Gulf Coast Restoration Projects Spotlighted During Committee Field Hearing

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a field hearing in Thibodaux, La., to hear from local witnesses on the role the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority plays in restoring the state's coast and protecting communities through domestic energy production.

"Reforming the broken permitting process, increasing American energy production and making communities more resilient are important legislative initiatives House Republicans have pursued this Congress. Today, we heard from witnesses in Louisiana who are on the front lies of many of these issues, restoring critical coastline with the help of American-made energy. Committee Republicans remain committed to replicating these successes across the country."- House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)

"Louisiana is a powerhouse for our nation's economy, contributing significantly to the trade, seafood, culture, and energy needs in all 50 states. Today's hearing and tour was designed to help connect the threats to Louisiana as threats to the entire nation. The coastal land loss, hurricane threat, and the flooding threat constitute threats to our national energy security, national economic security, will add to America's trade deficit, and increase our dependence upon foreign seafood treated with illegal chemicals. There are solutions. This field hearing is our opportunity to show Congress firsthand why our restoration and protection efforts are crucial and why we need consistent, strong support to keep our coast - and coastal economy - thriving."- U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.)

Background

Louisiana's location, local resources and leadership in addressing coastal land loss and restoration serve as a valuable case study on how to best manage America's rich diversity of natural resources. State entities like the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority have developed successful strategies and solutions that can be applied to coastal communities around the world. Louisiana's beneficial relationship between energy production and environmental protection, combined with the challenges the state faces when dealing with the federal permitting process, provides an important policy perspective for those on the federal level.

Today's hearing allowed members to hear from local witnesses on these strategies and ways to implement successful projects both in Louisiana and other parts of the country. To learn more, click here.