Copyright 1999 Federal Document Clearing House, Inc.
Federal Document Clearing House Congressional Testimony
May 03, 1999
SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY
LENGTH: 567 words
HEADLINE:
TESTIMONY May 03, 1999 DANIEL SNYDER STUDENT OAKLAWN JUNIOR HIGH
HOUSE RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND REINVESTMENT
BODY:
Daniel Snyder Student-Oaklawn Junior High
Terrebonne Parish School System Terrebonne Parish Chamber of Commerce
Terrebonne- Barataria Estuary The, Honorable Members of Congress Washington,
D.C. 20515 Dear Congressmen: My name is Daniel Snyder. I am a seventh grade
student at Oaklawn .Jr. High in coastal Houma, Louisiana. I was invited by
Representative Billy Tauzin to, testify at this hearing because of my
participation in the National Coastal Wetlands Summit where I read a letter to
which asked him to support legislation for funding of coastal erosion projects.
I am speaking to you this morning because I, my friends., family. and everyone
in coastal Louisiana is in danger of losing our homes and livelihoods to
erosion. If nothing is done to stop the erosion of the wetlands then in fifty
years. Houma, an. Wand city, will become a new port for huge ships, perhaps a
major port like Port Fouchon in Lafourche parish. In Houma, the Chamber of
Commerce, the Terrebonne Parish School Board, 31id the Barataria-Terrebonne
Estuary have gotten together and come up with a SOS campaign, or Save, Our Soil.
This years project was to send letters to all members of Congress to obtain
support of House Bills 701 and 798 sponsored by Representative Tauzin arid
Senate Bill 25 sponsored by Senators Landrieu, Lott, and others. The, intent of
House Bill 798, "Permanent Protection for Americas Resources" is to fund
projects dedicated to this purpose. Since Louisiana loses one football field of:
land every 1 5 minutes, the residents of coastal Louisiana, especially
Terrebonne Parish, are in complete support of this bill. Some projects like the
Atchafalayei Basin Projects have proven to rebuild wetland areas. My parish,
which is situated on a degenerating delta of the Mississippi River requires
protection by our barrier islands. These islands are literally washing away.
Presently, there are several sand and grass restoration projects occurring at
Wine Island and other barrier islands. House Bill 798 would provide continued
funding for these initiatives and additional future projects. House
Bill701,"Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999" insures a
percentage of revenues received from offshore continental shelf drilling would
be returned to the coastal states. With these monies, projects such as the ones
I have already mentioned can find state funding in addition to federal funding.
If this erosion of wetlands is not stopped, then when hurricane season comes,
salt water from the gulf will pour into the freshwater wetlands and kill most of
the immature seafood in our marshes, thereby shutting down seafood industries,
making seafood workers lose their jobs, and making a majority of people in
coastal areas of Louisiana to move elsewhere to look for jobs and a place to
live. My Family has lived here for several generations. I would like to raise my
family here because I value my heritage, culture, and lifestyle. This is the
only home I know., and it sorrows me greatly that it is vanishing before my very
eyes. I to know that my children and their children will be able to enjoy the
same rich culture and lifestyle that I have had the privilege to have. In
conclusion, we do not want to move from this area where we have and our
livelihoods, and our culture has prospered. Please help us to Save Our Soil.
Sincerely yours, Daniel Snyder, Oaklawn Jr. High Student
LOAD-DATE: May 11, 1999 
