Wicker, Palazzo Appeal to U.S. Secretary of Commerce

United States Senator Roger Wicker and United States Congressman Steven Palazzo have sent a letter to Wilbur Ross, the United States Secretary of Commerce, supporting Governor Phil Bryant’s request for a federal fisheries disaster declaration related to the openings of the Bonnet Carre spillway. Governor Bryant issued this request in a May 31 letter to Ross. This week, Wicker and Palazzo sent their own letter to the Secretary of Commerce, supporting the Mississippi governor’s request.

A disaster declaration could assist in obtaining financial assistance for all negatively impacted ecosystems, fishermen and related businesses in Mississippi in a timely manner.

The Bonnet Carre spillway has been opened twice this year, and remains open after surpassing a prior record number of days opened set back in the 1970s.