Congress Sends Farm Bill to President With Landrieu Language to Protect La. Farmers

(May 15) In an overwhelming 81-to-15 vote, the United States Senate cleared the 2007 Farm Bill conference report, reauthorizing agricultural programs through 2012 for Louisiana's more than 20,000 farmers. Sen. Landrieu was instrumental in shepherding key provisions through the legislative process for farmers in every region of the state.

"I am proud to support this Farm Bill, which is packed with provisions that will specifically benefit Louisiana's farmers and our urban communities," Sen. Landrieu said. "Our agricultural industry contributes more than $3 billion to our economy each year, and no piece of federal legislation has more impact on the more than 20,000 farmers in Louisiana than the Farm Bill.

The bill now heads to the President's desk, but he has threatened to veto it.

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Senate Committee Passes Bill With $8.7B Landrieu Package for Gulf Coast Recovery

(May 15) The Senate Appropriations Committee passed an $8.7 billion package for Gulf Coast hurricane recovery secured by Sen. Landrieu and the committee's Chairman Robert C. Byrd. The package that includes funding for levees, criminal justice needs, health care and housing for low-income hurricane survivors was passed as part of the Emergency Supplemental Spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan.

While the House of Representatives did include significantly more restrictive levee funding in its version of the Supplemental, it did not include a Katrina and Rita recovery package like that secured by Sens. Landrieu and Byrd. After final passage by the Senate, the two chambers will negotiate the two versions of the bill before it is sent to the President's Desk. The President has opposed including any domestic funding in the bill, and has threatened a veto.

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Landrieu, Melancon
Welcome Potential
Steel Mill to
St. James Parish

(May 15) Sen. Landrieu and Congressman Charlie Melancon announced that steel-maker Nucor Corporation has applied for the necessary permits to build the first U.S. raw materials mill in 30 years in St. James Parish.

"Nucor is making a smart decision in seeking to produce raw steel here on U.S. soil," Sen. Landrieu said. "The mill will provide American jobs at a time when so many of our manufacturing jobs have moved overseas, and producing domestically strengthens our national security in ways already demonstrated by Louisiana's energy sector."

Pending necessary permit and legislative approvals, the Nucor mill is expected to generate 500 permanent jobs paying an average of $75,000 a year, with 70 to 80 percent of workers hired locally.

Nucor worked with former Governor Kathleen Blanco and Governor Bobby Jindal on its decision to come to St. James Parish,

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