(R) Congressman Garret Graves - District 6
Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says Louisiana flood control and prevention project funding will not be effected by the President’s declaration of a national emergency. The declaration allows funds to be redirected from military construction projects towards southern border wall construction. Graves says they’ve been able to deflect the White House’s attention towards other projects.
“We have been in touch with the White House and other top administration officials virtually every week over the past several weeks as these ideas first came to light, talking about the importance of these projects.”
3.6 billion of the reported eight billion dollars the President is seeking to pool for the wall will come from construction projects.
Graves says progress on projects like the Comite River Diversion and other vital flood protection efforts will proceed as usual despite the national emergency.
“We have been working really hard to move towards an obligation of these funds, making sure that the negotiations that the negotiations between state, levee district, and federal officials proceed with haste.”
Democrats say they will challenge the declaration in Congress, where a two thirds vote would be needed to clear a Presidential veto. Graves backs the national emergency declaration, saying the situation at the southern border needs to be addressed.
“The fact that the President is making an emergency declaration and taking unilateral action, is the result of the failure of political leaders to come together and address what is a crisis.”
A series of legal challenges have also been prepared, and it is likely the declaration will spend a very long time in court.
