HLS 24RS-1054 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 29
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE
COASTAL RESOURCES: Reaffirms support for the annual Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia
Mapping Cruise conducted by Louisiana State University and the Louisiana
Universities Marine Consortium and memorializes Congress to provide continued
funding
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request continued support for the annual Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Mapping
3 Cruise conducted by Louisiana State University (LSU) and Louisiana Universities
4 Marine Consortium (LUMCON) and its importance as a measure of progress in
5 reducing the hypoxic zone off Louisiana's coast, as well as memorializing
6 Louisiana's Congressional Delegation and the U.S. Congress to authorize its
7 continued funding.
8 WHEREAS, the growth of a large area of low oxygen off Louisiana's coast, known
9as the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone or "Dead Zone", has been a long-standing issue of
10concern for the state because of the risks it poses for our commercial and recreational fishing
11and seafood industries, and its wider impacts on marine life in the Gulf; and
12 WHEREAS, the annual Gulf Hypoxia Mapping Cruise has been conducted since
131985, providing a long-term baseline and record of data on the extent and formation of the
14hypoxic zone, which has in turn aided the development of models to predict its yearly size
15and future trends; and
16 WHEREAS, the Gulf Hypoxia Mapping Cruise employs and engages Louisiana
17scientists, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, cooperating universities, and
18other partners and provides the main measure of progress for the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan
19in which Louisiana and eleven upriver states have participated since 1997; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 24RS-1054 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 29
1 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature has memorialized its support for the Gulf
2Hypoxia Action Plan and the state's continued participation in its efforts to reduce the Gulf
3of Mexico Hypoxic Zone in repeated resolutions such as House Concurrent Resolution No.
447 in the 2000 Regular Session, House Concurrent Resolution No. 80 in the 2007 Regular
5Session, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 40 in the 2010 Regular Session, Senate
6Resolution No. 84 in the 2012 Regular Session, House Concurrent Resolution No. 70 in the
72016 Regular Session, House Concurrent Resolution No. 30 in the 2019 Regular Session,
8House Concurrent Resolution No. 48 in the 2021 Regular Session, and House Concurrent
9Resolution No. 98 in the 2022 Regular Session and has expressed support for the Gulf
10Hypoxia Mapping Cruise in House Concurrent Resolution Nos. 65 and 64, in the 2017 and
112020 Regular Sessions, respectively; and
12 WHEREAS, the annual Gulf Hypoxia Mapping Cruise has largely been funded
13through the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), reflecting
14the importance of Louisiana's coastal fishery and waters as resources of national concern,
15and continued federal funding of the Gulf Hypoxia Mapping Cruise is at risk.
16 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
17reaffirm that the Louisiana Legislature expresses its continued support for the annual Gulf
18of Mexico Hypoxia Mapping Cruise conducted by LSU and LUMCON, as well as support
19for its continued funding by NOAA, and memorializes the United States Congress and
20Louisiana Congressional Delegation to authorize such funding.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
22Louisiana Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and each member of the Louisiana Congressional
23Delegation.
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)]
HCR 29 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Zeringue
Urges and requests continued support for the annual Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Mapping
Cruise conducted by LSU and the La. Universities Marine Consortium and memorializes
Congress to provide continued funding.
Page 2 of 2