North Shore Louisiana News

Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced that his legislation, H.R. 6843, aimed at expanding the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area to include Lafourche Parish in Louisiana, has been signed into law.

Scalise emphasized the significance of this inclusion by stating, "The Atchafalaya National Heritage Area is home to some of the most unique and special landscapes and traditions in the world. This National Heritage Area tells the rich story of Louisiana’s treasured culture and history, but for too long, a piece of that story has been missing. I’m pleased to see my legislation to include Lafourche Parish in the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area become law and, at last, correct this unfortunate oversight by making this historic National Heritage Area whole."

Local leaders have expressed their support for this development. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson III remarked on the cultural and natural value that Lafourche brings to the region: “Lafourche Parish offers an incredible blend of culture and natural resources that will strengthen the region’s unique identity and reinforce the importance of the National Heritage Area designation for our community. Lafourche was the only parish in the boundary left out of the original designation, and I’m grateful for Leader Scalise for spearheading this effort and our entire congressional delegation for their work to make Lafourche the final parish in the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area.”

Justin K. Lemoine, Executive Director of Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, also highlighted how including Lafourche completes their narrative: “The addition of our 15th and final parish will allow us to tell the full story of the Atchafalaya region’s rich cultural, natural, and recreational resources that stretch from Bayou Teche to Bayou Lafourche and from Vidalia to the Gulf of Mexico. We’re grateful to our Louisiana Delegation for supporting efforts to include Lafourche in the National Heritage Area."