To members of the Senate and House Governmental Affairs Committees:

We thank the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and the House Governmental Affairs Committee for visiting our regions to hear directly from our citizens our thoughts and hopes for the redistricting process. During our meetings, a common concern was our regions must continue to remain together.

We reaffirm our position it is advantageous to both of our regions and to the economy of South Louisiana to keep Lake Charles-Southwest Louisiana and Lafayette/Acadiana united. We request Jeff Davis and Acadia parishes remain in our district.

» Both regions are closely tied along the I-10 corridor.

» Both regions share common industries: agriculture, tourism, oil and gas, energy production, and shipping.

» Both regions share common cultures.

» Both regions share common concerns: hurricane threats, coastal erosion and environmental compliance issues.

» Both regions will foster economic development through shared international trade and entrepreneurial programs. In January, representatives from both regions met in Jennings to sign an International Trade Accord solidifying our efforts toward an economic development super region.

» Both regions share common coastal needs must be addressed in part through keeping our united ports system intact linking Calcasieu and Cameron (through the use of the Ship Channel) and the Port of Iberia and Mermentau.

The current congressional district is compact with the parishes in Acadiana including Vermillion, Cameron, Calcasieu, Lafayette, Jeff Davis, Acadia, Evangeline and St Landry. These are all communities of interest economically, culturally and agriculturally.

If the district would have to be shifted from its current form separating the parishes of Acadiana, we respectfully request you not split up the parishes along the I-10 corridor.

Dividing these parishes between Lafayette and Lake Charles with a North Louisiana seat would not be contiguous or acceptable to the needs in those communities.