ENROLLED
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 11
BY REPRESENTATIVES JORDAN, CARPENTER, AND REYNOL DS
A RESOLUTION
To designate Monday, March 19, 2018, as ExxonMobil Day at the legislature and to
commend ExxonMobil for their long-term contributions to the economy of the state
of Louisiana and to the prosperity of her citizens.
WHEREAS, for the past century ExxonMobil's Louisiana operations have greatly
contributed to the economy of the state of Louisiana and to the prosperity of its citizens all
over the state; and
WHEREAS, the Standard Oil Company of Louisiana, which began on two hundred
twenty-five acres of Baton Rouge farmland with some seven hundred workers, has grown
into an ExxonMobil family of companies in Louisiana that, in addition to the Baton Rouge
Refinery, now also includes world-class facilities such as the Baton Rouge Chemical Plant,
the Baton Rouge Polyolefins Plant, the Baton Rouge Plastics Plant, the Port Allen Lubricants
Plant, the ExxonMobil Production Company, XTO Energy Company, and the ExxonMobil
Pipeline Company; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride and gratitude that the Louisiana House of
Representatives commends ExxonMobil for the contributions its operations have made to
the economy of the state of Louisiana and to the prosperity of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, as one of the top employers in the state of Louisiana, employing more
than six thousand employees and contractors in the Baton Rouge area, ExxonMobil has
workers in nearly every corner of Louisiana, from the Haynesville Shale to the Baton Rouge
chemical plants to the deep water of the Gulf of Mexico; and
WHEREAS, the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery is the largest manufacturing
employer in Louisiana and the fourth largest refinery in the United States, and the Baton
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Rouge Chemical Plant is the second largest manufacturing employer in the state with
ExxonMobil's Louisiana operations; and
WHEREAS, the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Plastics Plant which began operations on
July 31, 1968, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in Baton Rouge and has grown from an
initial processing capacity of one-hundred-eighty million pounds to now more than one
billion pounds of low density polyethylene and two hundred million pounds of ethylene
elastomer products annually; and
WHEREAS, the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Plastics Plant has been recognized
numerous times for its commitment to safe, reliable operations and was named "Best in
Louisiana" for its 2017 safety performance by the Louisiana Chemical Association while
making end products ranging from food-safe plastic wraps to adhesives and automotive
components; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO Energy's Cotton Valley Gas Plant, is
celebrating its 75th Anniversary as an integral part of the business community in the parishes
of Webster and Claiborne and the greater northwest Louisiana regional economy where this
facility has grown into a gas processing complex, with cumulative production of more than
three trillion cubic feet of natural gas and more than forty million barrels of condensate and
light oil; and
WHEREAS, the Cotton Valley operations are an integral part of Northwest
Louisiana's vibrant economy with operations delivering direct and indirect benefits that have
had a lasting impact that allow XTO to be an active community partner with the Cotton
Valley community through contributions to organizations such as the fire departments in
both Claiborne Parish and Webster Parish, the Cotton Valley police department, and the
Claiborne Parish 4-H Club; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil's engineers, scientists, skilled workers, and support staff
in Louisiana have played crucial roles in shaping the energy and petrochemical industry
during the past century with revolutionary research innovations and technological
breakthroughs, such as the world's first catalytic cracking technology and the development
of alkylation processes for the production of high octane aviation fuel during World War II
as well as the development of butyl rubber, which led to Baton Rouge's nickname as the
"Cradle of Synthetic Rubber"; and
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WHEREAS, ExxonMobil's Louisiana operations pay over one hundred million
dollars in state and local taxes each year including over thirty-three million dollars in
property taxes in East Baton Rouge Parish alone, and has paid more than one billion dollars
in state and local taxes over the past ten years; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil and its thousands of employees and retirees take an active
role in the betterment of the surrounding communities throughout the state of Louisiana by
providing tens of thousands of volunteer hours annually to numerous nonprofit organizations
as well as providing financial assistance through charitable contributions and matching
grants of nearly four million dollars each year to hundreds of civic, community, and
educational organizations; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil's recognition that the challenges of the 21st century, for
the energy industry and our country, will rely on our children having a strong foundation of
math and science education in our schools that is reflected in the commitment of a thirteen
million dollar funding grant to the National Math & Science Initiative for Louisiana schools
and its educational programs such as the Advanced Placement Training as well as support
of numerous other educational programs such as the STEM Learning Network, Pathways
to STEM Education in EBR Parish Schools; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil's facilities in Louisiana are dedicated to operating in an
environmentally responsible manner and have been recognized for their efforts as a recipient
of numerous awards for their environmental leadership; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil is committed to continuous improvement in the safety of
its employees, contractors, and the community and its Louisiana facilities have been
recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for their voluntary
protection programs and safety performance; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil's facilities in Louisiana represent substantial long-term
investments and their operations retain existing jobs and attract new jobs, provide tax
revenue, spur economic growth, and help meet the world's growing energy needs; and
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,
and the overall vitality of American society depend in great measure upon businesses like
ExxonMobil, whose employees are fueling America's manufacturing revival and providing
the energy to drive the national economy.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend ExxonMobil on more than a century of
partnership and progress with Louisiana and does hereby recognize Monday, March 19,
2018, as ExxonMobil Day at the legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
of Louisiana does hereby commend and congratulate the employees and retirees of
ExxonMobil for their continuous pursuit of excellence in safety, corporate responsibility,
environmental preservation, and contributions to local education and volunteer leadership.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
ExxonMobil's Louisiana Operations.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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