Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-Southwest Louisiana), today met with Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain and Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu to coordinate recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

“I appreciate the Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor coming to Washington to stress the importance of timely recovery assistance,” Boustany said.  “After touring parts of Cameron, Calcasieu and Vermillion parishes on Saturday, I am amazed by the destruction across Southwest Louisiana.  The delegation will work in a bi-partisan effort to ensure the state and its residents can access help promptly.  While more information is needed for a full assessment, today’s meeting helps us set the state’s critical recovery priorities.”

Boustany, the Louisiana delegation’s only member on either the House or Senate Agriculture Committee, toured devastated areas of the coast after Hurricane Gustav and again Saturday following Hurricane Ike with Governor Jindal.  The Louisiana delegation wrote to USDA Secretary Ed Schafer on September 10, 2008 urging his quick action to declare Louisiana a natural disaster area.

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