PORT FOURCHON, La. (AP) — Congressional representatives from Illinois, Florida and Virginia will tour Port Fourchon this week and participate in a roundtable discussion with business leaders focused on oil and gas production and conservation efforts in coastal Louisiana.

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., tells The Courier (http://bit.ly/WujScu) the group will visit a deepwater drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

A flyover of the deteriorating coast of south-central Louisiana also has been arranged, he said.

Since the federal government and Congress play a major role in regulating energy production and coastal restoration, Scalise said there can be dividends from exposing lawmakers to the issues on the ground and from the air.

"They'll get to see how the coast has eroded and where, and also how we are using coastal restoration to address it," Scalise said.

Three Republican U.S. representatives will participate, including Morgan Griffith of Virginia, Dennis Ross of Florida and John Shimkus of Illinois.

Along with Scalise, Griffith and Shimkus sit on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has oversight of oil and gas matters.