National cadre gathers at Fourchon

Some of the most powerful lawmakers in our country visited Port Fourchon this week after being recruited by Congressman Steve Scalise (R-New Orleans).

While on the trip, the leaders got an up-close look at how the oil and gas industry works, while also listening to in-person testimony from business owners, local leaders and concerned citizens who are worried about the current downturn and how it might affect the future.

Scalise hosted a public roundtable on Thursday in Fourchon after he and seven other Congressmen visited an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, then went through an aerial tour of the port.

The delegation, which consisted of six Republicans and two Democrats, said the visit was eye-opening and provided a much-needed look at some of Louisiana’s trouble spots.

The event is hosted annually by Scalise, South Central Industrial Association and the Greater Lafourche Port Commission.

Also on the trip were Tom Reed, R-New York; Dan Newhouse, R-Washington; Marc Veasey, D-Texas; Jeff Duncan, R-South Carolina; Bill Johnson, R-Ohio; Jody Hice, R-Georgia and Gene Green, D-Texas.

“I can’t personally express how much this meant to me,” Hice said. “To be eyeball-to-eyeball experiencing it is an amazing thing. This industry means so much to our country. And you honest, hard-working people are a big part of that. I’ve had a great day. I’m thankful to have been here, and I’m thankful for the chance to have seen just how everything happens from the great people of Louisiana.”

“Being able to come out here and meet people and listen to people is crucial – it lets us do our jobs in Washington to the best of our abilities,” Reed added. “This day was about learning the challenges and issues you all have. I know I speak for my colleagues when I say that the day was an unquestioned success.”

The topics that continued to come up throughout the roundtable discussion were coastal erosion and the future of the oil and gas industry as a whole – especially when it comes to restrictions and rules that hamper the way the industry works.

Lafourche Parish councilman Danial Lorraine said he wanted to welcome the Congressmen to Lafourche Parish with open arms, offering them an “open-door” to come back at any time.

He also thanked Scalise for bringing a diverse delegation – a Republican-heavy bunch with two Democrats.

Lorraine told stories of erosion to the leaders, challenging them to explore ways to help curb the state’s alarming rate of land loss.

“Just look at all the water you guys saw when you crossed that bridge,” Lorraine said. “And remember this: When I was a kid, that was all solid land. Think about that. … That’s all land that was once here, and was now gone. We need help, and you’re the people who can do it for us.”

Lorraine’s words echoed those of Newhouse, who said after the roundtable that the state’s land erosion is a problem that needs fixing.

“It was very noticeable,” Newhouse said. “You see pictures, and it doesn’t do it justice. You get in the air, and you learn that what once was solid is now gone. It was truly something to see.”

The future of oil and gas was also a hot-button topic throughout the roundtable.

The Congressmen heard from several local business owners in the roundtable – all of whom urged the delegation to support the oil and gas industry’s resurgence in the future.

Lafourche Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle stressed the importance of the industry’s future to his parish, calling the downturn the biggest concern that citizens in Lafourche currently have.

“We are dependent on oil and gas. Without the oil companies, we would have nothing,” Cantrelle said. “You’d have two less parishes in Louisiana. No Lafourche and no Terrebonne. Oil is everything to us both.”

And making drilling more efficient and less costly was stressed, as well.

Lori LeBlanc with the Gulf Economic Survival Team, discussed new oil and gas regulation proposals, which she says, will take away thousands of jobs from the industry, while costing Louisiana billions of dollars in revenue.

The restrictions being proposed are geared at enhancing safety offshore, but LeBlanc said the new rules would make it “near impossible” for companies to stay on par with how expensive the process would become if the regulations are passed.

Scalise said it is his mission to protect the industry from such regulations. He said repeatedly that he will protect the industry as best he can throughout his term.

His colleagues seemed to agree. They said that the day proved to them just how vital Louisiana and Port Fourchon are to the United States economy.

“I am all for the oil and gas industry,” Scalise said. “That is a huge piece of my state, and I will always fight to protect the interests of these people.”

“Their concerns are real,” Johnson added. “The people are honest and genuine. It was great to hear what all they had to say, and to learn in-depth and first-hand from the people here about what problems the state faces and how we can unite together to solve them in a way that works for everyone.”

Scalise