ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 320
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAY MORRIS
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Department of Transportation and Development to dedicate the
economic damage proceeds from the Deepwater Horizon litigation allocated to the
On-System Bridge Program for replacement and rehabilitation program for highway
bridges on any federal-aid system over waterways, other topographical barriers, other
highways, and railroads and for replacement and rehabilitation of highway bridges
on state highways that are ineligible for federal highway funding assistance to
Northeast Louisiana.
WHEREAS, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill leaked four million one hundred
thousand barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico making it the worst spill in United States
history; and
WHEREAS, the economic impact of the spill was far reaching affecting the fishing
and tourism industries and requiring several billion dollars in clean-up costs; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has received the largest amount of reparation payments to
compensate for economic damage and lost income, almost two billion six hundred thirty-six
thousand dollars; and
WHEREAS, the Deepwater Horizon Economic Damages Collection Fund was
established in the state treasury as a special permanent trust fund; and
WHEREAS, all economic damages proceeds from the Deepwater Horizon litigation
in excess of the first two hundred million dollars deposited in the Fiscal Year 2015-2016
Deficit Elimination Fund shall be deposited by the state treasurer; and
WHEREAS, beginning July 1, 2021, and each fiscal year thereafter through and
including Fiscal Year 2034, in such amounts as remain after payment of amounts due on
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bonds and related expenses as provided in the documents pursuant to which bonds were
issued, the state treasurer is required to immediately transfer the annual payments of fifty-
three million three hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty-three dollars to the
Construction Subfund of the Transportation Trust Fund; and
WHEREAS, the economic damage proceeds and the bonds issued by the State Bond
Commission shall be issued, after paying the costs associated with the issuance of the bonds,
solely and exclusively for certain projects in specified amounts; and
WHEREAS, twenty-five million dollars per year, for a total of one hundred fifty
million dollars, was dedicated to Phase Two of the Louisiana 1 Improvement Project
between Golden Meadow, Louisiana, and Leeville, Louisiana, for Fiscal Years 2021-2026;
and
WHEREAS, one hundred twenty-five million dollars was dedicated to the Louisiana
415 Bridge at the Intracoastal Canal; and
WHEREAS, one hundred fifty million dollars was dedicated to Interstate 49 South;
and
WHEREAS, fifty million dollars was dedicated to Louisiana Highway 3241 from
Interstate 12 to Bush, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, one hundred million dollars was dedicated to the construction of two
additional lanes for the Jimmie Davis Bridge (Louisiana Highway 511) and repair of the
existing bridge; and
WHEREAS, twenty million dollars was dedicated to the acquisition of a new
Cameron Parish ferry; and
WHEREAS, forty million dollars was dedicated to the On-System Bridge Program
for the replacement and rehabilitation program for highway bridges on any federal-aid
system over waterways, other topographical barriers, other highways, and railroads and for
replacement and rehabilitation of highway bridges on state highways that are ineligible for
federal highway funding assistance; and
WHEREAS, nineteen million dollars was dedicated to Phase I and II of the
Sugarhouse Road Extension/Eddie Williams Boulevard to Louisiana Highway 43 Highway
1 project; and
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WHEREAS, twenty million dollars was dedicated to the acquisition of two cranes
for the Port of New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, fifteen million dollars was dedicated to the Hooper Road Widening
from Louisiana Highway 3034 to Louisiana Highway 37; and
WHEREAS, a portion of the economic damage proceeds were allocated to benefit
a project in every area of the state, except Northeast Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation and Development should dedicate the
forty million dollars of economic damage proceeds allocated to the On-System Bridge
Program for replacement and rehabilitation program for highway bridges on any federal-aid
system over waterways, other topographical barriers, other highways, and railroads and for
replacement and rehabilitation of highway bridges on state highways that are ineligible for
federal highway funding assistance to Northeast Louisiana to ensure the infrastructure needs
of that area of the state are addressed.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Transportation and
Development to dedicate the forty million dollars of the economic damage proceeds from
the Deepwater Horizon litigation allocated to the On-System Bridge Program for
replacement and rehabilitation program for highway bridges on any federal-aid system over
waterways, other topographical barriers, other highways, and railroads and for replacement
and rehabilitation of highway bridges on state highways that are ineligible for federal
highway funding assistance to Northeast Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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