WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jeff Landry (Republican, New Iberia) applauded a proposal by the New Orleans District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that would re-designate a Louisiana waterway channel and save the taxpayers millions of dollars.

Jeff Landry
(Photo courtesy of Congressman Jeff Landry's Office)
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“I commend the New Orleans District for making the proposal,” said Landry. “By listening to a common-sense proposal made by the public and industry – the Corps has an opportunity to save millions of tax dollars, private fuel bills, and improve navigation safety. This realignment proposal shows that government can work efficiently and effectively.”

Landry – whose district has the most domestic maritime industry jobs in the nation and transports much of the nation’s energy-based resources and agricultural exports – sent a letter late last week to Lieutenant General Robert Van Antwerp requesting that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approve the New Orleans District’s “Letter Report for Designation of Crewboat cut as the Authorized Navigation Channel Instead of Horseshoe Bend for the Atchafalaya River, Bayous Chene, Boeuf, and Black Navigation Project, Louisiana, Miles 134.4 to 137.9.”

“The realignment will save the Corps $7.4 million annually in reduced dredging costs,” continued Landry. “At a time when 8 of the top 10 busiest harbors are not being dredged due to a lack of funds, common-sense cost-savings like this are the prescription the doctor ordered. Some of these savings can be allocated to dredging the Mississippi River, moving barges out of the Charenton Canal, doing work to improve commerce, and reducing the national deficit.”

“I hope Lt. Gen. Van Antwerp will approve this re-designation. And I hope the Corps will continue to listen to public input, save taxpayer dollars, and help create an environment for job creation and economic growth,” concluded Landry.

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