Ambassador Andrew Young’s restoration program receives millions in Biden’s government funding bill

One of Ambassador Andrew Young’s visionary projects is taking a step forward after President Joe Biden signs on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.

The Andrew J. Young Safeguarding the Mississippi River Together Act, also known as “Andy’s Act,” is a cause Ambassador Young has championed through the Andrew J. Young Foundation for restoring the Mississippi River.

The government spending bill – signed by the president on Thursday – includes $40 million for restoration efforts on the Lower Mississippi River.

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During the pandemic, the Andrew J. Young Foundation helped organize the mayors of nearly 100 cities from New Orleans to Minneapolis. As a young child growing up in New Orleans, Ambassador Young watched the construction of levees meant to last no more than 70 years.

“Every year, at least one major city on the Mississippi River suffers devastation from flooding, and it’s only going to get worse,” said Ambassador Young. “My vision is that you don’t wait for the flood before you clean up. You prevent the flood.”

He called the $40 million appropriation “seed money” for restoration projects.

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Gaurav Kumar, president of the Andrew J. Young Foundation, said replacing outdated levees and other crumbling infrastructure will spare cities and their populations from the ravages of flooding, save millions of dollars each year in disaster relief, create thousands of new jobs, and revitalize local economies through “enterprise zones” all along the river corridor.

“It’s win-win for everyone,” Kumar said “The Mississippi River is the backbone of water transportation in America, accounting for the distribution of 40% of grains in the country. This act, named in recognition of Ambassador Young’s determined leadership on the matter, brings much needed attention to the Lower Mississippi region. and we are very happy our efforts are coming to fruition after 10 years of hard work.”

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