing 
nearly 30 percent of the energy required to power the United States 
economy;

    (2) Louisiana provides more than 25 percent of the seafood consumed in 
the United States;

    (3) Louisiana provides the largest port system in the world (having 5 
of 15 ports with the most total tonnage of all ports in the United States); 
and

    (4) more than 36 States depend on maritime commerce on waterways in 
Louisiana to receive goods and services;

Whereas, in 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated Louisiana, causing the 
        death of more than 1,400, the loss of 217 square miles of coastal land 
        and wetlands, and destroyed the integrity and performance of the 
        hurricane protection system;
Whereas in Louisiana Hurricanes Katrina and Rita initially caused the evacuation 
        and displacement of 1,300,000 residents of Louisiana, destroyed more 
        than 200,000 homes, 40 schools, and 10 hospitals, damaged 835 schools, 
        flooded more than 16,000 businesses, caused the loss of 179,000 jobs, 
        and resulted in property losses of more than $100,000,000,000 in the 
        State;
Whereas Louisiana had a reduction in gross State product of $7,400,000,000 
        during the period beginning on the date of occurrence of Hurricane 
        Katrina and ending on June 30, 2006;
Whereas Federal funds are needed, in addition to the fiscal year 2009 budget 
        request of the President, to reduce the risk to the greater New Orleans, 
        Louisiana, area from storm surges to provide at least an updated 100-
        year protection standard and address associated flood protection needs 
        to meet the President's commitment to complete the Corps of Engineers 
        work necessary for the updated 100-year protection standard for the 
        greater New Orleans area by the 2011 hurricane season;
Whereas, in accordance with section 7012(c) of the Water Resources Development 
        Act of 2007 (121 Stat. 1279), the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Environment and Public Works of the Senate may adopt a resolution to 
        allow for appropriation of additional Federal funds that exceed 25 
        percent of the authorized level for the activities identified in 
        subsection (a) of that section;
Whereas, the historic cost share for current and future work for the Southeast 
        Louisiana Project is 75 percent Federal and 25 percent non-Federal, in 
        accordance with section 533(d) of the Water Resources Development Act of 
        1996 (110 Stat. 3775), as reconfirmed by Congress in subsequent 
        supplemental legislation related to the 2005 hurricanes; and
Whereas, the historic cost share for the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity project 
        is 70 percent Federal and 30 percent non-Federal, in accordance with 
        section 204 of the Flood Control Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 1077), as 
        reconfirmed by Congress in subsequent supplemental legislation: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the urgency for Congress to approve 
        additional Federal funds required by the Corps of Engineers by 
        October 1, 2008, to complete hurricane, coastal, and flood 
        protection and hurricane and flood damage reduction activities 
        and related features to meet the President's commitment to 
        complete the Corps of Engineers work necessary for the updated 
        100-year protection standard for the greater New Orleans area 
        by the 2011 hurricane season; and
            (2) finds that, given the significance and consequences of 
        the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the additional Federal 
        funds to reduce the risk to the greater New Orleans, Louisiana, 
        area from storm surges and to provide at least an updated 100-
        year protection standard and address associated flood 
        protection needs shall be carried out at full Federal expense.
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