Congress should enact Gulf law
We are writing on behalf of the Land Trust for Southeast Louisiana, the Trust for Public Land, the Conservation Fund, and the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, a coalition of 25 land trusts from the Gulf Coast states. Land trusts are nonprofit organizations that work with landowners to permanently conserve forests, farms, wetlands and other natural resources.
The damage inflicted by the oil spill in 2010 took a terrible toll on Gulf ecosystems. Congress should ensure that oil-spill fines go to the Gulf by passing Senate Bill 1400, also known as the RESTORE Act.
This is sensible legislation with strong support from leaders on both sides of the aisle. Restoring the communities and environment of the Gulf region is critical not only to the region’s economy, but also to the strength of our national economy. The Gulf currently supports a $34 billion per year tourism industry, and its fisheries support an estimated $22.6 billion in seafood, commercial and recreational fishing-related activity.
Using Gulf oil-spill penalties to restore communities, ecosystems and economies in Louisiana and across the Gulf region is the fair and right thing to do. Please join us in letting our congressmen and senators know how important this legislation is to all of us.
Judy Steckler, -executive committee chair
Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation
Biloxi, Miss.