HLS 20RS-1803 ENGROSSED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 30
BY REPRESENTATIVE MAGEE
ADMINISTRATION DIVISION: Urges and requests the Division of Administration, office
of community development, to disburse federal funds for project applications in
round one of the Watershed Projects Grant Program to aid economic recovery from
COVID-19 pandemic
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request that the Louisiana Division of Administration, office of community
3 development, immediately disburse federal funds for project applications in round
4 one of the Watershed Projects Grant Program to aid in Louisiana's economic
5 recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
6 WHEREAS, following the 2016 floods, several state agencies worked to develop the
7Louisiana Watershed Initiative to study and implement policy changes and construct
8infrastructure projects that will protect against future flood related devastation; and
9 WHEREAS, in April 2018, Governor Edwards announced the federal government's
10allocation of $1.21 billion in Community Development Block Grant funding for mitigation
11for the Louisiana Watershed Initiative; and
12 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Watershed Initiative provides for three local and regional
13funding rounds totaling over $570 million within its Watershed Projects Grant Program; and
14 WHEREAS, the office of community development accepted applications in 2019 for
15round one totaling $100 million; and
16 WHEREAS, the applications submitted to the office of community development in
172019 are for infrastructure projects that will help improve Louisiana's resiliency against
18major rain events which are certain to continue; and
Page 1 of 3 HLS 20RS-1803 ENGROSSED
HR NO. 30
1 WHEREAS, the preconstruction and construction phases of infrastructure projects
2are a time-tested, proven way to sustain and grow the state's economy; and
3 WHEREAS, Louisiana is currently facing an unprecedented economic crisis due to
4the COVID-19 pandemic that has resulted in skyrocketing unemployment; and
5 WHEREAS, government agencies and businesses throughout the state are facing
6tremendous financial deficits that can only be resolved by putting the people of Louisiana
7back to work; and
8 WHEREAS, Louisiana's most prominent industries, such as tourism and oil and gas,
9have been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic and face a very uncertain future; and
10 WHEREAS, the office of community development has $100 million in round one
11available to immediately begin putting Louisiana citizens to work on infrastructure projects
12that improve the resilience of the state; and
13 WHEREAS, government agencies have the ability to act expeditiously in crisis and,
14to the extent any state law exists that serves as an impediment to immediate disbursement
15by the office of community development for projects in round one, the House of
16Representatives is committed to revising such laws as necessary.
17 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
18Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request that the Louisiana Division of
19Administration, office of community development, immediately disburse federal funds for
20project applications in round one of the Watershed Projects Grant Program to aid in
21Louisiana's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Louisiana House of Representatives urges
23and requests the office of community development to identify any provisions of state law
24that may serve as an impediment to the immediate disbursement of round one funding and
25notify the Louisiana House of Representatives of such impeding provisions of law within
26seven days of the passage of this resolution.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
28to the Louisiana Division of Administration, office of community development.
Page 2 of 3 HLS 20RS-1803 ENGROSSED
HR NO. 30
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 30 Engrossed 2020 Regular Session Magee
Urges and requests that the La. Division of Administration, office of community
development, immediately disburse federal funds for project applications in round one of the
Watershed Projects Grant Program to aid in Louisiana's economic recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Page 3 of 3