For Immediate Release
Contact: Sheila McCant
LA House of Representatives
Office of Public Information
Phone: (225) 342-9795
FAX: (225) 219-4380
February 3, 1999
HOUSE COMMITTEES TO TOUR STATE PENITENTIARY LEVEE AND RIVER CONTROL FACILITIES
Members of the House Natural Resources and Transportation, Highways and Public Works committees chaired respectively by state Rep. John Smith and state Rep. John "Juba" Diez will tour the Louisiana State Penitentiary Mississippi River Levee, the Old River Auxiliary Structure and a hydroelectric plant to study river projects in Louisiana as part of the ongoing Legislative Outreach Initiative. The committees will also be briefed by the Mississippi River Commission and tour the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, MS.
"The Mississippi River and levee system is vital to the survival of Louisiana and her people," said Rep. Diez. "Therefore, it is important that we the committee with jurisdiction over this area get a firsthand look to understand the intricacy of the system and its importance on Louisiana, its economy and its citizens," he said.
"The Mississippi River Corridor is vital to our state’s economic prosperity. We welcome the opportunity to visit these facilities in order to increase our understanding of their statewide impact and to help us make informed decisions," said Rep. Smith, D-Leesville.
On Monday, February 8, the committees will tour the state penitentiary levee, the museum and the prison compound. They will cross the river on the Angola Ferry and travel 15 miles north of Lettsworth, La., to tour the Old River Auxiliary Structure, operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Sidney A. Murray, Jr. Hydroelectric Plant.
On Tuesday, February 9, the committees will visit the Mississippi River Commission (MRC) Headquarters in Vicksburg, Miss., to hear a briefing on the MRC and its Mississippi Valley Division activities on flood control, navigation and environmental projects in Louisiana. That afternoon, they will tour the Waterways Experiment Station.
The Legislative Outreach Initiative is a program conceived by Speaker of the House H.B. "Hunt" Downer, Jr. It is designed to initiate contact between citizens of Louisiana and lawmakers. Downer said the program "is intended to better facilitate citizen participation in the Legislative process and give legislators a better understanding of the issues. Too many times legislators are forced to cast critical votes concerning areas with which they are not familiar. Also, our citizens are not always able to travel to Baton Rouge to participate in the legislative process. Hopefully, this program will address both problems."
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ATTENTION: NEWS EDITORS
A tour schedule follows. Any advanced notice you can provide to citizens in your area regarding the visits is appreciated.
Monday, February 8
9:00 a.m. Tour of levee and facilities
Angola State Penitentiary
Angola, LA
12:15 p.m Tour
Old River Structure
15 miles north of Lettsworth on LA 15
Simmesport/Lettsworth, LA
2:00 p.m. Tour
Sidney A. Murray, Jr. Hydroelectric Station
Simmesport/Lettsworth, LA
Tuesday, February 9
8:30 a.m. Briefing
Mississippi River Commission Headquarters
1400 Walnut Street
Vicksburg, MS
12:30 p.m. Tour
Waterways Experiment Station
3909 Halls Ferry Road
Vicksburg, MS