Press Releases

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill by Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) to reauthorize the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Program. H.R. 4275 is a five-year reauthorization that Graves and lead cosponsor Rep. Cedric Richmond introduced last year, encouraging the continued success of Lake Pontchartrain and adjacent lakes and waterways, and the basin's communities, fisheries, and abundant resources critical to South Louisiana and the nation.

CLICK TO WATCH: Congressman Graves talks about H.R. 4275 prior to passage.

"More than one-third of Louisianans live in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin – fishing its lakes, boating along its waterways, building businesses and growing their families with its resources – and it's the setting of a way of life that makes South Louisiana the best place to live in America," said Graves. "Louisiana sits at the base of the largest drainage system in North America and bears the brunt of flooding, water management and other issues that the Mississippi River Watershed's 32 states and 2 Canadian provinces send our way. This bill makes sure we can rise to that challenge and continue the work needed to protect, preserve, and promote the health of Lake Pontchartrain and the success of this nationally important region."

Last year, Congressman Graves invited the Executive Director of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, Kristi Trail, to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Watch her testimony here.

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