Washington, D.C. - Louisiana lawmakers, businessmen, industry executives, parish leaders, and economic developers traveled to our nation’s capital to connect with Louisiana’s U.S. Congressional delegation and with one another to bring improvement or positive change to the state.

The Port of South Louisiana and the parishes of St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James, collectively known as the River Region Economic Development Initiative (RREDI), co-hosted the annual River Parishes Economic Development Breakfast emceed by Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul Aucoin. Speakers included all members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation: except Congressman Steve Scalise, who’s still on the road to recovery. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy and Congressmen Cedric Richmond, Garret Graves, Ralph Abraham, Clay Higgins, and Mike Johnson covered topics such as the tax bill (economic growth, job creation, and, particular to Louisiana, the extension for those affected recent floods), the $200 billion infrastructure grant package, flood protection and FEMA’s NFIP, coastal restoration and water management, health care reform and CHIP funding, and investing in Louisiana’s best asset: its people.

Parish Presidents Natalie Robottom (St. John the Baptist Parish) and Timothy Roussel (St. James Parish), and Executive Director of Technology and Communication Anthony Ayo (St. Charles Parish) discussed issues most pressing in their respective parish: industry growth (e.g., $25 billion worth of industry looking at St. James Parish), labor force training, flood protection (levee project funding), and the Marketplace Fairness Act. Aucoin spoke on the unprecedented tonnage growth at the Port of South Louisiana in 2017, the wealth of capital investment in the river region, and the port’s Executive Regional Airport.

Also in attendance were Louisiana Senator Gary Smith, Louisiana Representative Clay Schexnayder, City of Lutcher Mayor Patrick St. Pierre, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson and Deputy Secretary Brad Lambert, and public officials from neighboring parishes.

During the visit to Washington, D.C., Aucoin attended networking events like the Committee of 100 briefings on the energy sector and tax reform. He also represented the Port of South Louisiana during the One Love for Innovation Economic Development luncheon, held by Congressman Garret Graves.

Aucoin delivered the message: the importance of Ports. “Look at the amount of cargo that passes through the nation’s port system,” he said. “In 2017, over 307 million short tons of cargo passed within the Port of South Louisiana alone! It’s a number that’s projected to increase as the $23.262 billion of announced capital investment begins to come online. We must do everything in our power to maintain the health of our maritime infrastructure which includes dredging the mouth of the Mississippi River, which is crucial to our economic growth.”