U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, made the following statement regarding the passage of several major bills through the Committee and Senate on infrastructure and environmental policy. Vitter has also led the introduction of several other significant pieces of legislation.

"We've had some major legislative victories that will benefit Americans of all backgrounds, including commuters, sportsmen, environmentalists, private property owners, and small businesses," said Vitter. "In the coming Congress, I will continue working with the EPW Committee to pass common sense policy to maintain the integrity of our roads and infrastructure while providing the necessary oversight and badly needed reforms to the Obama EPA."

Bipartisan legislation that Sen. Vitter passed through Congress and have been signed into law include:

 

  • The Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014
    • Authorizes for Morganza to the Gulf
    • Modifies to the deepening authorization for the Port of Iberia
    • Coastal and ecosystem restoration through the authorization of six Louisiana Coastal Area projects
    • Reforms the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to better expedite project delivery and penalize the Corps for missing deadlines
    • Authorizes for the Corps to perform future levee lifts for the hurricane protection system
    • Increases Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund expenditures, prioritization for funding for high-and medium-use ports, and an increase in the threshold for 100% Corps operations and management responsibility from 45-ft to 50-ft

 

  • Federal Duck Stamp Act of 2014
    • Updates the price of the duck stamp for the first time since 1991
    • Requires that any additional revenue from the price increase be used for conservation easements
    • Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by the sale of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat for protection

 

Bipartisan legislation Vitter passed out of the EPW Committee include:

 

  • Highway Reauthorization - MAP-21 Reauthorization
    • Louisiana currently ranks 10th in the nation in the most deficient bridges. The bill will give locals more flexibility to "bundle" projects together. This bundling will streamline approval process, consolidate unnecessary paper work, and maximize efficiency to complete projects ahead of time
    • New Orleans and Baton Rouge both rank in the top 25 in the nation in traffic congestion. The bill includes a new freight program that will relieve congestion by targeting funds to build additional lanes and improve the flow of commerce along our nation's highways
    • Prioritizes major projects like I-49 South and LA 1
    • Improves safety measures, provides more funding certainty, and expands opportunities for infrastructure investment in rural areas

 

  • North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act of 2014
    • Endorsed by wide range of sportsmen's and environmental groups
    • Reauthorizes the program to protect and restore wetlands in all 50 states through 2017
    • Requires that for every federal dollar put into the program, it must be matched by at least one dollar in nonfederal funds

 

  • Clean Estuaries Act of 2014
    • Ensures that funds allocated under the National Estuary Program are devoted directly to protection and restoration efforts

 

Bipartisan legislation Vitter introduced that has been gaining momentum for the new Congress include:

 

  • Chemical Safety Improvement Act of 2013
    • Endorsed by NY Times, Chicago Tribune, and Washington Post
    • Updates and improves the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
    • Requires safety evaluations for all chemicals
    • Protects public health from unsafe chemicals
    • Prioritizes chemicals for review
    • Mandates the screening of new chemicals for safety
    • Secures necessary health and safety information
    • Promotes innovation and safer chemistry
    • Protects children and pregnant women
    • Allows States and municipalities input on prioritization, safety assessment, and the safety determination processes

 

  • Regulatory Fairness Act of 2014
    • Prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from preemptively or retroactively vetoing a permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act

 

 

 

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