Protecting and
Preserving Our Environment and Treasures 
"Each day, part of America washes away as we lose more
of our coastlines to natural erosion and the effects of
industry. As we craft our legacy, we must protect our
coastlines, preserve wildlife, ensure parks and recreation
areas are available to all Americans, and protect our historic
treasures. From parks to playgrounds, wilderness to wetlands,
open trails to open spaces, we must keep our to promise to
leave an environmental legacy that will benefit all Americans
for generations."
-- Sen. Mary L. Landrieu
Agenda
As a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee,
Sen. Landrieu leads a bipartisan charge to bring Louisiana and
other coastal, oil-producing states their fair share of
federal offshore oil and gas drilling revenues. While that
effort has been a focus of her first three years, Sen.
Landrieu has championed many other initiatives that benefit
Louisiana's environment and historical treasures.
Conservation and Reinvestment
Act (CARA)
Sen. Landrieu's efforts to pass the Conservation and
Reinvestment Act (CARA) have received important boosts in the
past year. The President's proposed 2001 budget includes for
the first time coastal impact assistance funding and wildlife
preservation. The measure, which would mean about $300 million
a year for Louisiana, has garnered substantial bipartisan
support. A version of CARA passed the House of Represenatives
by an overwhelming 315-102 vote in May and the Senate version
was voted out of the Energy Committee in late July. If passed,
CARA would represent the largest investment in the environment
in more than a generation.
More about CARA
National Historic Preservation
Trust Fund
Louisiana has always valued its place in history and has
placed a priority on maintaining and preserving historic land
marks. From the French Quarter in New Orleans to the Municipal
Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana is filled with history.
That is why Sen. Landrieu is the lead sponsor of the
National Historic Preservation Reauthorization Act, which
would earmark millions for historic preservation across the
country. The bill has been passed out of the Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee and next will come to the full
Senate.
Cat Island/Mandalay
Sen. Landrieu announced that the President's 2001 budget
includes $5 million for Louisiana's National Wildlife Refuge
system, including $4 million for Cat Island National Wildlife
Refuge and $1 million for Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge.
Red River Refuge The Red River Waterway project has created
an historic opportunity to create an environmental legacy on
the Red River, as well as an economic one. Sen. Landrieu is
leading efforts to create a refuge to protect this treasure.
View
photos from Sen. Landrieu's visit to Cat Island.
Fighting Formosan
Termites
The Formosan termite is a non-indigenous invasive species
that has become a major threat to property and agriculture in
the Southern United States. Estimates are that 70 to 80
percent of the structures in certain areas of Orleans and
Jefferson parishes are infested with the Formosan termite
doing some $30 million in damage each year. It is estimated
that 90 percent of the trees in Orleans parish are infested
with Formosan termites. In fiscal years 1998, 1999 and 2000
funding for research being conducted by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Southern Research Center in New Orleans to
address the Formosan Subterranean termite was appropriated at
$5 million. In each of those years and this year, fiscal year
2001, we requested $10 million. In addition, we signed a
letter with Senator Breaux to the President on October 25,
1999 requesting the $10 million in the President's budget.
Each year, Sen. Landrieu has been involved in successful
efforts to increase funding to research dealing with the
control, management and possible eradication of Formosan
termites, which are a serious threat to preserving the French
Quarter as well as other treasures throughout Louisiana.
Press
Releases, Columns
and Multimedia
