‘MISSION ACCOMPLISHED’

An entourage of 24 businesspeople, government officials and members of the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce traveled to Washington, D.C., for what is being called the most positive lobbying effort for Terrebonne Parish’s category 3 hurricane protection.

“For years we have been telling congressmen and senators about the benefits of Morganza to the Gulf. This year they’re telling us,” said Kenny Smith, president of T Baker Smith & Son in Houma and a longtime advocate of the hurricane protection system.

The annual pilgrimage began in 1999, and within one year was successfully in convincing Congress to authorize the Morganza to the Gulf project as part of a 2000 Water Resource Development Act (WRDA). But, the authorization was contingent on the Corp of Engineers submitting a Chief Engineer’s Report within 18 months. The Corps took two years to compile the report, ultimately rendering the authorization moot.

“We had the authorization but because of bureaucracy we lost it. And, that’s what it was bureaucracy,” State Sen. Reggie Dupree told Congressman Charlie Melancon (D-Napoleonville) during one of last week’s Washington D.C. meetings.

Melancon listened to the group, but was somewhat pessimistic when asked about the chances of a WRDA bill passing before the end of August.

“There are 435 congressmen in the House of Representatives and information flows to these members, but little seems to get in their brains,” said Melancon.

Louisiana senators Mary Landrieu (D-New Orleans) and David Vitter (R-Metairie), were much more optimistic.

“I hate to jinx it, but I think things are looking good,” said Vitter.

“You don’t have to worry any more,” said Landrieu. “Its like cupcakes in the oven n they’re in there, the temperatures right n we just need to wait for the bell to ring.”

Landrieu also told the group she had assurance from the Democratic House and Senate leaders that a WRDA bill would be passed this year.

“I was told it was going to happen before Congress breaks on Aug. 31. If for some reason it doesn’t happen, I have a commitment from leadership that we will pass a stand-alone bill (authorizing Morganza to the Gulf.) You don’t have to worry about this issue any more, start working on other issues,” said Landrieu.

Terrebonne Levee District President Tony Alford was elated at the news.

“This was the best meeting yet!” he exclaimed.

The strategy being used to approve the WRDA bill is to keep the same language as a 2005 WRDA bill, which won the approval of House and Senate committees and the full House that year, but failed to come up for a vote in the full Senate.

“We will start with the same bill as in 2005, however, we will be able to add and delete items when it returns to committee,” said Vitter.

One item the Terrebonne Parish group is requesting to be added to the bill is language specifying that the federal government will operate and maintain the Houma Navigational Canal Lock System as well as two water control structures along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Melancon said he would work with the committee to add the item.

The main issue of concern to Melancon is language in WRDA that reforms the Army Corps of Engineers. He said there are some differing opinions about how the Corps should be reformed, and he worried the issue may slow the bill.

“Nearly everyone in Congress supports Morganza to the Gulf. It’s the other stuff we have to worry about,” he said.

A lot has changed over the eight years the Terrebonne Parish group has traveled to Washington, D.C. In 1999, authorization for Morganza to the Gulf was just that n authorization. There was no funding. But thanks to a recent Congressional decision to share a portion of outer continental shelf (OCS) oil and gas royalties with Gulf states, funding is no longer an obstacle.

Next month, Dupree plans to introduce a state bill allowing parishes to borrow against future OCS funds in order to immediately begin construction of projects like Morganza to the Gulf n once it is authorized.

He also asked Landrieu’s office to ask the Corps if they would allow the Houma Navigational Canal Lock complex to be split into two projects, to provide quick protection.

“The complex consists of a lock and flood gates. The flood gates would provide instant protection and could be completed quicker than the entire complex. It may cost $10 million more as separate projects, but I think that is well worth the protection it would provide if a storm came through,” said Dupree.

Overall, the entire group rated the 2007 trip to Washington, D.C., a major success.

“We have to do something,” said Terrebonne Parish Councilman Clayton Voisin. “If we don’t, Terrebonne will be Terre-gone.”

‘MISSION ACCOMPLISHED’