Members of Louisiana's congressional delegation say planned flood and hurricane risk reduction projects in the state would not be in jeopardy under a White House proposal to divert money and other resources from the Army Corps of Engineers to build a 315-mile barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border.The Trump administration brought forward the proposal Thursday (Jan. 10) as their stalemate… Read more »
The recreational fishing and boating community is celebrating the enactment of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018 (Modern Fish Act), which was signed into law by President Trump Dec. 31. The Modern Fish Act finally recognizes in federal law the differences between recreational and commercial fishing and adds more appropriate management tools for policymakers to… Read more »
((Editor's Note: This story has been revised from an earlier version to update information about the size of the contract that had been incorrectly provided by the state.)) The lead agency overseeing an expected $1.2 billion federal windfall that will help fund flood-control related projects around Louisiana has issued a Request for Proposals for a program manager to provide support… Read more »
As saltwater anglers in Sportsman's Paradise, we are blessed with abundant fisheries resources off our coast. Today, we are grateful to our members of Congress who understand the value of America's fisheries and the public's access to those resources.On Dec. 19, Congress passed legislation known as the Modern Fish Act (S. 1520) to improve the way recreational fisheries are managed in… Read more »
Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) and Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (U.S. Virgin Islands) introduced new disaster relief legislation in the House of Representatives this week to help impacted states and communities recover faster, better and at lower costs to taxpayers. H.R. 7322 is a bipartisan solution for the costly and bureaucratic delays in the current system, and it… Read more »
Graves-Wicker Landmark Fisheries Reform Bill Headed to White HouseThe Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018 (Modern Fish Act) passed the U.S. House of Representatives today with a 350-11 vote. This landmark legislation addresses the challenges faced by recreational anglers in the current federal fisheries management system and brings a balance of management between… Read more »
The National Flood Insurance Program has lurched along for more than a year as lawmakers on Capitol Hill have deadlocked over how to overhaul the debt-laden federal program that underwrites most of the nation's flood coverage.But Louisiana's lawmakers are looking forward to January, optimistic that fresh blood on key congressional committees will crack the gridlock.Politicians and… Read more »
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will put $180 million more into navigation and flood-control projects in Louisiana during the upcoming year, the agency announced this week.The work will include a roughly $16.3 million investment in flood-prevention work around the New Orleans area, about $1.75 million for wastewater pumping stations in Baton Rouge and nearly $100 million for dredging and… Read more »
State officials are still waiting on action from the Trump administration before paying out millions in Restore Louisiana flood recovery money to homeowners who'd taken out Small Business Administration disaster loans.Congress changed federal law in October to allow 2016 Louisiana flood victims who tapped SBA disaster loans to also receive grants. But federal officials at the White House… Read more »
A waiver to release money after the Duplication of Benefits fix has delayed state distribution of funds to additional households affected by the 2016 floods, a move which has angered Congressman Garret Graves.The 45-day window has expired for President Trump to sign the waiver, a move implemented through government bureaucracy, Graves told The News in an interview Wednesday.The unsigned… Read more »
