2018 Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 183 BY SENATORS PERRY, BISHOP, FANNIN AND TARVER A RESOLUTION To commend the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, Barksdale Forward, Fort Polk Progress, and the Southeast Louisiana Military Alliance for their support of the military installations and military personnel in this state. WHEREAS, Louisiana is host to a number of military installations across the state, representing all branches of the armed forces defending our nation; and WHEREAS, the Louisiana Military Council was established within the Louisiana Department of Economic Development and is charged, in part, with proposing and sponsoring activities and programs that support and enhance the military's activities in this state; and WHEREAS, the Louisiana Military Advisory Council is also charged with developing an economic impact analysis of the state's military assets; and WHEREAS, business development advisors conducted this analysis of the military's economic impact in Louisiana and this analysis highlights the importance of our military assets as economic drivers, not just for their respective regions, but for the state as a whole, and determined that every region of Louisiana benefits economically from the payroll, spending, contracted work, and other activity arising from Department of Defense spending in Louisiana; and WHEREAS, the total annual statewide economic impact of military spending is $7.7 billion; and WHEREAS, military spending creates over 77,000 direct and indirect jobs with over $279 million in taxes paid to the state which equates to approximately 4% of total state payroll employment; and WHEREAS, total military contract spending in Louisiana for 2016 was $1.52 billion which is the highest level since 2012; and Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 183 ENROLLED WHEREAS, Louisiana ranks No. 32 for military contracts, No. 1 for Department of Homeland Security prime awards (due largely to Coast Guard contracts with Louisiana shipyards) and No. 20 among the fifty states and the District of Columbia for the combined total value of military and homeland security contracts in 2016; and WHEREAS, these installations are represented by community advocacy groups that work tirelessly to maintain the viability of their respective installations and improve the quality of life of their servicemen and servicewomen and families; and WHEREAS, the Louisiana Military Affairs Council considers the state's military installations and their affiliated advocacy groups as key economic development partners; and WHEREAS, these organizations, such as Barksdale Forward, supporting Barksdale Air Force Base near Bossier City, Fort Polk Progress, supporting Fort Polk at Leesville, and the Southeast Louisiana Military Alliance, supporting several military facilities in the Greater New Orleans area, do important work on behalf of our military facilities and personnel. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Louisiana Legislature does hereby commend the Louisiana Economic Development, the Louisiana Military Affairs Council, Barksdale Forward, Fort Polk Progress, and the Southeast Louisiana Military Alliance for their tireless support of Louisiana's military installations, military personnel, military families and communities, and the advocacy demonstrated in the United States Congress and at the Pentagon, supporting a strong Department of Defense presence in Louisiana, supporting our vital role in the defense of our nation, and contributing to the state's vibrant economy. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE Page 2 of 2