Kennedy, Feinstein introduce Legislation to Eradicate Nutria

Cassidy, other Senators introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Health Care Professionals’ Mental Health Amid COVID-19
July 30, 2020
Thibodaux Regional Health System partners with Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for Students Safe Return to School
July 30, 2020
Cassidy, other Senators introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Health Care Professionals’ Mental Health Amid COVID-19
July 30, 2020
Thibodaux Regional Health System partners with Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for Students Safe Return to School
July 30, 2020

*Correction: The legislation would authorize an additional $6 million—to a total of $12 million—a year to increase assistance for states participating in the Nutria Eradication Program, not the $8 million the original release cited.



From the Office of Sen. John Kennedy:

Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) have introduced legislation to amend the Nutria Eradication and Control Act.

The legislation would authorize an additional $8 million a year to increase assistance for states participating in the Nutria Eradication Program, which provides funding to states that implement initiatives to eradicate the invasive species. The measure also makes financial assistance proportional to the total area of a state that is affected by nutria.


“Louisiana’s wetlands protect our state from hurricanes and other serious storms. For years, nutria have devoured miles of our marshes, and some areas have no chance of growing back. This bill would help prevent these invasive swamp rats from further destroying Louisiana’s marshland,” said Kennedy.

“The explosive population growth of the nutria rodent could overwhelm our farms and wetlands if we don’t take aggressive action now. In California, there could be as many as 250,000 nutria within five years that could cause more than $1.2 billion a year in agriculture losses and eradication costs. Our bill will make all states eligible for federal funds to control this invasive species and stop its spread before we lose control of the situation,” said Feinstein.