The Melancon Record on Hurricane Recovery, Comprehensive Hurricane Protection, and Coastal Restoration

U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon has been a constant fighter for the people of the Third Congressional District since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita swept through.  He and his staff have helped thousands of people cut through the red tape to get the relief and recovery aid they need from the federal government.  Whether it was getting a trailer from FEMA, or qualifying for an SBA loan, or trying to navigate any part of the bureaucratic mess that was the federal recovery effort, Melancon and his staff treated every problem as if it was their own.   It is this direct assistance that the Congressman from Napoleonville is most proud of.

Rep. Melancon has also been active in Congress, working for more disaster relief money to help us with our immediate needs, and offshore revenue sharing so we can finally get the long-term funding we need to protect ourselves from the next big hurricane.  Today, Louisiana is closer than we have ever been to getting our fair share of OCS royalties so we can finally build a comprehensive category five hurricane protection system and restore our coastal wetlands and barrier islands.

Melancon's record of responsiveness since the storms speaks for itself.  The highlights are below:

Immediate Relief Effort

·        Organized private relief effort following Katrina.  In the chaotic days following Hurricane Katrina, Melancon organized a private relief effort to get supplies via barge down the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish, where people were stranded.

·        On the ground immediately after Rita.  In the days after Rita, Melancon was on the ground with first responders, local sheriffs and parish officials assessing the damage and finding out how he could help them get the help they need.  Melancon visited Delcambre, a little town completely devastated by Rita, three times in the weeks following the storm, meeting with mayor and offering his support. 

Response/Recovery Legislation:

·        Voted for $105 billion in federal relief for the Gulf Coast.  Melancon has supported and voted for four appropriations bills for hurricane response and recovery efforts, providing a total of $105 billion for the Gulf Coast:

• $62.3 billion through HR 3645 (signed into law 9/2/05) and HR 3673 (signed into law 9/8/05);
• $23.4 billion in reallocations of previous appropriations through HR 2863 (signed into law 12/30/05);
• $19.3 billion through HR 4939 (signed into law 6/15/06).  This bill included $500 million in agriculture disaster assistance, including $40 million in disaster relief for sugarcane producers and processors in Louisiana.  The bill also appropriated $118 million in disaster relief assistance for fishermen, shrimpers, and oystermen 

·        Introduced a comprehensive hurricane recovery bill.  Less than a month after Katrina, Melancon introduced HR 3958, the Louisiana Katrina Reconstruction Act, a comprehensive recovery bill would have appropriated $250 billion in emergency relief funds solely for Louisiana.  Although Senators Vitter and Landrieu fought for a similar bill in the Senate, the Congress ultimately decided to pass stingier recovery bills (see above).   

• This legislation included comprehensive agriculture and fisheries disaster assistance, based on needs outlined by representatives of the fishing and farming industries, LSU, and the state department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 

·        Introduced agriculture and fisheries disaster relief bill. In March of 2006, Melancon offered a Louisiana-specific Agriculture and Fisheries Disaster Relief amendment to the House version of the Supplemental Appropriations bill, HR 4939.  In total, this amendment would have provided over $533 million for agriculture disaster assistance, in the form of direct payments to producers, and $644.5 million for fisheries disaster relief in the state, mostly in the form of grants to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to cover economic loss, infrastructure facilities recovery, technical assistance, and research/marketing for the industry back home.  This amendment was based on storm damage estimates from the State of Louisiana and LSU, similar to what was included in HR 3958.  Republicans blocked the amendment from ever being voted on by the full House.

·        Organized delegation letter in support of greater agriculture and fisheries disaster assistance.  Rep. Melancon organized a letter signed by Rep. Alexander, Rep. Jindal, and Rep. Jefferson in support of providing $1.1 billion in fisheries disaster assistance as well as $3.9 billion in agriculture disaster assistance through conference committee on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, HR 4939.  The President had threatened to veto any such bill. 

Education

·        Secured $6,000 per student in aid to schools serving displaced children.  Melancon was successful in attaching $1.4 billion to the FY2006 Defense Appropriations Bill/Hurricane Assistance Bill (HR 4939) for Temporary Emergency Impact Aid for displaced children.  This program pays up to $6,000 per student to either public or private schools that take in children displaced by Katrina.

·        Secured waiver of local match for schools receiving disaster relief.  Melancon co-authored and secured passage of HR 6106 (which was signed into law October 11, 2006).  This bill allows St. Bernard and school boards in storm-ravaged communities to use state money for their local match (FEMA funds cover 90% of the cost and require a local 10% cost share) It provides an extension of this provision from the Hurricane Recovery Act, which otherwise expired on September 30^th of this year.

Flood Insurance

·        Supported Increases in Borrowing Authority for federal flood insurance program.  Melancon supported three separate increases in borrowing authority, up to $20.8 billion, for the federal flood insurance program, which otherwise would have exhausted available funds as a result of the storms. (HR 3669; HR 4133; S. 2275)

·        Worked to pass flood insurance reform bill.  Melancon worked with Congressman Baker to pass flood insurance reform that will protect and strengthen the program for future storms.  HR 4973, which passed the House in June 2006 and is awaiting further action, increases insurance coverage amounts for homes and businesses; increases borrowing authority for the national flood insurance program (so that its solvency is not left to the whim of Congress); and requires FEMA to map the 500 year flood plain -- an unprecedented step to protect from further catastrophic losses.

·        Co-authored Catastrophic Insurance bill. Melancon co-authored HR 5891 with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, to create a commission to study the weaknesses in our insurance market following the hurricanes and to assess the need for catastrophic coverage to fill any gaps in current insurance markets.

Economic Recovery Aid

·        Supported GO-Zone Act to encourage economic development.  Melancon supported Congressman MecCrery's HR 4440, the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, which provides billions of dollars in tax incentives to build low income housing and encourage economic development in the Gulf Coast region.

Reforming Disaster Recovery

·        Represented Louisiana in the Official House Investigation into Hurricane Katrina Response.  Melancon was one of the few Democrats to participate in the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina.  The Committee's final report, published in February, concluded that the response to Hurricane Katrina was "a national failure, an abdication of the most solemn obligation to provide for the common welfare" and was ultimately "a failure of leadership." The investigation identified major flaws in how the federal government plans for and responds to catastrophic events, laid bare mistakes made at all levels of government, and showed that four years after September 11^th the federal government still had not solved basic problems of communication, decision making, and bureaucratic red tape.  Melancon also authored a supplemental to the report, focusing more specifically on how the problems occurred, why they were not corrected sooner, and who in particular was responsible. 

·        Vice-Chaired Katrina Task Force and Helped Author Final Report.  Melancon was chosen to serve as vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus Katrina Task Force, formed in February 2006 and tasked with coordinating efforts and expertise to provide a comprehensive and effective recovery plan for the Gulf Coast. In October, the Task Force released its final report, summarizing recommendations for improving the recovery effort along the Gulf Coast.  The report, entitled "Response, Relief, and Recovery: Katrina and Beyond," details specific legislative proposals members of the Task Force intend to act on when Congress goes back into session after the election.  Based on months of investigations and research by the Task Force, culminating in the Hurricane Recovery Policy Forum in August, the report is a detailed plan of action for how Congress can better help Louisiana and the entire Gulf Coast recover from Katrina and Rita.  Better levees, reforming FEMA, and fast-tracking coastal restoration and comprehensive hurricane protection projects are all included. This report is also a blueprint for how the federal government can better respond to disasters in the future, wherever they may strike. Among the other recommendations made by the task force:

o       Rebuild levees and flood controls to higher standards.  Melancon wrote this section.

o       Investigate insurance company practices following the storm and have independent adjusters review flood insurance claims.

o       Repeal of the federal antitrust exemption as it relates to price-fixing in the property insurance market,

o       Create of government-backed all-perils disaster insurance to close current gaps, particularly from flood damage.

o       Relieve FEMA of its recovery mission, assigning the responsibilities to appropriate federal agencies.

o       Reform FEMA contract procedures to eliminate noncompetitive contracts.

o       Re-equip National Guard units to fulfill civil support missions

o       Establish waterborne fuel delivery capability.

·        Introduced legislation to forgive federal disaster loans to Louisiana local governments.  Melancon introduced HR 4117, a bill to permit the federal government to forgive Community Disaster Loans (CDLs) given to local governments affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This legislation was an attempt to level the playing field for Louisiana's local governments relative to the federal aid that has been given following other catastrophic disasters (hurricanes, 9/11, earthquakes, etc).  Since the establishment of CDLs in 1976, 97% of these local government loans have been forgiven by the federal government.  However, a Stafford Act reform measure, enacted in 2000, placed a $5 million cap on CDL forgiveness and requires repayment.  Katrina and Rita have been the first major disasters to require CDLs greater than $5 million be repaid since the reform act went into effect.  Basically, the federal government is requiring Louisiana communities to repay something that almost NO OTHER ENTITY has had to repay. Congress lifted the $5 million cap on forgiveness, but repayment terms remain).

·        Co-authored legislation to amend Stafford Act.  Melancon co-authored with Congresswoman Maloney HR 4492, a bill to amend the Stafford Act to provide temporary rental assistance and mortgage assistance following natural disasters.

·        Co-sponsored legislation to reform FEMA.  Melancon co-sponsored Congressman Dingell's bill, HR 3656, which would establish FEMA as an independent agency, under the President, and require the FEMA Director to have expertise in disaster management.

·        Streamline disaster relief for the fishing industry. In May, Melancon worked with Rep. Bobby Jindal to introduce an amendment in the House to streamline future efforts to get disaster relief to the fishing industry after catastrophic storms. Rep. Melancon's bill also includes authorization for vessel repair and refloating efforts, as well as debris removal for shrimp, oysters, and other issues. This amendment has not been voted on yet by the House.

Comprehensive Hurricane Protection and Coastal Restoration

·        Co-sponsored and secured passage of House offshore oil and gas revenue sharing bill.  Comprehensive hurricane protection and coastal restoration in Louisiana will require a steady and massive new revenue stream to become a reality.  For this reason, Melancon worked with other leading members of the House Committee on Resources to negotiate the comprehensive Deep Ocean Energy Resources (DOER) Act (H.R. 4761), which could provide $9 billion in new revenue for coastal restoration and hurricane protection for Louisiana. Melancon used his influence to bring 39 other Democrats onboard with the offshore revenue-sharing bill, providing the margin of victory in the House.  Melancon convinced the Democratic leadership not to actively oppose the bill, and will be appointed to the conference committee for the final OCS bill once it meets.

o       Currently, Louisiana receives only a small percentage of the $6 to $8 billion in royalties the federal treasury accrues every year from drilling in federal waters, despite the fact that Louisiana must shoulder the burden of environmental damage, including an eroding coastline, and the cost of infrastructure (ports, highways, etc) that result from the state's  support for this industry.  A comprehensive hurricane protection and coastal restoration system in Louisiana would serve to protect the infrastructure that supports 30% of the oil and 25% of the natural gas consumed in the US, as well as 30% of the nation's total commercial fishing landings.

·        Authored Meeting Authorization Requirements for our Coast Act.  In May 2006, Melancon authored and introduced the MARC Act (H.R. 5461), a barebones package of authorizations for Army Corps of Engineers projects that address critical hurricane protection and coastal restoration issues along the gulf coast of Louisiana and Mississippi.  Most of the projects had already been designed by the Corps but have been waiting for passage of a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), the authorizing legislation for Corps projects that is now four years overdue. The projects address issues that previously existed as well as some that have arisen since the 2005 hurricanes.  All of the projects focus on hurricane or flood protection and coastal restoration.  Navigation and economic development issues are omitted from this bill in the interest of maintaining the focus on safety and protection of the Gulf Coast populations.  Among the projects in the bill are authorizations for:

o       The Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection System that will protect 200,000 people in Southeast Louisiana who are currently exposed to a Katrina-like storm. 

o       A comprehensive study to determine the feasibility of constructing hurricane flood protection in Southwest Louisiana.

o       Changes in the way the Corps handles dredge material to better make use of sediment for coastal restoration.

o       Authority for the Corps to waive the non-federal share for a project in a disadvantaged community or in a coastal community impacted by a 2005 hurricane;

o       Raising the Federal participation limit from $7,000,000 to $15,000,000 for certain coastal state projects.

·        Voted for and helped secure passage of Water Resources Development Act.  Melancon voted in 2005 for the House WRDA, which included authorization for over $1.2 billion for vital south Louisiana hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects identified by the Corps' Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Ecosystem Restoration Study.   Melancon also worked to include authorization for the Morganza to the Gulf of Mexico hurricane protection project that will protect 200,000 people in Southeast Louisiana who are currently exposed to hurricanes.  The House version included $788 million in authorizations for this project, but Melancon supports the Senate amount of $841 million.   Melancon has been working with WRDA conferees to make sure the final bill is the best deal for Louisiana. 

·        Fought for Category 5 Levees in WRDA.  In September 2006, Melancon introduced and spoke on behalf of a successful measure instructing WRDA conference committee members "to agree to provisions that will provide protection to communities located in the coastal area of Louisiana and Mississippi from the storm surge of a category five hurricane."  Had the motion failed to pass, the defeat would have hindered Louisiana's battle for category five hurricane protection.  Because the measure passed with overwhelming support, the Army Corps of Engineers knows it has the full backing of the U.S. House of Representatives for building a category five hurricane protection system. The entire Louisiana delegation voted in favor of Melancon's measure, setting a good precedent for future negotiations and adding momentum to the cause of comprehensive hurricane protection for south Louisiana. 

·        Wrote letter requesting inclusion of MARC Act projects in final WRDA bill.  Once a WRDA bill actually passed the House and Senate, Melancon sent a letter in early August 2006 to House and Senate leaders on the committees with jurisdiction over WRDA asking them to include several vital Louisiana projects in their final conference report.  Melancon requested authorization for four projects identified in discussions between the New Orleans District Office of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as critical for hurricane protection and coastal restoration in southern Louisiana, as well as projects identified in the MARC Act.  Noting that six years had passed since the last water resources authorization bill was signed into law -- in which time 104 tropical storms and hurricanes have swept through the Gulf of Mexico -- Melancon wrote that critical coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects were still awaiting authorization so that Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states could begin work on protecting our fragile coastline and our citizens. 

·        Secured passage of study resolution for hurricane protection for south central Louisiana.  In September, Congress passed a portion of Melancon's MARC Act authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to "survey the coast of Louisiana in Iberia, St. Martin, and St. Mary Parishes a view to determine the feasibility of providing hurricane protection and storm damage reduction and related purposes."  The legislation was passed in the form of a study resolution by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as a result of the letter Melancon wrote to WRDA conferees.  The resolution came from section 105 (a) of the MARC Act (H.R. 5461).

·        Secured $30 Million in federal funds for Levees in Terrebonne Parish.  Secured $30 million for non-federal levees in Terrebonne Parish.  Congressman Melancon worked with conferees and Senator Landrieu to ensure that Terrebonne Parish would receive funding for levees until the Morganza project is completed.

·        Supported 2005 Energy Bill providing $500 million in coastal restoration funds.  Melancon crossed party line to vote for the 2005 Energy bill, which appropriated over half a billion dollars for coastal restoration to Louisiana

·        Co-sponsored wetlands preservation bill.  Melancon co-sponsored reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which preserves our wetlands and its habitation for both public and private uses.

Bringing National Attention to Louisiana's Needs  

·        Brought House Leadership to Gulf Coast to survey damage.  In March, Melancon led a bipartisan delegation that included House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to the Gulf Coast.  Melancon had been putting pressure on the leadership for weeks to visit the Gulf Coast so they could see firsthand the immense destruction and the slowness of the recovery effort.

·        Organized field briefing on levee-rebuilding.  Melancon organized a House Science Committee Field Briefing in July 2006 in St. Bernard Parish.  The briefing gave members of the Committee and local elected officials the opportunity to hear directly from experts in hurricane protection and coastal restoration on what progress had been made, almost a year after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in rebuilding Louisiana's levee system and preparing for future hurricanes.  The briefing re-emphasized the fact that comprehensive hurricane protection requires not just better levees, but a commitment to restoring our coastal wetlands and barrier islands that provide a natural buffer from storms.

·        Organized Hurricane Recovery Policy Forum.  In August 2006, Melancon brought 25 Members of Congress to Louisiana for a four-day trip reviewing the status of the Gulf Coast recovery on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.  As part of the trip, Melancon organized a Hurricane Recovery Policy Forum in New Orleans to bring the Members face to face with local experts and leaders.  The Members met in small discussion groups with parish presidents and over 80 Louisiana leaders with expertise in the areas of levees and coastal restoration, health care, education, small business and economic recovery, agriculture and fisheries, transportation, and housing.  The experts told Members what the situation is on the ground and worked together to develop specific courses of action Congress can take to ease the recovery.  Several Members on the trip had not been to New Orleans since the storms and what they saw, combined with what they heard from the experts, dramatically altered their perception.  The experience renewed their dedication to rebuilding the Gulf Coast bigger and better than ever.  The information they gathered was the basis for the Katrina Task Force report, released in October 2006. In September, Congress passed the first piece of legislation resulting from the policy conference, extending a federal waiver giving school districts impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita more flexibility in drawing down and utilizing federal money for recovery efforts.  St. Bernard school superintendent Doris Voitier had requested the waiver during the forum. 

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Romero’s Lies Continue….

Romero’s Attack: “Charlie Melancon violated House Ethics Rules, his TV ad, taken off the air.”

Fact check:   No complaint was ever filed with the House Ethics committee.  The Melancon campaign realized the wrong ad was airing within days of it going up, and promptly replaced it with the correct version. 

Romero’s Attack: “Another Ad, attacking Craig Romero, proven false by the State Senate.”

Fact Check:

• Sure an employee of the State Senate backed up Craig’s position…he works for Romero!  We stand by our ad, and have a written legal opinion to back up our interpretation of the law.

•  Voters deserve to know that Romero voted to give himself lifetime health insurance at taxpayer expense. This bill – which thankfully was vetoed – would have given legislators serving over 10 years a lifetime health insurance package in which the state pays 75% of the premium. Other state employees have to work 20 years before receiving the same benefits!

• Romero has a record of helping himself at the expense of others. In 1996, he CO-SPONSORED a bill that prohibited legislators from receiving state retirement benefits… except for himself (H.B. 15).

• Romero has made it clear that he would rather help himself than everyday working Louisianians.

 Romero’s Attack: “Even worse, Melancon took thousands of dollars from Bill Jefferson, and refuses to return it.”

Fact Check:  This is an outright LIE. 

• William Jefferson contributed $2,000.00 to the Melancon campaign on November 18, 2004, during the run-off period.  This is a YEAR AND A HALF before the House Ethics committee opened the investigation into Jefferson’s bribery scandal (May 18, 2006). 

• THE VERY SAME DAY the ethics committee opened the investigation, the Melancon campaign donated the full $2,000 contribution to two charities, the Robert and Vivian Bell Scholarship Fund (Allen Chapel AME Church Thibodaux, LA 70302) and the St. Andrew’s Church Relief Fund (3027 Bayou DuLarge Rd., Theriot, LA 7039). 

• Does Romero want the Melancon campaign to demand the money back from the charities?

Romero’s Attack: “Jefferson’s payback, Melancon votes with the liberals 80% of the time.”

Fact Check:  Charlie Melancon is proud of his bipartisan voting record.  He votes with the Democrats when he thinks they’re right, and he votes with the Republicans when he thinks they’re right. 

• “By the October congressional recess this year, Melancon had voted with Democrats 80 percent of the time and with Republicans 62 percent on the more than 1,000 votes cast in the 109th Congress, including issues that received a consensus of both parties.” [Times Picayune, 10/09/2006]

• Melancon has also voted 62 percent with the conservative Family Research Council and has been endorsed in this election by the National Rifle Association.

• Melancon does not side with the Republicans or the Democrats in Congress.  He sides with the people of Louisiana’s Third Congressional District and what is best for them.

Romero’s Attack: “Ethics violations”

Fact Check:  Melancon has NEVER been cited for ethics violations.  During his first term in Congress, not a single complaint was lodged against him with the House Ethics Committee. 

In fact, Melancon was recently honored with the endorsement of the Alliance for Good Government.  In announcing their endorsement, the Alliance’s chairman, Charles Imbornone, said, “The Alliance is proud and happy to endorse Charlie Melancon for reelection to Congress.  Charlie has worked hard since Hurricane Katrina to deliver the resources and money we need to help us rebuild our communities.  We need his ability to cross party lines and work with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.  Charlie has been an effective Congressman for the Third Congressional District and the Alliance is proud to support him.”

Romero’s Attack:  “That’s liberal former lobbyist, Charlie Melancon”

Fact Check:  Melancon has never been a lobbyist.  He was president of the American Sugarcane League, where he worked for Louisiana’s sugarcane farmers.  Furthermore, it is ludicrous (and, frankly, pretty uncreative) to label Melancon a liberal.  Here is the truth:   

• Melancon is pro-life and worked on legislation to reduce abortions during his first term in Congress.  He has been endorsed by Democrats for Life.

• Melancon supports traditional marriage and voted in support of the Marriage Amendment in Congress.

• Melancon has taken a tough stand on illegal immigration.  He voted for the tough comprehensive House bill ((H.R. 4437, the Sensenbrenner bill) that would prevent thousands of immigrants from coming into the United States from Mexico through tougher and better-funded border security.  It also imposed tougher sanctions on employers who hire illegal aliens.  Finally, it prevents current illegal immigrants from ever gaining legal status in America.  Melancon also voted for an amendment to this bill that required a fence to protect the five most vulnerable areas of our southern border.

• Melancon is a fiscal conservative.  He supports tax cuts for middle class families, a Balanced Budget Amendment, pay-as-you-go laws, and earmark reform.  As a member of the conservative Blue Dog Democrat Coalition, Melancon has fought to eliminate the federal deficit and restore fiscal sanity to Congress.

The Romero Record on Ethics

If Craig Romero wants to talk about ethical violations, he should take a look at his own record.  In his 20 years in office, Romero has managed to rack up numerous ethics charges and has lined his pockets with money from the same companies that he regulates.

Ethics:

• 1986:  As Iberia Parish President, Romero was accused of “systematically subverting” the state’s open bid law by the low-bidder for the parish mosquito control contract.  The low-bidder did not receive the contract.

• 1988:  Iberia Parish district attorney said that Romero violated state laws by requiring parish personnel to remove a demolished house on private property.

• 1991: Inspector General Bill Lynch issued a report that harshly criticized Romero’s oversight of a summer feeding program when he was Iberia Parish President.  A Federal grand jury was subpoenaed for the case.

• 1994:  Accepted a campaign check for $2,500 on the Senate floor from Senate President Sammy Nunez.

• 1995:  Sea Shells, Inc., a company owned by four of Romero’s siblings and Romero once had part-ownership, was forced to pay a $10,000 fine for violating state ethics laws.  They received a clean-up contract from Iberia Parish after Hurricane Andrew when Romero was President.  They were told in 1986 to stop bidding on parish contracts due to conflict of interest.

• 2005:  Sea Shells received a $1 million contract for debris removal after Hurricane Rita in Iberia Parish while Romero served as State Senator.  The clean-up in Iberia Parish cost about 10 times of what St. Martin Parish paid.

• 2005:  Another sibling’s business, Lynn Romero trucking, was awarded another contract for debris removal in Iberia Parish.  He won the contract despite the fact that he was not the low-bidder.  He was criticized for using Parish trucks and inmates for a private contract.

 Money:

Craig Romero made over $420,000 last year from 15 different places.  He was employed as a “consultant” to various oil and gas and insurance companies.  In the past 3 years, Romero has raked in over a million dollars from the same industries he oversees as past Chairman of the Resources Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Insurance Committee.  Many of the companies that “employ” Romero have benefited greatly since Romero has been a Senator.  The following legislation and actions were made on behalf of businesses that employ Romero:

• Romero supported and pushed legislation that would exempt drilling rigs, offshore platforms, and other oil supplies from sales taxes.  He also voted to broaden a tax-exemption for refineries and other manufacturers that produce waste byproducts, which could cost the state nearly $30 million a year.  Dynamic Industries lobbied the Iberia Parish government for a local offshore tax exemption.  Romero said it was his “job” to explain why the companies needed the various exemptions. (Baton Rouge Advocate, November 18, 2002).

• Frank’s Casing benefited from over $1 million in taxpayer money for new roads and job training in 1997 and 2001.

• Superior Energy benefited from a $2.2 million Incumbent Worker Training Program contract in 2001 and 2002.

• W.L. Estis received a $226,000 contract in 2002 for the abandonment of an off-field site in Terrebonne Parish.

• Romero has fought for the deepening of the channel and sponsored a law for it in 2004.  Dynamic Industries, Frank’s Casing Crew, W.L. Estis, Superior Energy Services, and Romero’s own siblings’ Sea Shell Limestone Company and Lynn Romero Trucking are all located at the Port of Iberia.  The Louisiana State Board Commission approved nearly $12 million for Dynamic Industries property at the Port of Iberia.

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Charlie Melancon has been a leader on getting Louisiana its fair share of offshore drilling royalties. Members of Congress from both parties, including Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, have praised his leadership and willingness to work across party lines to get a good deal for Louisiana . See what they're saying:

ENDING ENERGY DEPENDENCE
By Richard W. Pombo
The Washington Times
June 28, 2006

When the House of Representatives votes tomorrow on the bipartisan Domestic Ocean Energy Resources (DOER) Act, it will be considering one of the nation's most meaningful energy-policy reforms in history.

Decades of "just say 'no'" energy policy has turned America into a country too dependent on foreign, and often unstable, sources of energy. We send $300 billion a year overseas for energy we can produce at home, a figure that represents one-third of the current trade deficit. We have lost millions of manufacturing jobs over the past two decades because of high energy prices. We should be investing that $300 billion in America to create our own good jobs and provide our own energy security.

The DOER Act does just that. America is the only developed nation that forbids safe energy production on its Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), a fact that puts us at an economic and strategic disadvantage with other countries in a highly competitive global economy.

It just doesn't make any sense.

The DOER Act represents a balanced, commonsense compromise to deliver desperately needed energy supplies to the American people, which in turn will lower prices for consumer wallets and create hundreds of thousands of family-wage jobs. It will spur production of an untapped energy resource and correct federal government policies that have led to our dangerous dependence on foreign energy. And, just as importantly, it champions states' rights by protecting those not interested in producing energy off their shores.

Currently, two federal moratoria prevent energy production beyond state waters or three miles from the coastline, neither of which have the force of permanent law. Many have called for the complete repeal of the moratoria for full access to available resources, of which there are plenty. According to the U.S. Minerals Management Service, America's OCS contains 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (America consumes 23 trillion cubic feet per year) and 86 billion barrels of oil (America imports 4.5 billion barrels per year).

But that would leave coastal states without any power over their coastlines beyond three miles, a possibility unacceptable to many states.

Under the DOER Act, states like California and Florida would have the authority to ban energy production up to 100 miles off their shores. States that choose to allow production, however, would benefit from increased revenue from energy royalties -- some of which would also be routed to three separate funds for environmental protection and enhancement, renewable energy development, job training and research. Meanwhile, domestic energy production would be allowed in the deep waters beyond 100 miles.

This innovative and bipartisan compromise -- the result of work between Reps. Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii Democrat; Bobby Jindal, Louisiana Republican; Charlie Melancon, Louisiana Democrat and John Peterson, Pennsylvania Republican -- passed the House Resources Committee with 29-9 support. Labor unions, which appreciate how many jobs the bill would create, fully support it.

Nonetheless, special-interest groups will go to great lengths to block its passage, conjuring images of massive oil spills to scare up opposition. This is pure bunk. Today's advanced ocean energy exploration technologies were given the ultimate test last summer when hurricanes Katrina and Rita roared through nearly 3,000 offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite the typical fearmongering of so-called environmental groups, no major spills were reported during one of America's worst natural disasters. In fact, according to a National Academies report, 63 percent of the petroleum found in North American waters comes from natural seeps through the ocean floor.

The bottom line is that our domestic energy policy has long stimulated jobs and economies overseas, but not at home. Enough is enough. It's time to put Americans to work for American energy.

NPRA Commends House Resources Committee on Passage of Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act Legislation Could Significantly Increase Supplies of Domestically-Produced Natural Gas and Oil
Washington, D.C.,
June 21, 2006

NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, released the following statement on the House Resources Committee approval today of the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act.

NPRA President Bob Slaughter said: "The House Resources Committee vote to allow offshore oil and gas production is very good news for the U.S. petrochemical and refining industries and for all other energy consumers as well. House Resources Committee Chairman Pombo and Reps. Peterson, Abercrombie, Jindal and Melancon have shown leadership by crafting balanced, bipartisan legislation that will allow the nation to produce much-needed offshore energy resources. This legislation grants states that wish to produce offshore energy for the nation the ability to do so.

"Studies indicate that natural gas from the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) could provide the U. S. with 633 trillion cubic feet of natural gas - about 25 years of natural gas supply.

In order to meaningfully address the nation's natural gas supply/demand imbalance, Congress and the Administration must act now to provide an increased supply of these resources. The Resources Committee members who today supported opening the OCS to gas exploration and production have taken an important step to provide for America's economic future and national security. NPRA hopes that the full House of Representatives and the Senate will follow suit as quickly as possible."

# # #

NPRA members include more than 450 companies, including virtually all US refiners and petrochemical manufacturers. Our members supply consumers with a wide variety of products and services used daily in their homes and businesses. These products include gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil, jet fuel, lubricants and the chemicals that serve as "building blocks" in making everything from plastics to clothing to medicine to computers.

For Immediate Release
June 29, 2006
Contact: Jennifer Scott (703) 741-5813
Email: Jennifer_Scott@americanchemistry.com

ACC Applauds House Passage of Historic Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act
American Jobs, Competitiveness, Energy Security at Stake As Focus Shifts to Senate

ARLINGTON, VA (June 29, 2006) - Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4761, the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act of 2006, by a strong bipartisan vote of 232 to 187. 40 Democrats joined 192 Republicans in voting for the measure. The DOER Act, which creates a comprehensive Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) energy policy, is compromise legislation crafted by U.S. Representatives John Peterson (R-Pa), Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Bobby Jindal (R-La) and Charlie Melancon (D-La). More information about the DOER Act can be found at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/OCS_Website/index.htm

American Chemistry Council (ACC) President & CEO Jack N. Gerard issued the following statement:

"Today's strong bipartisan vote was one of the most important of the past two decades. Affordable energy is inextricably linked to America's economy, jobs, competitiveness and security. Clearly, House lawmakers 'get it,' and we salute their leadership. Now it's up to the Senate to act to put America on a path toward a stronger, more secure future.

"Five years of soaring natural gas prices have already taken an enormous toll on the nation: millions of American jobs lost; weakened manufacturing, agriculture and small business sectors; reduced investment; and unnecessary, painful trade-offs faced by families, senior citizens, schools, hospitals and local governments. Today's House action represents an important step forward in reversing the damage.

"We commend House Resources Committee Chairman Pombo and the architects of this landmark legislation - Representatives Peterson, Abercrombie, Jindal and Melancon - for seeking common ground and persisting in their efforts to change outdated federal policies that are at the root of the crisis. Their historic compromise includes new protections, new authority and new sources of revenue for states while providing greater access to American energy to help re-balance natural gas supply and demand and make energy affordable.

"We now turn our attention to the Senate, where the need for swift action on this critical national issue is equally strong. We are encouraged by Senator Domenici's comments today indicating his continued efforts to get S. 2253 to the Senate floor this summer. The bill, which was introduced by Senators Domenici (R-NM) and Bingaman (D-NM), would require the Secretary of the Interior to offer the 181 Area of the Gulf of Mexico for oil and natural gas leasing. It was approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in March by a bipartisan 16-5 vote. The House has acted. Now it is up to the Senate to take action that can help stem the loss of millions of American jobs, make the United States more competitive and enhance the nation's energy security."

House OKs End To Offshore Drilling Ban
Uphill Road Ahead In Senate, Where Filibuster Is Threatened

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2006

(CBS/AP) Congress has taken a major step toward allowing oil and gas drilling in coastal waters that have been off limits for a quarter-century.

Still, a battle looms in the Senate over the issue. And the Bush administration's support for the legislation, which was approved Thursday by a 232-187 vote in the House, is lukewarm.

The House bill would end an Outer Continental Shelf drilling moratorium that Congress has renewed every year since 1981. It covers 85 percent of the country's coastal waters - everywhere except the central and western Gulf of Mexico and some areas off Alaska.

Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., a leading proponent for lifting the ban, said he believes a majority of the Senate wants to open the protected waters to energy companies.

Asked about White House opposition to some parts of the bill, especially a provision that would give tens of billions of dollars to states that have drilling rigs off their coasts, Pombo said, "I dare them to veto this bill."

"They don't like us giving money back to the states. I think it's right," Pombo told reporters after the vote. Forty Democrats joined most Republicans in favor of ending the drilling moratorium.

In the Senate, the measure is likely to face a filibuster from Florida senators and possibly others from coastal states that fear offshore energy development could threaten multibillion-dollar tourist and recreation businesses if there were a spill.

The Senate is considering a limited measure that would open an area in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, known as Lease Area 181, that comes within 100 miles of Florida. It is not under the moratorium. Even that is unlikely to pass unless its sponsors get 60 votes to overcome a filibuster from the Floridians.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said he would pursue efforts to open the Lease 181 Area. The committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, also of New Mexico, criticized the House-passed bill, saying it would eventually create "a huge hole in our federal budget and undermine environmental protections on our lands and off our coasts."

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said Friday that Senate GOP leaders and Domenici have agreed on a new revenue-sharing plan that would funnel 37.5 percent of future royalties from Area 181 development to the four energy producing Gulf states, and also open an additional 6.3 million acres south of Area 181.

But that proposal does not address the Florida senators' concerns and may generate new opposition to Domenici's bill from senators opposed to changing the royalty distribution formulas.

Domenici later said in a statement, "I've had a number of productive meetings with Sen. Landrieu. ... We've made progress ... but we're not there yet."

Still, the House vote was a huge victory for Pombo, two Louisiana lawmakers - Republican Bobby Jindal and Democrat Charlie Melancon - and Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., who spearheaded the drive to lift the moratorium.

Only six weeks ago, a proposal by Peterson to open coastal waters to natural gas development fell 14 votes short.

This time, they included a provision that would allow states to keep the moratorium in place if they opposed drilling and changed the revenue sharing so that states' share of royalties would soar eventually as much as 75 percent.

The government signs leases to let oil companies drill offshore. Once the companies recoup their original investments, payments to the public, or royalties, kick in. A single oil lease can yield millions of dollars in royalty payments ... and as oil prices go up and up, so do the royalties. But incredibly, someone in the government left the royalty part out of thousands of long-term leases signed in 1998 and 1999, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

The Gulf states where most U.S. offshore energy resources are being tapped, now get less than 5 percent of the royalties. For example, Louisiana's royalties would go from $32 million last year to a total of $8.6 billion over the next 10 years - and even higher after that.

The Interior Department estimated that the changes could cost the federal government as much as $69 billion in lost royalties over 15 years and "several hundred billion dollars" over 60 years.

The White House issued a statement saying it favors much of the bill but strongly opposes the changes in royalty revenue sharing, which it said "would have a long-term impact on the federal deficit."

The Interior Department estimates there are about 19 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 86 trillion cubic feet of natural gas beneath waters under drilling bans from New England to southern Alaska.

Supporters of the drilling moratorium argue there's four times that amount of oil and gas available in offshore waters open to energy companies, mainly in the central and western Gulf of Mexico and off parts of Alaska.