I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2903
To provide protection, conservation, and restoration of the wetlands, estuaries, 
barrier islands, and related land and features in the Lousiana coastal 
area, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 15, 2005
Mr. BAKER (for himself, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. ALEXANDER, 
Mr. JINDAL, Mr. BOUSTANY, and Mr. MELANCON) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To provide protection, conservation, and restoration of the 
wetlands, estuaries, barrier islands, and related land and 
features in the Lousiana coastal area, and for other 
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) COASTAL
LOUISIANA
ECOSYSTEM.—The 
term ‘‘coastal Louisiana ecosystem’’ means the 
coastal area of Louisiana from the Sabine River on
the west and the Pearl River on the east, including 
those parts of the Deltaic Plain and the Chenier 
Plain included within the study area of the Plan. 
(2) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means 
the Governor of the State of Louisiana. 
(3) PLAN.—The term ‘‘Plan’’ means the report 
of the Chief of Engineers for ecosystem restoration 
for the Louisiana Coastal Area dated January 31, 
2005. 
(4) TASK
FORCE.—The term ‘‘Task Force’’ 
means the Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Protection 
and Restoration Task Force established by section 
3. 
SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL REPORTS. 
(a) MISSISSIPPI RIVER GULF OUTLET.—Not later 
than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of the Army shall submit to Congress a report 
recommending modifications to the Mississippi River Gulf 
Outlet to address navigation, salt water intrusion, channel 
bank erosion, mitigation, and threats to life and property. 
(b) BARATARIA-TERREBONE ESTUARY.—Not later 
than July 1, 2006, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
a report recommending a plan to restore the Barataria-
Terrebonne Estuary, Louisiana.
(c) CHENIER PLAIN.—Not later than July 1, 2006, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report recom-
mending near-term ecosystem restoration measures for the 
Chenier Plain, Louisiana. 
(d) LONG-TERM PLAN.—
(1) COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK.—Not later 
than one year after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
recommended framework for developing a long-term 
program that provides for the comprehensive protec-
tion, conservation, and restoration of the wetlands, 
estuaries, barrier islands, and related land and fea-
tures that protect critical resources, habitat, and in-
frastructure in the coastal Louisiana ecosystem from 
the impacts of coastal storms, hurricanes, erosion, 
and subsidence. 
(2) CONSIDERATION.—In developing the rec-
ommended framework, the Secretary shall consider 
integrating other Federal or State projects or activi-
ties within the coastal Louisiana ecosystem into the 
long-term restoration program. 
(3) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.—
(A) DEADLINE.—Not later than five years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress a feasibility
study recommending a comprehensive, long-
term, plan for the protection, conservation, and 
restoration of the coastal Louisiana ecosystem. 
(B) INTEGRATION.—The comprehensive, 
long-term, plan shall include recommendations 
for the integration of ongoing Federal and 
State projects and activities, including projects 
and activities being carried out under the 
Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and 
Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3951 et seq.), the 
Louisiana coastal wetlands conservation plan, 
the Louisiana coastal zone management plan, 
and the plan of the State of Louisiana entitled 
‘‘Coast 2050: Toward a Sustainable Coastal 
Louisiana’’. 
SEC. 3. COASTAL LOUISIANA ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION 
AND RESTORATION TASK FORCE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.—There is 
established the Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Protection 
and Restoration Task Force, which shall consist of the fol-
lowing members (or, in the case of the head of a Federal 
agency, a designee at the level of Assistant Secretary or 
an equivalent level): 
(1) The Secretary of the Army. 
(2) The Secretary of the Interior.
(3) The Secretary of Commerce. 
(4) The Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency. 
(5) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
(6) The Secretary of Transportation. 
(7) The Secretary of Energy. 
(8) The Director of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency. 
(9) The Commandant of the Coast Guard. 
(10) The Coastal Advisor to the Governor. 
(11) The Secretary of the Louisiana Depart-
ment of Natural Resources. 
(12) A representative of the Louisiana Gov-
ernor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Restoration 
and Conservation. 
(b) DUTIES
OF TASK FORCE.—The Task Force 
shall—
(1) make recommendations to the Secretary of 
the Army regarding policies, strategies, plans, pro-
grams, projects, and activities for addressing protec-
tion, conservation, and restoration of the coastal 
Louisiana ecosystem; 
(2) prepare financial plans for each of the agen-
cies represented on the Task Force for funds pro-
posed for the protection, conservation, and restora-