{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221024538/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-fights-to-save-the-pickets-from-destruction-for-louisiana-anglers-and-marine-life", "Vitter Fights to Save \u201cThe Pickets\u201d from Destruction for Louisiana Anglers & Marine Life", "2013-09-25", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Fights to Save \u201cThe Pickets\u201d from Destruction for Louisiana Anglers & Marine Life\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tVitter has championed the Rigs to Reefs program in the U.S. Senate that has created treasured fishing habitats\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, September 25, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, today sent a letter to the Honorable Sally Jewell, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), regarding their planned removal of platform Ship Shoal 26, commonly known in Louisiana as \u201cthe Pickets,\u201d which is a popular site for local anglers.\n\u201cWe in the Gulf Coast are familiar with how idle rigs can develop into fertile marine habitats, home to some of the best fishing in the world. These artificial reefs are incredibly important to the growth and sustainability of the economy and environment in the Gulf,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cWith Secretary Sally Jewell\u2019s help, my hope is to preserve \u2018the Pickets\u2019 site for current and future generations of Louisiana anglers to enjoy.\u201d\nEarlier this year, Vitter introduced S. 1079, the Artificial Reef Promotion Act, which would increase the utilization of decommissioned Gulf platforms as artificial reefs, as part of the Rigs to Reefs program. Click here to read more.\nText of today\u2019s letter is below.\n  September 25, 2013\nSecretary Sally Jewell  U.S. Department of Interior  Washington, D.C.   1849 C Street, NW  Washington, D.C. 20240\n  Dear Secretary Jewell, I am writing to you today with concern regarding the removal of platform Ship Shoal 26, which is in the process of being purchased by Fieldwood Energy, as part of a larger sale, from Apache Corporation. As you may know this site, more commonly referred to in Louisiana as \u201cthe Pickets\u201d, has become a treasured site for Louisiana anglers since completion of its installation off the coast of Terrebonne Parish in the early 1970\u2019s.\nAn unintended benefit of many of the idle rigs in the Gulf of Mexico has been the positive impact they have had on Louisiana fisheries. Many have developed into habitats that are capable of sustaining an abundance of marine life. This is why I commend your decision to delay implementation of the Idle Iron policy to allow the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and Fieldwood Energy additional time to come up with a strategy to allow as much of this platform to remain in place as safely possible.\nI urge you to continue working with LDWF and Fieldwood Energy, and give every consideration to determine the most appropriate course of action to preserve this site. Allowing \u201cthe Pickets\u201d to remain as a resource for Louisiana anglers will further highlight the important role existing platforms play in supporting marine habitats.\n   Sincerely,\n   _________________   David Vitter   United States Senate", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221024538/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-fights-to-save-the-pickets-from-destruction-for-louisiana-anglers-and-marine-life"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8767140097916126, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}