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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 229
BY REPRESENTATIVE BURRELL
FUNDS/FUNDING: Memorializes congress to direct available federal funding for the
purpose of enhancing the monetary and workforce value at the General
Motors/Motors Liquidation Assembly Facility including the possible use of the
federal Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to direct2
available federal funding and resources including the possible use of the federal3
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program for the purpose of4
enhancing the monetary and workforce values to investors or manufacturers who5
may be interested in utilizing the existing facilities and workforce at the General6
Motors/Motors Liquidation Assembly Facility.7
WHEREAS, General Motors (GM), also known as Motors Liquidation, has8
announced its intent to cease production at the Shreveport, Louisiana General Motors/Motors9
Liquidation assembly facility; and10
WHEREAS, the Shreveport GM facility began its operation in Caddo Parish in11
August 1981 employing more than three thousand employees; and12
WHEREAS, the GM facility has proven itself to be a major contributor to Caddo and13
surrounding parishes as the second largest taxpayer and at one time, the largest employer in14
the parish; and15
WHEREAS, due to the recent downturn in the economy and financial problems in16
General Motors Corporation, currently, the workforce has been drastically reduced to17
approximately eight hundred employees; and 18
WHEREAS, the Shreveport GM facility has made economic contributions to the city19
of Shreveport, the surrounding parishes, and the state for over thirty years; and20
WHEREAS, most currently in 2009, GM had an annual payroll of forty-five million21
dollars, four million one hundred thousand dollars in property taxes, and over eighty22
thousand dollars in charitable contributions; and23 HLS 10RS-5336 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 229
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WHEREAS, these contributions have been a vital contributing factor to the economic1
well-being and existence for the city of Shreveport, surrounding parishes, and the state of2
Louisiana; and3
WHEREAS, located in Northeast Louisiana, East Texas, and extending into4
Arkansas, which includes Caddo Parish in Northeast Louisiana, the Haynesville Shale is the5
largest natural gas field in the continental United States; and6
WHEREAS, the Haynesville Shale holds approximately two hundred and fifty-one7
trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas; and8
WHEREAS, domestic gas is a resource that can replace imported gasoline and diesel9
as a transportation fuel; and10
WHEREAS, currently, the federal Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing11
Loan Program, certain manufacturers may be eligible for direct loans for up to thirty percent12
of the cost of re-equipping, expanding, or establishing manufacturing facilities in the United13
States used to produce qualified advanced technology vehicles (ATV) or ATV components;14
and15
WHEREAS, qualified ATVs are light-duty vehicles or ultra-efficient vehicles that16
meet specified federal emission standards and fuel economy requirements; and17
WHEREAS, congress is currently considering the New Alternative Transportation18
to Give Americans Solutions (H.R. 1835 and S. 1408) which provides incentives to move19
cars and light trucks as well as heavy-duty trucks from imported gasoline or diesel to20
domestic natural gas and encourages development of engines that reduce emissions, improve21
performance and efficiency, and lower cost; and22
WHEREAS, the assembly facility is one of the most modern and versatile23
automotive production facilities in the domestic automotive industry due, in part, to the24
facility's approximately three million square feet of assembly space under roof, an on-site25
metal stamping plant, and electric power plant; and26
WHEREAS, one option for the assembly facility would be to convert the facility to27
the production of alternative fuel vehicles; and28
WHEREAS, the facility is served by a fully functional supplier network of fourteen29
supplier facilities; and30 HLS 10RS-5336 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 229
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WHEREAS, the facility is in close proximity to three major area airports (Dallas,1
Houston, and Shreveport), railroad and interstate highway systems in good working order,2
and a navigable inland industrial port facility with access to the world market; and 3
WHEREAS, the facility currently employs a highly trained workforce that has been4
recognized many times in the last three decades for its efficiency and production skills by5
the GM Corporation; and6
WHEREAS, a pool of residents in the immediate area, in addition to the currently7
employed workforce, have prior manufacturing experience and training; and8
WHEREAS, the economic consequences of the loss of this facility will negatively9
impact the citizens and the city of Shreveport, the surrounding area, and the state of10
Louisiana on many levels.11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby12
memorializes the president of the United States, the Louisiana congressional delegation, and13
the Congress of the United States of America to use any and all powers vested in the14
president and the United States Congress to direct any available funding from federal15
resources for the purpose of enhancing the existing and potential monetary and workforce16
values to investors or manufacturers who may be interested in utilizing the existing facilities17
and workforce at the General Motors Liquidation Assembly Facility.18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the19
presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the20
United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.21
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Burrell HCR No. 229
Memorializes the U.S. Congress to take actions necessary to direct available federal funding
and resources including the possible use of the federal Advanced Technology Vehicles
Manufacturing Loan Program for the purpose of enhancing the monetary and workforce
values at the General Motors/Motors Liquidation Assembly Facility. The federal funds used
may be used to manufacture advanced technology vehicles (ATV) or ATV components.
ATVs are light-duty vehicles or ultra-efficient vehicles that meet specified federal emission
standards and fuel economy requirements.