NEW ORLEANS-Vice President Joe Biden arrived at Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner at 9:40 this morning for the start of his visit to several areas affected by the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Wearing khaki pants, a blue polo shirt and a baseball cap with an American flag, Biden was greeted with handshakes by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and U.S. Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao, R-New Orleans.
Biden put an arm around Jindal's shoulder as the trio chatted for a couple of minutes on the tarmac. Jindal had said he plans to press Biden to step up the federal response to the spill.
Jindal said heavy patches of oil were spotted about three miles offshore from Grand Isle on Monday.
"We didn't see one vessel out there trying to capture that oil. We need to have a greater sense of urgency," the governor said. "They need to treat this like the war that it is."
Jindal also called on the Army Corps of Engineers to issue permits allowing Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle to build rock dams blocking oil from five passes into Caminada Bay, a vital fishery.
The vice president's motorcade then headed to the unified command center in New Orleans, where Biden will be briefed by Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the national incident commander.
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Tuesday, June 29th 2010 at 9:14PM
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