Posted on May 28, 2025
Thanks to Rep. Steve Scalise, Louisiana may soon score a major win for coastal restoration and hurricane protection in a bill being considered in Congress. While there has been much talk about the “reconciliation” bill in Congress with regard to extending the Trump tax cuts and tackling border security, this “one big, beautiful bill” drafted by multiple Congressional committees also has a provision that, if enacted, would result in hundreds of millions of dollars for Louisiana’s coastal restoration and hurricane protection efforts. This means better flood protection for families and businesses in South Louisiana, including St. Charles Parish, and the ability to lower flood insurance rates because of new protection and mitigation efforts.
Since 2020, Louisiana has received over $690 million from the federal revenue sharing program for energy-producing Gulf states, known as GOMESA, and these funds have been used in Louisiana’s efforts to restore our coast and protect our communities from future storms. St. Charles Parish has received $4.8 million in that time.
Now, Congress has a chance to raise the amount of funds our state is eligible to receive through revenue sharing. Scalise secured language to raise the cap on what energy-producing Gulf states can collect through offshore energy exploration and production. It’s also worth mentioning that Congressman Scalise was the House sponsor of legislation after the BP oil spill, the RESTORE Act, that brought billions of dollars to Louisiana for our hurricane protection and coastal restoration efforts. His continued dedication to flood mitigation and protection – something that helps to lower our insurance rates – is to be applauded.
This is no small lift, and I’m grateful that Leader Scalise secured this language. I urge our entire congressional delegation to move this reconciliation package forward because our coast is at stake.
