2012-0105
INTRODUCED BY: DENNIS NUSS, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VII
RESOLUTION NO. __________
Title
A resolution in support of H.R. 104 - Ramp Act, a Bill to ensure that amounts credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used for Harbor Maintenance.
Body
WHEREAS, the International Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans comprises more than 70 firms (large and small), whose members handle in some fashion upwards of 95% of all inbound/outbound cargoes transiting Louisiana ports; and,
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has calculated that 1 in 7 jobs in Louisiana is dependent upon the state's waterways, while the maritime industry contributes 13% to Louisiana's annual gross domestic product, and additionally, the maritime industry pays $1.9 billion in taxes annually; and,
WHEREAS, the Louisiana State Legislature passed concurrent resolutions in the 2011 Regular Session (Resolution No. 163: Representative Leger for the Lower Mississippi River, and Resolution No. 173; Representative Kleckley for the Calcasieu Ship Channel) calling on the United States Congress and the President of the United States to provide urgently needed funding addressing shoaling/silt settling from the water column and other high water issues; and,
WHEREAS, international commerce now represents more than 25 percent of the United States annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and any handicaps to a crucial part of our transportation infrastructure increases costs, a significant percentage of the consumer goods purchased in 2010 from the top 10 importers (Wal-Mart Stores; Target; Home Depot; Lowe's; Sears Holding; Dole Food; Heineken USA; Philips Electronics North America; Chiquita Brands International; and Samsung America) arriving by ocean in over 2.5 million TEUs (20 foot container equivalents); and,
WHEREAS, two-thirds of the United States grain exports reach world markets via the Mississippi River, and refineries along the Mississippi and the Calcasieu rivers require unimpeded navigational access to petroleum products and refinery feed stock, the Gulf Coast supplying nearly 25% of the energy needs to the United States, and recognizing that other raw and intermediate materials need to reach the industrial heartland at the same time that U.S. coal exports are on the rise, deep draft is essential for these commodities which fuel a national/global economy; and,
WHEREAS, the Harbor Maintenance Fee has been mandated by the Water Resource Development Act of 1986 and has been in effect since April, 1987 (calculated at 0.125 percent of the entered value of waterborne imported cargo collected by Customs and Border Protection and remitted to the Federal Treasury) the current account exceeding $6 billion plus interest.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL, do hereby request that the United States Congress support H.R. 104 Ramp Act and take such actions as are necessary to provide adequate funding for essential dredging activities and removal of navigational hazards from Louisiana's deep-draft channels on the Mississippi and Calcasieu Rivers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America and the President of the United States and to each member of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation.
Vote
The foregoing resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
And the resolution was declared adopted this day of , 2012, to become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
International Freight Forwarders & Customs - H.R. 104, Ramp Act
CHAIRMAN:______________________________________________
SECRETARY:_____________________________________________
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:_________________________________
APPROVED:______________ DISAPPROVED:__________________
PARISH PRESIDENT:______________________________________
RETD/SECRETARY:_______________________________________
AT:_______________ RECD BY: _____________________________