Statement By Jeff Landry On Oil Spill Disaster
A disaster has once again occurred along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. I would like to offer my personal condolences to the families of those that lost their lives during this tragic accident. Sharon and I have been keeping you in our prayers. I would also like to commend the brave men and women who are working tirelessly to bring this disaster to an end. I certainly applaud Governor Jindal on his efforts to bring all resources to bear on keeping our fisheries safe.
While the extent of the environmental damage is not yet known, we may be facing many obstacles in our path to cleaning, preserving and protecting Louisiana’s most valuable resource, our rich and vibrant coast. Many lives will no doubt be affected as our fishing industry braces and prepares for even more loss. However, it is in these trying times that the people of South Louisiana shine the brightest. I have the utmost confidence that we will come together as a community to overcome this tragedy. It is in our blood. Nothing is more important to us than our faith, our families, our friends and our communities. We will move Louisiana forward no matter the obstacles.
In dealing with this current disaster, we must consider what we have learned from our experiences in dealing with the tragedies of recent past. We cannot depend solely on government action and leadership. We must concentrate on giving local people and local agencies the means to act and lead. It is the people of South Louisiana that know these waters and marshes like no other; they are an invaluable resource that must be tapped in any recovery process.
Of course, there will be a natural reaction to condemn the oil industry and offshore oil development. I strongly encourage everyone to have patience. Accidents occur in every human endeavor. We should not allow these tragedies to alter the course of our National Security or our Economic Security. Instead, we must harness the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of the American people to overcome these obstacles. We should continue on that path. Domestic oil and gas are a necessity for economic success in America. Alternative energy systems, while important for our future, are not ready to replace petroleum in our fossil fuel based economy. During these economically troubling times, we cannot afford to allow this accident to destabilize oil and gas prices. This would only cause further economic crisis. I call on all to avoid turning this tragic crisis into a political opportunity.
