HLS 21RS-1286 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 32
BY REPRESENTATIVE TARVER
APPROPRIATIONS: Requests the Louisiana Legislature to prioritize spending monies
received by the state from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 on certain existing
obligations
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana Legislature to prioritize spending the state portion of
3 monies received pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) in
4 a strategic manner on certain key state obligations.
5 WHEREAS, earlier this year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that continues
6to disrupt daily life for millions of Americans, congress passed the American Rescue Plan
7Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2); and
8 WHEREAS, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is a multi-trillion dollar package
9of relief legislation that will send billions of dollars directly to states and local governments
10for COVID-relief efforts; and
11 WHEREAS, Louisiana anticipates receiving $3.2 billion from this Act which the Act
12dedicated for costs incurred to respond to the COVID-19 health emergency, to supplement
13incomes of eligible workers; to provide government services; and to make necessary
14investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure; and
15 WHEREAS, Louisiana faces multiple sizeable expenditures in the next several years,
16including infusing capital into a completely depleted Unemployment Compensation Fund
17and liquidating a steadily increasing loan balance with the Federal government in order to
18continue paying unemployment benefits to eligible recipients; an outstanding debt of over
19$1 billion to the federal government for the Hurricane and Storm Drainage Risk Reduction
20System; and required debt defeasance payments on over $7 billion in state debt; and
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HR NO. 32
1 WHEREAS, despite these looming and potentially devastating payments, Louisiana
2is in a fortunate position in that it is scheduled to receive an unprecedented amount of federal
3dollars at a time when it is facing crippling expenditures.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
5Legislature of Louisiana does hereby declare that it is a priority to spend monies allocated
6to the state by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in a responsible manner and further
7urges and requests the full legislature to prioritize spending these monies on shoring up the
8state's Unemployment Compensation Fund, making payments on the Hurricane and Storm
9Drainage Risk Reduction System, and liquidating outstanding state debt obligations.
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 32 Original 2021 Regular Session Tarver
Declares that it is a priority to spend monies allocated to the state by the American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) in a responsible manner and further urges and requests the full
legislature to prioritize spending these monies on shoring up the state's Unemployment
Compensation Fund, making payments on the Hurricane and Storm Drainage Risk
Reduction System, and liquidating outstanding state debt obligations
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