| June 23, 2005 - (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator David Vitter announced that $1 million in federal funding for Coastal Restoration and Enhancement through Science and Technology (CREST) was included in the Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, and $563,000 for a LSU Ag Center coastal erosion project was included in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, both of which passed out of the Appropriations Committee today. “The CREST program brings together 11 universities to work on the crucial issue of coastal restoration,” said Vitter. “This $1 million will offer additional support for information sharing of coastal habitat restoration efforts.” Ten of the 11 universities involved in the CREST program are in Louisiana. Advances in science and technology must be integrated directly into coastal restoration programs to ensure that coastal habitat restoration is cost-effectively implemented and successfully sustains coastal resources. This $1 million in federal funding will be used by university partners working closely with federal and state agencies to develop and share information on coastal habitat restoration efforts. Louisiana experiences one of the highest rates of coastal erosion in the world and developing a system for utilizing native vegetation to protect and restore eroding wetlands can be a big help in addressing the coast erosion problem. The bill also includes $563,000 to LSU Ag Center for large-scale testing in the marsh of planting methods that will aid in coastal restoration. “While committee passage is only the first step in the legislative process, it is an important one for securing funding for these projects,” Vitter said. “I will continue to work with my colleagues to see that this funding is included in the final bills.” The Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill and the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill are expected to move to the Senate floor for a vote later this year. |
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