SLS 19RS-1083 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 147
BY SENATOR ALARIO
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Senator Conrad Appel for his years of distinguished
public service to the Louisiana Senate.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To recognize and highly commend Senator Conrad Appel for his years of dedicated and
3 distinguished service to the Senate of Louisiana, the people of the parishes of
4 Jefferson and Orleans (District 9), and the state of Louisiana.
5 WHEREAS, Conrad Appel received a degree in electrical engineering from
6 Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, in 1973; and
7 WHEREAS, while Senator Appel has numerous business endeavors, his primary
8 focus is serving as president of Construction South, Inc., a family business that specializes
9 in industrial and commercial general construction projects; and
10 WHEREAS, Conrad Appel has long been involved in promoting local and regional
11 economic development initiatives, he also supports a variety of civic and philanthropic
12 activities; and
13 WHEREAS, when the District 9 Senate seat became vacant, Conrad Appel, with the
14 support of his wife Carol and his children, Connor and Whitney, decided to take a leap of
15 faith and run for office, knowing that to be in a position to make a difference, you have to
16 have a seat at the table; and
17 WHEREAS, Senator Appel was first elected in 2008 in a special election to fill the
18 mostly unexpired term of his predecessor, and was easily reelected for a second and third
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1 term of office; and
2 WHEREAS, during his tenure in the Senate, Senator Conrad Appel served with
3 commitment and distinction on many committees including the Senate Committee on
4 Education, serving as chairman from 2012-2016, the Senate Committee on Environmental
5 Quality, serving as vice chairman from 2016-2020, the Senate Committee on Commerce,
6 Consumer Protection, and International Affairs, the Senate Committee on Judiciary A, the
7 Senate Committee on Judiciary C, serving as vice chairman from 2009-2012, the Senate
8 Committee on Retirement, the Senate Select Committee on Vocational-Technical Education,
9 the Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, the Senate Committee on Finance, the
10 Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital
11 Outlay; and
12 WHEREAS, while serving as chairman of the Senate Committee on Education,
13 Senator Appel authored major K-12 reform legislation to strengthen the school and district
14 accountability system, revamp the teacher evaluation and tenure process, mandate that
15 teachers and other educational employees be compensated based on performance versus
16 years of service, revise the textbook review and adoption process, and create the Early
17 Childhood Care and Education Network; and
18 WHEREAS, understanding the critical need to provide greatly needed infrastructure
19 to increase the availability and use of technology in public elementary schools, Senator
20 Appel passed legislation establishing the office of instructional technology in the state
21 Department of Education, requiring the establishment of a statewide educational technology
22 plan, submission of an annual school technology report, and creating the Technology
23 Strategy Task Force, which he chaired; and
24 WHEREAS, Senator Appel also authored notable legislation to streamline, reduce
25 duplication of programs, and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of postsecondary
26 education, including the development of a common application for postsecondary
27 institutions, the revision of the master plan for postsecondary education, and development
28 and implementation of an outcomes-based funding formula for postsecondary education; and
29 WHEREAS, understanding that a healthy business climate is essential to a dynamic
30 state economy, Senator Appel authored and supported numerous pieces of legislation to
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1 reduce unnecessary regulation and other impediments to the state's business and industry
2 sector; and
3 WHEREAS, Senator Appel's business and economic development experience led
4 him to look beyond the state's borders and develop a vision to create and promote initiatives
5 to increase international trade and authored legislation creating the Louisiana International
6 Commerce Initiative and the Task Force on Shipping, Economic Development, and Trade
7 to develop a strategic plan for international trade; and
8 WHEREAS, Senator Conrad Appel worked diligently to improve the quality of life
9 for all Louisiana citizens, he was selfless in his pursuit of the common good, with no thought
10 of who received the credit; all that mattered was the that goal was accomplished.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
12 does hereby commend Senator Conrad Appel for his years of dedicated and distinguished
13 service in the Senate of Louisiana, the people of the parishes of Jefferson and Orleans
14 (District 9), and the state of Louisiana.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
16 Honorable Conrad Appel.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
SR 147 Original 2019 Regular Session Alario
Commends Senator Conrad Appel for his years of dedicated and distinguished service in the
Louisiana Senate.
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