81R31876 CBE-F
By: Hunter H.R. No. 2074
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Energy Policy Act of 2005 was signed into law on
August 8, 2005; and
WHEREAS, Section 384 of the Act established the Coastal
Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) to make available to eligible
producing states and coastal political subdivisions a proportion of
qualified Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues for fiscal years
2007 through 2010 to assist the producing states and coastal
political subdivisions in mitigating the coastal impacts of
offshore oil and gas production; and
WHEREAS, The secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior
is authorized to disburse $250 million for each fiscal year to
eligible producing states and coastal political subdivisions, with
the funds to be allocated on the ratio that the amount of OCS
revenues generated off the coastline of the producing state bears
to the amount of qualified OCS revenues generated off the coastline
of all producing states; and
WHEREAS, Although the State of Texas has been allocated the
combined sum of $97,182,404.18 for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 under
CIAP, it has not received those funds because of delays in approving
the state CIAP plan and delays in the grant review process; and
WHEREAS, These delays jeopardize the awarding of grants for
such worthy projects as the Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough Hydraulic
Restoration Project, which would restore the historical hydraulic
connection between Cedar Bayou, Vinson Slough, and the Gulf of
Mexico in Aransas County and which would result in substantial
improvements to the health of the estuary and native wildlife; and
WHEREAS, Quick disbursement of the state's allocated Outer
Continental Shelf revenues will create and retain local jobs and
protect the Texas coastline; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby respectfully urge the U.S. secretary of the
interior to simplify existing policies and procedures to allow for
the expeditious release of Coastal Impact Assistance Program funds
to the State of Texas; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the chief clerk forward an official copy of
this resolution to the U.S. secretary of the interior and to all the
members of the Texas delegation to Congress.