HLS 11RS-659 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 11
BY REPRESENTATIVE BALDONE
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Memorializes congress to provide funding for the Regional
Counterdrug Training Academy
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To memorialize the United States Congress to provide proper funding for the Regional2
Counterdrug Training Academy which provides counterdrug training to law3
enforcement agencies in the southern coastal region.4
WHEREAS, the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy (RCTA) located at the5
Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi, began as a component of the law enforcement6
agency sponsored, congressionally directed, Gulf States Counterdrug Initiative (GSCI); and7
WHEREAS, the purpose of the GSCI is "to identify resources, services, and support8
that can be legitimately provided by the Department of Defense and other agencies to9
support counterdrug activities along the United States southern coastal region"; and10
WHEREAS, although sponsored by law enforcement, six United States Senators,11
nineteen United States Representatives, and three state governors heavily endorsed the GSCI12
proposal; and13
WHEREAS, one of the provisions of the GSCI document was a request by the14
Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi senior drug law enforcement agencies to establish a15
counterdrug training academy with the mission of training law enforcement officers in16
counterdrug skills; and17
WHEREAS, the academy mission was initially focused on the three requesting states18
and later expanded to include the states of Georgia and Tennessee; and19
WHEREAS, in addition to the GSCI states, the RCTA provides training to law20
enforcement agencies throughout the United States, including the National Guardsmen21 HLS 11RS-659 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 11
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involved in counterdrug support missions, which has been provided at no cost to the law1
enforcement officers or agencies; and 2
WHEREAS, with guidance and resources provided by the Office of the Secretary of3
Defense (OSD) Coordinator for Drug Enforcement Policy and Support, and the National4
Guard Bureau (NGB), the Mississippi National Guard accepted the mission of establishing5
a regional training center; and 6
WHEREAS, the RCTA training philosophy emphasizes hands-on training and7
demands a secure field training facility; and8
WHEREAS, since the first class began in September 1992, thousands of officers9
have graduated in over forty-three different subjects at the RCTA; and10
WHEREAS, the target audience is state, county or parish, and municipal uniformed11
officers and conventional narcotics investigators; and 12
WHEREAS, the RCTA has been offering unparalleled training for over fifteen years13
to law enforcement agencies all over the Gulf states region; and14
WHEREAS, the RCTA has offered approximately sixty different counterdrug15
courses as well as approximately ten counter terrorism courses at no cost to the law16
enforcement agency; and17
WHEREAS, the RCTA has been an extremely valuable asset to the law enforcement18
community of the entire Gulf states region; and19
WHEREAS, the budget used to fund RCTA has not been approved, causing all20
upcoming classes to be canceled.21
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby22
memorialize the Congress of the United States to restore funding for the Regional23
Counterdrug Training Academy located in Meridian, Mississippi.24
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the25
presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the26
United States of America and each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.27 HLS 11RS-659 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 11
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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)]
Baldone HCR No. 11
Memorializes congress to provide proper funding for the Regional Counterdrug Training
Academy to continue offering law enforcement training programs to law enforcement
agencies in the southern coastal region.