Interview with Former U.S. Senator John Breaux

For more than 30 years, John Breaux has served the nation and the state of Louisiana in the U.S. Congress, first as a representative and then as a senator. In January 2005, he retired from the Senate to continue his service to this country as the vice-chair of President Bush’s new federal tax reform panel.

WaterMarks: Senator, you have been a strong leader in the fight to preserve and protect coastal Louisiana. What got you interested and involved in this crisis back in the late 1980s?

BREAUX: I became involved because I have lived in the wetlands and grew up there. My home was 25 miles from the gulf, and I did not want to see it become a shorefront property. I didn’t want to see Shreveport in northern Louisiana become a coastal city. I have hunted and fished in the wetlands and I knew that it was vitally important to see that the coast of Louisiana was saved, for me, for all Louisianans, and for the entire country.

WaterMarks: What were the major obstacles in getting the CWPPRA legislation, now known as the Breaux Act, passed in 1990?

BREAUX: At that time, my biggest problem was trying to convince the members of Congress that this was a national problem, that this was America’s problem. I needed to explain that Louisiana’s coast accepts the drainage from two-thirds of the United States and, while the necessary levees constructed upstream have prevented floods, they have also contributed to problems downstream. I didn’t want them to say “Go fix your own problem.” I needed to help them understand that this was everyone’s concern.

WaterMarks: So, from the very beginning, you have recognized the loss of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands as a problem of national significance. Do you think that this message is getting out to the American people?

BREAUX: The American people are beginning to be aware of this. You know that everyone thinks of the Everglades as a national treasure.We need to show that the Louisiana wetlands are just as important. I am pleased to see that information campaigns, such as the America’s WETLAND effort, are getting the message out, and people are beginning to realize that wetlands loss in Louisiana affects us all.

WaterMarks: With more than 60 projects constructed and more than 60 in the planning stages, do you feel we can celebrate what’s already been done to solve this immense problem?

BREAUX: Yes, we can celebrate! Compared to when we started, we have 100 percent more on the ground than we used to have. It used to be that people would ask “Where are the results? Is this just another study?” Now Louisianans are seeing real physical projects and not just studies on a library shelf. We can point to areas that are being saved and marshes and barrier islands that are being restored.

WaterMarks: Do you think the Breaux Act has established an adequate foundation for future coastal restoration efforts?

BREAUX: Yes, definitely. The Breaux Act is a strong beginning and a good foundation for the future. The act provides for the years to come because we have a plan for funding.We don’t have to hold our breaths and worry and wonder if this can go forward each year—we know it will.

WaterMarks: In your view, what are the primary economic issues in the continuing struggle to save our coastal wetlands?

BREAUX: Since the beginning, we have always had the same issues. Put very simply, they are “Who is going to pay for this?” and “How do you pay for this?” Our struggle is to identify the sources of revenue and the means to obtain the funds.Without funds, all the planning and research studies can’t help us.

WaterMarks: Over the last 14 years, the Breaux Act Task Force has learned a great deal about different ways to save coastal Louisiana. Do you view new technologies, such as shown in the demonstration projects, as key components in future efforts to protect and restore the wetlands?

BREAUX: I definitely believe in the worth of the demonstration projects. They show us better ways to save and restore the wetlands on a small scale until their results can be expanded into larger projects.We have to keep learning how to do this job better and better—the new technologies will help us with that.

WaterMarks: Innovative, but complicated, solutions and engineering are currently outpacing the available funds for some Breaux Act projects. Do you see this as a continuing problem?

BREAUX: Unfortunately, yes. It goes back to what I said before.We know what needs to be done, but how do we pay for it?

WaterMarks: What do you see as the next indispensable step in moving forward with the Breaux Act?

BREAUX: In my opinion, the most indispensable step is finding a new source of reliable revenue and I am pleased to see that Senator Landrieu of Louisiana is dedicated to this effort. Also, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy listed this as one of their key recommendations and I hope that will underscore the importance of funding in saving the coastlands.

WaterMarks: Senator, you should be justifiably proud of your accomplishments associated with the Breaux Act. Now that you have retired from the U.S. Senate, what role do you expect to play in this cause?

BREAUX: I expect to remain active, because I want to see that this infant we’ve brought to life continues to be nourished and continues to grow. I also want to make sure that everyone in America recognizes that Louisiana’s wetlands are important to all Americans.