SLS 161ES-139 ORIGINAL
2016 First Extraordinary Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 7
BY SENATOR CHABERT
CONGRESS. Memorializes Congress to maintain the Outer Continental Shelf revenue
sharing arrangement passed under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To memorialize the Congress of the United States to maintain the Outer Continental Shelf
3 revenue sharing arrangement passed under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act
4 of 2006.
5 WHEREAS, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA) provides
6 for the sharing of qualified Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues to Gulf Coast states and
7 their political subdivisions that host energy production in order to help mitigate the demands
8 associated with that production on infrastructure and natural resources; and
9 WHEREAS, GOMESA stipulates that funds can only be used for the purposes of
10 coastal protection including conservation, restoration, hurricane protection, the mitigation
11 of damage to wildlife and natural resources, and the mitigation of effects from Outer
12 Continental Shelf activities through onshore infrastructure projects, and associated
13 administrative costs; and
14 WHEREAS, in 2006, the people of Louisiana voted overwhelmingly to
15 constitutionally dedicate the revenues received through GOMESA to the Coastal Protection
16 and Restoration Fund for the purposes of coastal wetlands conservation, coastal restoration,
17 hurricane protection, or infrastructure directly impacted by coastal wetland losses; and
18 WHEREAS, revenues received by Louisiana and its eligible coastal parishes from
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SLS 161ES-139 ORIGINAL
1 2009 to 2015 under phase one of GOMESA provided only $11.5 million to the state, but
2 phase two is estimated to generate more than ten times as much revenue each year for coastal
3 projects; and
4 WHEREAS, GOMESA revenues have long been seen as a crucial, reliable and
5 recurring revenue stream to support Louisiana's coastal protection and restoration work; and
6 WHEREAS, since 2007, Louisiana has created a framework for its coastal protection
7 and restoration program and set the national standard for utilizing world-class science and
8 engineering and public outreach to meet the challenges of a vanishing coast through its
9 Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast (Coastal Master Plan); and
10 WHEREAS, the 2012 Coastal Master Plan further evolved Louisiana's approach to
11 coastal protection and restoration with the prioritization of projects in a resource-constrained
12 funding and physical environment; and
13 WHEREAS, Louisiana's land loss crisis demands a robust and integrated coastal
14 protection and restoration program that operates effectively and urgently for the safety,
15 livelihood, culture, and enjoyment of its people; and
16 WHEREAS, the entire United States derives fantastic benefit from the natural assets
17 of coastal Louisiana including its energy resources, the commerce and connections provided
18 by its ports and waterways, its seafood production, and many other invaluable ecosystem
19 services; and
20 WHEREAS, Louisiana's coastline has already lost twenty-five percent of its 1932
21 land area and without the implementation of large scale restoration projects it could lose an
22 additional 1,750 square miles of land at the end of fifty years; and
23 WHEREAS, Louisiana has a science-based plan to meet these challenges that include
24 massive public investments in the restoration of America's largest river delta, structural
25 protection where necessary, and an extensive program to floodproof, elevate, and voluntarily
26 acquire homes and businesses at greatest risk of flooding; and
27 WHEREAS, Louisiana aims to pioneer the engineered replication of natural
28 processes such as the construction of sediment diversions off of the Mississippi River, and
29 develop other expertise that can be exported around the globe to other cities, states, and
30 countries adapting to climate change; and
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SLS 161ES-139 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, by maintaining GOMESA, Congress can follow through on a promise
2 nearly ten years old, support Louisiana's efforts to provide for a sustainable coast, help to
3 protect and maintain nationally significant economic and natural resources, and help reduce
4 federal liabilities like insured properties in the National Flood Insurance Program and future
5 hurricane disaster payouts.
6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes
7 the Congress of the United States to maintain the Outer Continental Shelf revenue sharing
8 arrangements established under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 for the
9 creation of a recurring funding stream in support of Louisiana's coastal program.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
11 to the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of
12 Representatives and to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States
13 Congress.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
SCR 7 Original 2016 First Extraordinary Session Chabert
Memorializes Congress to maintain the revenue sharing arrangements established under
GOMESA 2006 for the creation of a recurring funding stream in support of Louisiana's
coastal program.
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