HLS 14RS-740 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 50
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHAMPAGNE
COASTAL RESOURCES: Memorializes congress to provide for certain aspects of the
RESTORE Act
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary for the2
proper allocation of resources on the federal, state, and local level to fund real-time3
audit practices in developing, planning, constructing, and executing projects funded4
by the RESTORE Act's Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund to ensure proper5
expenditures and the restoration of the Gulf Coast for the benefit of all the citizens6
of the United States.7
WHEREAS, on April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred on the mobile offshore drilling8
unit Deepwater Horizon which resulted in the fire that eventually sank the rig, killing eleven9
crewmen, and destroying Louisiana's delicate coast and industries that rely on the coast with10
an estimated 4.1 million barrels of oil released over an eighty-seven day period from the11
Macondo well five thousand feet below on the ocean bottom; and12
WHEREAS, this incident has had a long-lasting impact on the state's natural13
resources, including land, water, fish, wildlife, fowl, and other biota, and likewise on the14
livelihoods of Louisiana's citizens living along the coast; and15
WHEREAS, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act also known as the Clean Water16
Act, 33 U.S.C. 1321, provides for administrative and civil penalties for parties responsible17
for unauthorized discharge of pollutants into United States waters as occurred during the18
Deepwater Horizon disaster; and19
WHEREAS, these fines estimated between $5.4 billion and $21.1 billion would20
ordinarily be deposited into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund pursuant to the Clean Water21
Act; however, congress passed the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist22 HLS 14RS-740 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 50
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Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE)1
that requires eighty percent of the fines to be deposited into the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust2
Fund (trust fund) for restoration efforts in the five coastal states damaged by the spill:3
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas; and4
WHEREAS, the monies from the trust fund will be principally divided into three5
funding mechanisms, the Direct Component that evenly distributes thirty-five percent to the6
five affected states; the Comprehensive Plan Component that directs thirty percent to the7
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to implement a comprehensive Gulf Coast wide8
recovery plan; and the Spill Impact Component that distributes thirty percent to the affected9
states based upon a formula calculated on the miles of coastline affected by the oil spill,10
distance from Deepwater Horizon, and the average 2010 population; and11
WHEREAS, unfortunately, Louisiana has recent experience in administering12
restoration and recovery programs in the wake of disasters such as hurricanes Katrina, Rita,13
Gustav, and Isaac and has learned the value of real-time audit practices in terms of ensuring14
proper expenditures, providing guidance to program administrators, and assuring15
transparency of decisions for the public; and16
WHEREAS, auditing after the fact provides little assistance for parish and county17
governments with minimal resources to recoup large sums in the case of improper18
expenditures; and19
WHEREAS, the RESTORE Act provides for up to three percent for administrative20
costs; there remains uncertainty whether those funds are only for the cost of the United21
States Treasury Department administering the RESTORE Act and whether those funds can22
be utilized by state and local governments for real-time audits.23
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby24
memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary for the proper25
allocation of resources on the federal, state, and local level to fund real-time audit practices26
in developing, planning, constructing, and executing projects funded by the RESTORE Act's27
Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund to ensure proper expenditures and the restoration of the28
Gulf Coast for the benefit of all the citizens of the United States.29 HLS 14RS-740 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 50
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the1
presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the2
United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.3
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)]
Champagne HCR No. 50
Memorializes congress to take such actions as are necessary for the proper allocation of
resources to fund real-time audit practices for projects funded by the RESTORE Act.