Lawmakers push for WRDA vote

U.S. Rep. Charles “Charlie” Melancon, D-Napoleonville, said he’s optimistic the Water

Resources Development Act is going to pass, but he just doesn’t know when.

“We’re optimistic it’s going to happen, but when, that’s anybody’s guess right now,” said Melancon.

The WRDA bill contains authorization for $900 million for the Morganza-to-the-Gulf levee project.

It also authorizes a $90 million plan for stronger, higher levees as part of the Larose to Golden Meadow project and billions of dollars more in comprehensive coastal restoration and protection work in south Louisiana under the Louisiana Coastal Area project.

The bill is currently on the U.S. Senate side of the legislature and Melancon explained the Senate runs on a whole different schedule than the House.

One thing is for certain, however. The Senate has until Oct. 1 to get all its appropriations bills passed.

But, it’s a bit behind, only passing three or four of the 12 or 13 appropriations bills it must pass, according to the law.

“They’ve got a lot of work to do in a short period of time,” said Melancon.

If Congress fails to pass all the bills by the deadline or recognizes it will be unable to meet the deadline, two things can happen.

It can pass a continuing resolution, which would expand the deadline a month with a drop-dead date to get the bills passes.

It can also roll all the appropriations bills up into one giant omnibus bill for passage.

Melancon the WRDA bill can also be held up with an anonymous hold or with a lack of cloture.

Any member of the Senate can place an anonymous hold on the bill to prevent it from advancing for whatever reason, as was the case during last year’s legislative session when Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn put a hold on WRDA.

And a lack of cloture means the Senate is unable to get enough votes (60) to end debate on the bill.

Melancon also said the key will be for the Senate to approve the bill with enough support that it becomes veto-proof.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-LA, sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV earlier this month urging the Majority Leader to schedule passage of the WRDA Conference Report before October.

“Quick passage in the Senate is the concrete action that is needed now,” wrote Vitter. “We must not allow the Iraq debate or anything else delay this vital measure.”