ENROLLED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 29
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request continued support for the annual Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Mapping
Cruise conducted by Louisiana State University (LSU) and Louisiana Universities
Marine Consortium (LUMCON) and its importance as a measure of progress in
reducing the hypoxic zone off Louisiana's coast, as well as memorializing
Louisiana's Congressional Delegation and the U.S. Congress to authorize its
continued funding.
WHEREAS, the growth of a large area of low oxygen off Louisiana's coast, known
as the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone or "Dead Zone", has been a long-standing issue of
concern for the state because of the risks it poses for our commercial and recreational fishing
and seafood industries, and its wider impacts on marine life in the Gulf; and
WHEREAS, the annual Gulf Hypoxia Mapping Cruise has been conducted since
1985, providing a long-term baseline and record of data on the extent and formation of the
hypoxic zone, which has in turn aided the development of models to predict its yearly size
and future trends; and
WHEREAS, the Gulf Hypoxia Mapping Cruise employs and engages Louisiana
scientists, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, cooperating universities, and
other partners and provides the main measure of progress for the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan
in which Louisiana and eleven upriver states have participated since 1997; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature has memorialized its support for the Gulf
Hypoxia Action Plan and the state's continued participation in its efforts to reduce the Gulf
of Mexico Hypoxic Zone in repeated resolutions such as House Concurrent Resolution No.
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47 in the 2000 Regular Session, House Concurrent Resolution No. 80 in the 2007 Regular
Session, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 40 in the 2010 Regular Session, Senate
Resolution No. 84 in the 2012 Regular Session, House Concurrent Resolution No. 70 in the
2016 Regular Session, House Concurrent Resolution No. 30 in the 2019 Regular Session,
House Concurrent Resolution No. 48 in the 2021 Regular Session, and House Concurrent
Resolution No. 98 in the 2022 Regular Session and has expressed support for the Gulf
Hypoxia Mapping Cruise in House Concurrent Resolution Nos. 65 and 64, in the 2017 and
2020 Regular Sessions, respectively; and
WHEREAS, the annual Gulf Hypoxia Mapping Cruise has largely been funded
through the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), reflecting
the importance of Louisiana's coastal fishery and waters as resources of national concern,
and continued federal funding of the Gulf Hypoxia Mapping Cruise is at risk.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
reaffirm that the Louisiana Legislature expresses its continued support for the annual Gulf
of Mexico Hypoxia Mapping Cruise conducted by LSU and LUMCON, as well as support
for its continued funding by NOAA, and memorializes the United States Congress and
Louisiana Congressional Delegation to authorize such funding.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
Louisiana Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and each member of the Louisiana Congressional
Delegation.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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