Results of Meetings on Future Bill with Members of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation

I just returned home from my meetings in New Orleans with members of U.S. Senator David Vitter's staff and Congressman Bobby Jindal's staff. Both meetings were productive and went very well. We discussed SaveBigEasy.org's ideas for a bill in Congress in regards to the creation of a comprehensive Category 5 hurricane and flood protection system as well as a board that would oversee its construction.

Currently, the delegation is focused squarely on two bills that would give the state of Louisiana a percentage of all offshore energy royalties gained from oil drilling near its coast. If passed, the measures would provide the state with a large, annual sum of money. These bills have worked their way to a conference committee between the House of Representatives and the Senate. After those two bills are merged into one and its fate is determined, we will have further discussions about the proposal of a Category 5 hurricane and flood protection bill. In the meantime, SaveBigEasy.org will continue to work on behalf of New Orleans for upgraded hurricane protection to strengthen itself for the future.

Overall, the meetings were successful in that we were able to make new connections and gauge the position of some of Louisiana's representatives in Congress. In addition, SaveBigEasy.org received support for its goals and its work.