HLS 10RS-902 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 31
BY REPRESENTATIVES JANE SMITH, BILLIOT, HENRY BURNS, FOIL, GISCLAIR,
GUINN, SAM JONES, LAMBERT, LITTLE, AND MORRIS
ENERGY/OIL & GAS: Memorializes congress to maintain the current incentives for mid-
level oil and gas exploration and production
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to maintain2
the current incentives for the exploration and production of domestic oil and natural3
gas.4
WHEREAS, Louisiana is an energy state where over three hundred twenty thousand5
Louisianians are employed in the energy sector, and these jobs support over twelve billion6
dollars a year in household income; and7
WHEREAS, these jobs are welders, pipe-fitters, barge workers, geologists, and8
engineers and not to mention the small businesses and an estimated fifty thousand indirect9
workers who support the energy sector; and10
WHEREAS, the current federal budget proposal includes tax hikes on the energy11
economy totaling over thirty-six billion dollars, new fees on energy leases in the Gulf of12
Mexico, excise taxes on Gulf production, and repeals several important tax incentives for13
Louisiana energy producers at a time when the national economy is only beginning to14
recover from a recession; and15
WHEREAS, ninety percent of domestic oil and natural gas wells are developed by16
small, independent businesses that would encounter a devastating impact from any change17
in policy to reduce incentives; and18 HLS 10RS-902 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 31
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WHEREAS, exploration and production in the Gulf of Mexico, most of which is1
done off Louisiana's coast, accounts for thirty percent of the domestic oil supply, and Port2
Fourchon services half the rigs operating in the Gulf; and3
WHEREAS, Louisiana also ranks first in the nation in natural gas processing4
capacity and second in petroleum refining capacity which are critical industries not only for5
the state, but the nation; and6
WHEREAS, these tax increases also reduce our nation's energy security by7
discouraging new investment in domestic oil and natural gas production and refining8
capacity and pushing those investments abroad; and9
WHEREAS, in addition to the increase in energy prices across the board, the evitable10
decrease in supply from reduced exploration and production increases the price of gasoline11
at the pump for our citizens that translates into a fifty cent increase per gallon, costing12
drivers one billion four hundred thousand dollars per week; and13
WHEREAS, a reduction in incentives would reduce the amount of domestic14
produced natural gas and deprive the American people of a clean energy source.15
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby16
memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to maintain the17
current incentives for the exploration and production of domestic oil and natural gas.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)]
Jane Smith HCR No. 31
Memorializes congress to maintain the current incentives for the exploration and production
of domestic oil and natural gas.