METAIRIE – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), today in Chalmette, visited with members of the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce. They discussed his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which would devote billions of dollars toward roads and bridges, resiliency to rebuild eroded coastlines, improvements for ports and waterways and other investments that will benefit Louisiana’s economy.
“Lessons learned from St. Bernard’s recovery after Hurricane Katrina teach us that recovery will occur, and how to do so more efficiently and quickly,” said Dr. Cassidy.
Cassidy also learned what St. Bernard business leaders need to recover from Hurricane Ida. This meeting in St. Bernard Parish comes after visits to Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany and Terrebonne Parishes, to assess needs after Hurricane Ida.
This also follows Cassidy’s successful effort to get money in the recent continuing resolution to help Louisiana recover from Hurricane Ida. That resolution passed congress and was signed into law on September 30. That resolution also provided funds to help the state recover from hurricanes in 2020 and the winter storms earlier this year.
“We appreciate Senator Cassidy updating the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce on legislation moving forward in D.C.,” said St. Bernard Chamber Foard Chair Lisa Borne Kott and Vice-Chair Tim Doody. “Senator Cassidy’s work on the Hurricane Ida disaster relief bill is vitally important to our community and to the state. Louisiana produces nearly one-third of the country’s seafood. Our oil refineries account for nearly twenty percent of the country’s refining capacity. Senator Cassidy is well equipped to make our case for recovery funds given our contribution to the country and the fragile nature of our coast.”
Background
Before Hurricane Ida struck Louisiana, Cassidy joined the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to request a Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Ida. That request was granted.
Additionally, Cassidy has repeatedly called upon lawmakers to provide disaster supplemental aid to help Louisiana recover from both Ida and the hurricanes of 2020, a request he reiterated during remarks on the Senate floor on September 21. Since those remarks and the passage of disaster supplemental aid on September 30, FEMA has issued grants to state agencies, the city of Lake Charles, the Calcasieu Parish School Board and both the Winn Parish Police Jury and Sabine River Authority, among other state and local agencies.
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