RESTORE ACT PASSAGE APPLAUDED BY WILLIAM LOIRY

WASHINGTON – June 29, 2012. Congress passed the RESTORE Act today, mandating that 80% of fines to be paid by BP for the 2010 oil spill be directed to the five Gulf states affected by the historic disaster. Fines could reach $21 billion.

“With billions of dollars to be spent on the economic development and environmental restoration of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, this is a game-changer for the region,” stated William Loiry, organizer of the first national RESTORE Act conference in June. At the Summit, Loiry convened the Gulf Coast Restoration Leadership Task Force, comprised of senior Congressional staff, city and state officials, county commissioners and parish presidents, business leaders, and environmental experts. The first order of business for the Task Force was to recommend immediate passage of the RESTORE Act.

A similar Gulf Coast Restoration Summit is scheduled for New Orleans on August 17.

Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., introduced the RESTORE Act in July 2011. Joining them as original cosponsors of the legislation were Sens. David Vitter, R-La.; Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.; Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; Roger Wicker, R-Miss.; Bill Nelson, D-Fla.; Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.

Sen. David Vitter stated, “This is a huge step toward vital, long-overdue coastal restoration work along the Gulf Coast in Louisiana and our neighboring states. The RESTORE language will go a long way in addressing the impacts of the environmental and economic damage from the oil spill, and we think it’s more than fair to have 80 percent of the fines for this event dedicated for restoration along the Gulf Coast.” Vitter was instrumental in making sure the RESTORE Act was included in the final version of legislation which passed Congress today.

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., the lead House negotiator for the RESTORE Act stated,“The fact that the House and the Senate came together to iron out an agreement to include the RESTORE Act in the final transportation bill is a significant development for the restoration of Louisiana’s coast.  It’s only fair that the lion’s share of BP Clean Water Act fines are dedicated to the Gulf Coast states still dealing with the impacts of the disaster so we can rebuild our ecosystems and our economy.”

William Loiry Helps Bring Financial Relief to the People of the Gulf Coast

Destin, Florida - June 11, 2012. William Loiry hosted a regional and national summit in Destin, Florida today to help bring financial relief to the people of the U.S. Gulf Coast who continue to be hurt by the impact of the BP oil spill.

More than $30 billion is soon to be infused into the Gulf Coast, bringing new monies, programs, and contracts for jobs, economic development, environmental restoration, and much more.

Hundreds of conference participants listened to senior Congressional staff, state legislators, county commissioners, parish presidents, state and city officials, business leaders, environmental experts, health officials, and lawyers providing the latest information on:

* $21 billion in expected RESTORE Act monies

* $8 billion in BP lawsuit settlement monies

* $1 billion in BP early restoration monies

* New BP oil spill claims process

Loiry has been working to help the people of the Gulf Coast for the past seven years. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Loiry organized four major conferences on the reconstruction of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. In 2010, Loiry worked to protect the Gulf Coast and its people by advocating non-toxic dispersants to combat the BP oil spill, helping small businesses along the Gulf Coast get compensation and other resources, and by convening a series of Gulf oil spill disaster response conferences. In April of 2011, Loiry convened a free first anniversary oil spill summit in New Orleans, bringing together more than 700 leaders to empower a healthy and economically vibrant Gulf Coast - speakers including Presidential Oil Spill Commission Chairman Bob Graham and GCCF Administrator Ken Feinberg. At the Summit, U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu announced $1 billion in new monies from BP to assist coastal restoration.

William Loiry Thanks Iraq War Veterans

FLORIDA – December 18, 2011. Today, the final U.S. military troops left Iraq. History will determine exactly why the Iraq War was started, but the statistics are indisputable:

• 4,487 U.S service members were killed

• More than 30,000 U.S. service members were wounded

• More than 150,000 Iraqis were killed

• More than $800 billion was spent on the war by the U.S.


As always in times of great strife and turmoil, my team and I were there. Equity International, through its Center for Reconstruction & Development (www.rec-dev.com), brought thousands of government, military, diplomatic, business, nonprofit, and humanitarian leaders together to identify and plan for immediate humanitarian relief and long-term economic reconstruction. Our first Iraq reconstruction conference was held on May 5, 2003, just five days after President Bush declared an end to the initial military campaign.

Based on our experience, here are my recommendations for moving forward with future reconstruction plans:

• Future reconstruction forums and plans must include the involvement of those we are trying to help. To my dismay, past U.S. and international forums focusing on the reconstruction of countries and regions hit by man-made and natural disasters have not included enough representation from those we are trying to help. This arrogance limits us with essential insight. Our forums have always included ministers and ambassadors as well as businesses and nonprofit leaders from countries we are trying to assist.

• Future reconstruction plans must include the involvement of the private sector. The initial international governmental reconstruction forums on Iraq did not include the private sector, even though we requested representation. The private sector provides on-the-ground implementation of reconstruction programs and therefore must be included in the planning if we are to reap the most efficient and successful use of international aid in the future.

• Future reconstruction plans must include lessons learned from past reconstruction programs. Even though we had five years worth of expertise from reconstruction of the Balkans from 1996 – 2000, almost no one from that campaign was consulted as Iraq reconstruction plans were designed. Starting from scratch each time we need a response to a man-made or natural disaster is foolish and unnecessary.


In all, 1.5 million Americans served in the Iraq War. The effects on many are long-lasting and potentially devastating. As a country, the U.S. must:

• Provide veterans not only enough medical treatment for physical scars from the war, but also provide new and effective health and wellness programs for vets and their families. These are essential to effectively combat the psychological impact of the war and keep our military families happy and healthy.

• Provide veterans with jobs. There is no excuse that in America, any American veteran of the Iraq War is homeless and without hope.

Finally, I’d like to say thank you to the families of U.S. service members and other American government officials who were killed; the families of private reconstruction executives and relief workers who were killed; to all who were wounded while pursuing security, relief, and reconstruction; and to everyone who tried to make Iraq a better place.

Gulf Coast Leadership Forum Disputes Feinberg Claim That There Are No Health Problems From Oil Spill

New Orleans – June 8, 2011. The Gulf Coast Leadership Forum is disputing assertions from Gulf Coast Claims Facility Czar Kenneth Feinberg that Gulf Coast residents are not experiencing medical difficulties from last year’s BP oil spill and the subsequent use of toxic dispersants.

On Monday, Feinberg told Louisiana lawmakers that he hasn’t seen any medical linkage of the oil and dispersants and health problems.

“This assertion is nonsense,” said Gulf Coast Leadership Forum Chairman William Loiry. “Medical evidence from Florida to Texas indicates that at least 100,000 Americans are suffering health problems as a result of the oil spill and the toxic dispersants. The number could be much higher. This is a national tragedy which must be addressed openly and truthfully.”

Feinberg was a featured speaker at the Gulf Coast Leadership Summit in April, convened by the Gulf Coast Leadership Forum. The Summit included general sessions on Gulf Coast health and the environment as well as a general session on the concerns of Gulf Coast residents. Numerous Gulf Coast residents spoke about their medical difficulties arising from the oil spill and dispersants.

Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has asked the Gulf Coast Leadership Forum to help it provide training to doctors and medical facilities throughout the Gulf Coast to respond to the increasing oil-related medical crisis.

In addition, the Gulf Coast Leadership Forum will be organizing a major conference on the Gulf Coast health crisis and is working with Silicon Valley to develop a database to track individual medical cases related to the oil and dispersants.

Loiry Family Suffers Two Tragedies In One Day

Sylacauga, Alabama and Panama City Florida - May 28, 2011. Eleanor Hare, beloved aunt of William Loiry and brother of Dr. David A. Loiry, died today at age 81. She was a life-long resident of Sylacauga, Alabama and the matriarch of a large and loving family, leaving behind 14 grandchildren and step-grandchildren and 18 great-granchildren. She was the daughter of Samuel and Ruth Loiry.

Anthony Petracca, 43, was shot to death when he answered the door to his Panama City Beach, Florida home in the early morning hours of May 28, 2011. Arrests have been made in the case. Petracca was the partner of Michelle Bearty, niece of William Loiry, and was the father of little Tony, grand-nephew of William Loiry. Both Michelle and little Tony were at home at the time of the shooting.

The Loiry Family appreciates your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

William Loiry Tours Alabama Tornado Destruction

TUSCALOOSA, ALA - May 8, 2011. William Loiry arrived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama yesterday and immediately began touring the devastation caused by monster tornadoes on April 27. "Many areas look like the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust," Loiry said. "Terrible destruction. But there is wonderful resilience from the people of Alabama and lots of people helping." You can too. Get the latest information at http://www.alabamas13.com/ or make contributions at http://www.uwca.org/ and http://www.givetuscaloosa.com/.

William Loiry Applauds Demise of Osama bin Laden

WASHINGTON – May 1, 2011. Anti-terrorism leader William Loiry applauded the news today from President Barack Obama that “justice has been done” in the demise of the world’s number one terrorist, Osama bin Laden.

“Osama bin Laden must now confront the souls of the 3,000 people he murdered in 2001 – may God have mercy on his soul” said Loiry. “He was not acting as an agent of Islam – he was a deranged agent of evil, who inflicted momentous pain not only on Christians and Jews but also on Muslims.”

In 1998, William Loiry and his team organized the first conference on the threat of Osama bin Laden on Americans overseas. Since the terrorist attacks of 9-11, Loiry and his team have brought thousands of leaders together in Washington to focus on solutions to continuing terrorist threats, including Congressional forums and other Washington events on emergency communications, bioterrorism, infrastructure protection, cyberterrorism protection, transportation security, and border security.

Loiry, Chairman of the United States Leadership Forum and the Homeland Security Leadership Forum added, “The demise of Osama bin Laden does not mean that the terrorist threat to America is over. We must continue to be vigilant. And we must also continue to insist that love triumphs over all evil.”