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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 114
BY SENATORS B. GAUTREAUX, N. GAUTREAUX, CHABERT, HEBERT AND
PETERSON
HAZARD MITIGATION. Requests the state and federal governments to encourage all
entities involved in the environmental cleanup effort to utilize Louisiana's citizens and their
ideas to rehabilitate the Gulf of Mexico.
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request all executive branch agencies of the state of Louisiana and of the United2
States and their associated contractors and subcontractors to give priority of3
opportunities to participate in the rehabilitation effort to those persons who are4
directly affected by the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and to encourage5
BP and its contractors and subcontractors to do the same.6
WHEREAS, let the nation heed the warnings of the past, that a way of life which is7
lost oftentimes cannot be regained; and it is the solemn duty of a state's government to8
preserve the distinct history and culture of her people; and9
WHEREAS, conservation of coastal ecology is key to south Louisiana's cultural10
survival; a unique culture is at stake, on the brink of extinction, and the Gulf way of life in11
Louisiana could disappear under a deadly sheen of fugitive oil; and12
WHEREAS, the magnitude of the BP oil spill in the Gulf region south of the state13
of Louisiana far outstrips the dimensions of the Exxon-Valdez spill, necessitating the closure14
of vast stretches of Louisiana's wetlands, seafood hatcheries, and wildlife habitats; and15
WHEREAS, fishing grounds along Louisiana's coastline and barrier islands are now16
closed to trapping and fishing, leaving many citizens without a means to make a living; and17
WHEREAS, in the last five years, large portions of these wetlands have been18 SR NO. 114
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significantly affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike, and many residents1
remain under significant financial burdens to repay loans used to rebuild their lives; and2
WHEREAS, the fiscal effects of these storms continue to hamper the livelihood of3
the residents of coastal parishes, a burden now compounded by the loss of economic4
opportunity caused by the BP oil spill for those whose income is dependent on commercial5
fishing, boat charters, marina operations, or seafood supply, or is linked to the fishing6
industries and to ecotourism along the south Louisiana coast; and7
WHEREAS, the catastrophic effects of the oil spill and its economic and8
environmental ramifications continue to rage out of control a mere forty miles from9
Louisiana's most fragile and fertile estuaries; and10
WHEREAS, the efforts of BP to stem the flow of oil since the event of April 20,11
2010, have been unsuccessful, and the company has failed to address the critical need to first12
use Louisiana technologies, providers, and services in a meaningful, timely fashion; and13
WHEREAS, the people of south Louisiana are well-known for their fortitude and14
tenacity, with an unquenchable desire to help their neighbors and themselves in times of15
peril, through trials both great and small; and16
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Workforce Commission has registered more than ten17
thousand Louisianians, indicating that these citizens are ready to be trained and to begin18
remediation efforts to reclaim our coast and wetlands for business and recreational purposes;19
and20
WHEREAS, the people of south Louisiana are fabled "outside-the-box" thinkers,21
whose legendary ingenuity has been a part of offshore drilling since the industry's inception;22
and23
WHEREAS, a variety of remedies, both possible and improbable, have been24
forthcoming from all manner of innovative sources; however, there is no readily-available25
collection point where these ideas may be communicated, assembled, examined, and26
evaluated for their implementation; and27
WHEREAS, it is with the utmost urgency that executive branch agencies must28
collaborate to streamline the collection process by creating a highly visible Internet site for29
the compilation of these bold notions that may save Louisiana's precious wetlands from the30 SR NO. 114
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current environmental emergency; and1
WHEREAS, it is fitting that these Louisianians, who have the most to lose and who2
have formally documented their desire to participate in the cleanup through the labor of their3
bodies or the exertion of their minds, be given the first and best opportunity to be trained and4
employed to carry out this important mission.5
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana6
does hereby urge and request all executive branch agencies of Louisiana and of the United7
States and their contractors and subcontractors to make it a priority to provide opportunities8
to those persons who are directly affected by the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico9
to participate in the rehabilitation of the Louisiana Gulf Coast, and to encourage BP and its10
contractors and subcontractors to do the same.11
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to12
Governor Bobby Jindal and President Barrack Obama.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Laura Gail Sullivan.
DIGEST
B. Gautreaux SR No. 114
Requests the executive branch agencies of Louisiana and of the United States and their
contractors and subcontractors to give to those people who are directly affected by the
catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico opportunities to participate in the cleanup of the
coast and wetlands, and to encourage BP and their contractors and subcontractors to do the
same.