Today, 21 parish, regional and state organizations sent a letter of support for SB 359, authored by Sen. Bob Hensgens (R-Abbeville), to the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The bill, which is scheduled to be considered during Thursday’s committee hearing, keeps the state’s focus on enforcing state permits and ensures that 100% of any funds recovered under the enforcement guidelines of Louisiana’s State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act (SLCRMA) are spent directly on coastal restoration and hurricane protection, as the Louisiana Legislature originally intended.
“A small group of trial lawyers and a few parish officials are actively working to stifle the economic recovery of Louisiana’s energy sector by continuing to pursue misguided lawsuits against the industry,” said Marc Ehrhardt, executive director of the Grow Louisiana Coalition. “SB 359 will help oil and gas businesses in the state get back on their feet, not spend resources on senseless lawsuits that have yet to provide a dollar for our coast or economy in more than seven years. There are many things that we cannot control right now. SB 359 is something positive and productive that we can do to help our industry move in the right direction.”
The parish, regional and state organizations who have signed on to the letter of support include:
Bayou Industrial Group
Consumer Energy Alliance
Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance
Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce
Grow Louisiana Coalition
Gulf Economic Survival Team
Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce
Lake Area Industry Alliance
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense
Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch
Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association
Louisiana Oil & Gas Association
One Acadiana
Pelican Institute for Public Policy
Port of Iberia
River Region Chamber of Commerce
South Central Industrial Association
The Chamber Southwest Louisiana
Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce
West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce
