Congressman Steve Scalise yesterday issued the following statement after the Army Corps of Engineers sent a dredging vessel to Head of Passes, the site where a ship ran aground Tuesday morning. Scalise applauded the Corps’ quick action, along with their decision to dedicate an additional $55 million to dredging the Lower Mississippi River.
“ Our river systems are vital to our economy, and I’m glad that the Corps is finally adjusting its priorities by dedicating $55 million more to dredge the river, which is critical to ensuring the free flow of commerce and to ensure safety along the river ,” Scalise said. “ For months, our entire delegation has pressed the Corps to adequately dredge the lower Mississippi, and I hope today’s decision is the start of a continued commitment to adequately dredge the Mississippi and prevent events like yesterday’s ship grounding from happening in the future.”
The $55 million dedicated by the Corps will be used exclusively to dredge the Lower Mississippi River.
Scalise has long called for adequate dredging of Louisiana’s rivers and ports. He successfully passed legislation to increase dredging funding to help ensure adequate funding of the Army Corps of Engineers Operations and Maintenance account for FY 2012 dredging activities. In addition, Scalise is an outspoken advocate of the RAMP Act, which would require that all revenue received from the Harbor Maintenance Tax be spent on dredging and maintenance for federally maintained harbors and ports.
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Dredging Today Staff, January 19, 2012;