Louisiana taxpayers might not have to pay $1.3 billion in loan interest for New Orleans levee system
House passes water resources development act By Kimberly Curth | December 21, 2020 at 5:03 PM CST - Updated December 21 at 10:22 PM
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) -After weeks of negotiations, Congress is set to vote on a Coronavirus relief package Monday, but lawmakers will also vote on an attached measure to the overall funding bill that could impact future coastal restoration and flood protection in the New Orleans area. It’s part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, known as WRDA.
“Who’s going to be helped by this deal; Louisiana taxpayers immediately. I don’t know where the Louisiana legislature was going to find this money, this $1.3 billion, but I have a pretty good idea it was out of people’s pockets and so we saved $1.3 billion and that’s a good thing anytime,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana.
Louisiana Advanced Record-Breaking Number of Coastal Restoration Projects in 2020 Despite Challenges
Photo Credit: Atchafalaya Rising
In spite of this year’s many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and seven storms impacting the state, coastal restoration remained a priority for Louisiana in 2020. According to the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), Louisiana advanced 112 coastal projects this year, including 49 projects in construction.
“In a year of unprecedented challenges, our team at CPRA pressed forward with unrelenting focus in order to advance projects and deliver results to the citizens of coastal Louisiana,” CPRA Chairman and Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities Chip Kline said. “This year, like perhaps no other year since 2005, showcased the continued and dire need for the work that we do.”