Cassidy Announces $643.4M from Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill for Louisiana Coastal, Waterway and Flood Projects AND $2B in Disaster Relief

Press Release

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the Army Corps of Engineers will allocate Louisiana $643,360,450 in funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for 21 coastal, waterway and flood projects including $378,516,450 for the construction of the Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane Protection System, $125,000,000 for Southwest Coastal Louisiana Hurricane Protection and $52,989,000 for the Atchafalaya Basin. Cassidy was a key architect of the law and helped shepherd it through Congress.

The funding increase for the Morganza-to-the-Gulf project represents an over 3,000% increase in annual federal funding compared to what Louisiana received last year.

"Louisiana communities have waited years, sometimes decades, to see progress on Army Corps projects," said Dr. Cassidy. "This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package is crucial to protect our state against future Hurricanes and floods. Looking forward to the additional ways the bipartisan infrastructure bill will benefit our state."

This funding comes after Cassidy recently announced $1 billion from IIJA to rebuild Louisiana's bridges over the next five years.

The Army Corps of Engineers will also allocate $2,005,425,000 in Hurricane Ida disaster relief for key Louisiana projects as part of the Hurricane Ida Disaster Supplemental that Cassidy helped secure as part of the Continuing Resolution passed in September.

These projects include $783,000,000 for the New Orleans to Venice Hurricane Protection System in Plaquemines Parish, $450,000,000 for West Shore, Lake Pontchartrain to improve levee infrastructure, $162,600,000 for the Atchafalaya Basin and $125,000,000 for the Comite Diversion Canal, which the Army Corps said will be completed by the end of this year.

A full list of projects is below. The Army Corps of Engineers announced certain projects will be funded but the total amount will not be announced until the Army Corps of Engineers completes a Project Information Report (PIR) to determine the cost of the Hurricane Ida damages in need of repair.

"This disaster aid is critical in our effort to rebuild after Hurricane Ida and prevent damage from future storms," said Dr. Cassidy. "There is more to do. I will continue to work for additional resources to help communities fully recover."

Source