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BREAKING NEWS
 
Dear Friends,

Let me first say that, for the past two years, it has been the greatest honor of my life to represent the people of Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes as your state Senator

Of course, we all know the considerable challenges that our area has faced during that time - from the devastating oil spill and the job-killing moratorium, to the hotly debated re-districting and the billion-dollar-budget shortfall. Unfortunately, I do not have the ability to choose the civil or economic climate in which I serve. I can, however, choose to wake up every day and do the best job that I can for you. That is what you elected me to do.

Public service is easy when times are good, but how leaders handle the hard times, that is how they should be judged. Please know that at the end of every day, I reflect on how I could have better preformed my duties. 'Could I have handled a debate differently? Could I have made one more point in a meeting? Should I have voted yes instead of no?' It is this daily reflection that drives me to never stop studying the issues that face us and to never become complacent.

Although my short time in service has been challenging, I am proud of what I have accomplished.

Since taking office, I have been able to secure over $8,000,000 for the construction of a new academic building on the campus of Nicholls State University; along with insuring the continued funding of the University Dyslexia Center, and the Center for Women in Government. I personally led our delegation in negotiations with Governor Bobby Jindal to secure his support to make LA 1 the state's highest highway priority. Through my position as Vice Chairman of the Senate Natural Resources committee, I defeated the proposed ban on recreational bow-fishing, as well as fought to open our commercial fishing grounds the minute they were ruled safe following the spill. Working with the Secretary of Health and Hospitals, we were able to fend off debilitating cuts to Chabert Medical Center. Working with Chairman Gordon Dove of the House Natural Resources Committee, and the Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration we secured tens of millions of dollars for the Morganza to the Gulf Project, the Lock project for the Houma Navigational Canal, the Caminada Headlands Restoration Project at Fourchon, and many other coastal restoration projects to ensure the survival of our wetlands.

Let me take a moment to remind you the people of Terrebonne and Lafourche of the pledge I made to you upon my election to the Senate. I swore that, at the completion of my term, I would look inside myself and review my own performance before deciding whether or not to seek re-election. I asked myself, 'Did I do an honest job? Had I worked hard? Did I diligently prepare for the legislative session? Was I good enough to be your Senator?' After much thought, prayer, and plain old soul searching I realized that I should not answer that question myself. All I had to do was continue listening to my people and they would tell me if I should run again. So I did just that. After all, it's not about me...it's about "we."

So today, it is with great honor and humility, that I formally announce that I will seek re-election to the seat of State Senator from District 20.

I know that the road ahead is uncertain for all of us, but I make the same pledge to you today that I did just two short years ago: I will work hard every day and do my very best. I will never forget where I came from, and I will always put the needs of my people and our area FIRST!

Once again, I thank you for the honor of serving as your Senator. Once again, I humbly ask for your support and your vote.

Sincerely,
Norby
 
 
2-25-10 GOV. JINDAL, SEN. CHABERT, & LOCAL LEADERS ANNOUNCE $20 MILLION TO SOUTH LAFOURCHE LEVEE DISTRICT
 
State officials & the South Lafourche Levee District signed a cooperative agreement duriing a ceremony held in Galliano. The agreement provides $19.8 million in state money to raise levees, armor pump stations & elevate a section of La. 1. to proceed. After decades of corps' delays, the Levee District opted to build much of the system itself.
 
"This system has protected communities from flooding during past storms, but that doesn't simply mean we can pat ourselves on the back & take this levee system for granted," Jindal said. "We must continue to be vigilant and make improvements to the structures that protect our homes & our livelihoods."
 
The state money is welcome because it shows support for "the people who live down here who said, "No one is going to protect us, we're going to take care of ourselves," said State Sen. Norby Chabert, D-Houma.
 
To read the full article, please click: Houma Courier Article 2-25-10
 
 
2-10-10 SEC. BARHAM, SEN. CHABERT, REGIONAL DELEGATION & TERREBONNE LEVEE DISTRICT CLEAR HURDLES
 
Levee projects to protect Montegut, Pointe-aux-Chenes and Chauvin overcame major hurdles Tuesday, February 9, 2010, when top state officials announced agreements that will allow work to proceed. State Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham signed an agreement with the Terrebonne Levee district to move forward on a section of hurrican-protection levee. The section, called J-2, is part of the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurrican-protection system.
 
"This is another step forward in a long process," said State Sen. Norby Chabert, D-Houma. "The road ahead is long, and we're going to have to walk hand in hand to get anything done."
 
To read the full article, please click: Houma Courier Article 2-10-10
 
12-11-09 GOV. JINDAL, SEN. CHABERT, & REGIONAL DELEGATION ANNOUNCE COASTAL RESTORATION PROJECT COMPLETION
To watch a video of this press conference, please click: Fox 8 News - Coastal Updates
 
Governor Jindal, Senator Chabert, & the Regional Delegation announced coastal restoration project updates on Thursday, December 10th, at the Bayou Terebonne Waterlife Museum. The governor announced the completion of one of the largest coastal-restoration projects in Terrebonne's history, unveiled $30 million more in restoration projects planned for the new year and issued a strongly worded rebuke to the Army Corps of Engineers. More than $400 million in state, local and federal money has been spent on 20 hurricane-protection and coastal-restoration projects in Terrebonne, Jindal said.
 
Morganza is a federal system of levees, floodgates and a lock on the Houma Navigation Canal designed to protect Terrebonne and parts of Lafourche from storm flooding. The system has been stuck in Army Corps of Engineers bureaucracy for more than a decade.
 
A letter demanding action, written by Jindal's top coastal aide, Garret Graves, and a coalition of coastal leaders, was also sent to corps officials. "Hopefully the corps will hear our message loud and clear," said state Sen. Norby Chabert, D-Houma.
 
To read the full article, please click: Houma Courier - Coastal Updates
 
CHABERT NAMED TO KEY COMMITTEES
 
District 20 State Senator Norby Chabert (D-Houma) is taking on new leadership responsibilities in the Louisiana Senate. Sen. Chabert, who came to the Senate last month after winning a special election for the District 20 seat, will chair the Senate Select Committee on Vocational & Technical Education. He will also serve as a member of the Senate Insurance, Natural Resources and Judiciary B committees, and as an interim member of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. Senate President Joel Chaisson recently appointed Sen. Chabert to the Senate committees which deal with important education, workforce, insurance, coastal restoration, criminal justice and governmental affairs issues.
 
"I am honored that the Senate leadership has trusted me with these distinguished committee responsibilities," Sen. Chabert said. "I am proud to be chosen to chair the Select Committee on Vocational and Technical Education. The Fletcher Technical Community College in Senate District 20 is one of the fastest growing community colleges in the state. Fletcher and other community and technical colleges around the state, which are vital to workforce training and future economic development, face many challenges in the coming months. I pledge to lead the charge to make sure these institutions excel and meet the needs of our citizens and our business."
 
As a member of the Senate Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Coastal Restoration and Flood Control, Sen. Chabert will have a major voice in the way the state proceeds with coastal restoration and hurricane protection efforts as well as in policy decisions relating to mineral resources and wildlife and fisheries. He will also participate in reapportionment discussions over the coming months as an interim member of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. The Senate Insurance Committee deals with matters relating to property, casualty, health, life and surplus lines insurance. The Senate Judiciary B Committee traditionally considers certain criminal justice and gaming matters.