III 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 491 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

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.