2016 First Extraordinary Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 7
BY SENATORS CHABERT, ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, CLAITOR, CORTEZ,
DONAHUE, ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI, HEWITT, JOHNS,
LAMBERT, LONG, LUNEAU, MARTINY, MILKOVICH, MILLS,
MIZELL, MORRISH, PEACOCK, PERRY, RISER, GARY SMITH,
JOHN SMITH, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To memorialize the Congress of the United States to maintain the Outer Continental Shelf
revenue sharing arrangement passed under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act
of 2006.
WHEREAS, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA) provides
for the sharing of qualified Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues to Gulf Coast states and
their political subdivisions that host energy production in order to help mitigate the demands
associated with that production on infrastructure and natural resources; and
WHEREAS, GOMESA stipulates that funds can only be used for the purposes of
coastal protection including conservation, restoration, hurricane protection, the mitigation
of damage to wildlife and natural resources, and the mitigation of effects from Outer
Continental Shelf activities through onshore infrastructure projects, and associated
administrative costs; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, the people of Louisiana voted overwhelmingly to
constitutionally dedicate the revenues received through GOMESA to the Coastal Protection
and Restoration Fund for the purposes of coastal wetlands conservation, coastal restoration,
hurricane protection, or infrastructure directly impacted by coastal wetland losses; and
WHEREAS, revenues received by Louisiana and its eligible coastal parishes from
2009 to 2015 under phase one of GOMESA provided only $11.5 million to the state, but
phase two is estimated to generate more than ten times as much revenue each year for coastal
projects; and
WHEREAS, GOMESA revenues have long been seen as a crucial, reliable and
recurring revenue stream to support Louisiana's coastal protection and restoration work; and
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WHEREAS, since 2007, Louisiana has created a framework for its coastal protection
and restoration program and set the national standard for utilizing world-class science and
engineering and public outreach to meet the challenges of a vanishing coast through its
Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast (Coastal Master Plan); and
WHEREAS, the 2012 Coastal Master Plan further evolved Louisiana's approach to
coastal protection and restoration with the prioritization of projects in a resource-constrained
funding and physical environment; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's land loss crisis demands a robust and integrated coastal
protection and restoration program that operates effectively and urgently for the safety,
livelihood, culture, and enjoyment of its people; and
WHEREAS, the entire United States derives fantastic benefit from the natural assets
of coastal Louisiana including its energy resources, the commerce and connections provided
by its ports and waterways, its seafood production, and many other invaluable ecosystem
services; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's coastline has already lost twenty-five percent of its 1932
land area and without the implementation of large scale restoration projects it could lose an
additional 1,750 square miles of land at the end of fifty years; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has a science-based plan to meet these challenges that include
massive public investments in the restoration of America's largest river delta, structural
protection where necessary, and an extensive program to floodproof, elevate, and voluntarily
acquire homes and businesses at greatest risk of flooding; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana aims to pioneer the engineered replication of natural
processes such as the construction of sediment diversions off of the Mississippi River, and
develop other expertise that can be exported around the globe to other cities, states, and
countries adapting to climate change; and
WHEREAS, by maintaining GOMESA, Congress can follow through on a promise
nearly ten years old, support Louisiana's efforts to provide for a sustainable coast, help to
protect and maintain nationally significant economic and natural resources, and help reduce
federal liabilities like insured properties in the National Flood Insurance Program and future
hurricane disaster payouts.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes
the Congress of the United States to maintain the Outer Continental Shelf revenue sharing
arrangements established under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 for the
creation of a recurring funding stream in support of Louisiana's coastal program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
to the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of
Representatives and to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States
Congress.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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