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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 178
BY SENATOR CROWE
A RESOLUTION
To establish the Louisiana Jobs Through Trade With Israel Task Force to study issues
related to increasing employment opportunities and the number of high paying jobs
by developing and increasing mutual trade and promoting tourism between the state
of Louisiana and the State of Israel; to provide for the membership of the task force;
and to provide that the task force report its findings to the legislature, with any
recommendations for legislation, prior to the 2013 Regular Session.
WHEREAS, increased exports of Louisiana products to foreign countries provide
increased employment opportunities and high paying jobs for Louisiana citizens; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, the State of Israel ranked as Louisiana's 17
th
leading trade
partner thereby providing a large number of high paying jobs for Louisiana citizens; and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that Louisiana has one of the highest per capita
church attendance in the United States and many of those who attend church regularly desire
to travel to the State of Israel, the birth place of Christianity; and
WHEREAS, increased tourism from the state of Louisiana to Israel supports that
portion of Louisiana's economy which is dedicated to the travel industry; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, Louisiana made a sizable investment in the State of Israel by
purchasing $5,000,000 in State of Israel bonds to diversify investments and develop
economic ties between the state of Louisiana and the State of Israel; and
WHEREAS, twenty-three states have cooperative agreements with the State of Israel;
and
WHEREAS, although Louisiana does not have a formal agreement with the State of
Israel to promote and improve trade relations, Louisiana exported more than $360,000,000
worth of manufacturing goods to Israel; and SR NO. 178 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, in October of 2011, a group of Louisiana businesses attended a trade
mission to Israel which was led by United States Senator Mary Landrieu and supported by
the United States Department of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, the twin pillars of the shared values and mutual interests that exists
between the state of Louisiana and the State of Israel make clear that continued and
expanding trade with the State of Israel would be in the best interest of the state of
Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby creates
the Louisiana Jobs Through Trade With Israel Task Force to study issues related to
increasing employment opportunities and the number of high paying jobs by developing and
increasing mutual trade and promoting tourism between the state of Louisiana and the State
of Israel.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
following members:
(1) One member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.
(2) The chair of the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Affairs, who shall
serve as the chair of the Task Force.
(3) The executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, or his designee.
(4) The secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, or his
designee.
(5) The secretary of the Department of Economic Development, or his designee.
(6) One member appointed by the president of the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee, with preference given to an appointee from Louisiana.
(7) One member appointed by the chair of the Board of Christians United For Israel,
with preference given to an appointee from Louisiana.
(8) One member appointed by the chair of the Louisiana Republican Party.
(9) One member appointed by the chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
without compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations. SR NO. 178 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall
constitute a quorum of the task force and any official action by the task force shall require
the affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet as necessary and shall
report its findings to the legislature, with any recommendations for legislation, not later than
March 1, 2013.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the staff of the Senate Committee on Labor and
Industrial Affairs shall assist the task force as is necessary.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the secretary of the Department
of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the president of the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee, the chair of the Board of Christians United For Israel, the chair of the Louisiana
Republican Party and the chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE