[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 9, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7326-S7327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-263. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress 
     and the Louisiana congressional delegation to take such 
     actions as are necessary to fully fund the Livestock 
     Indemnity Program in response to the negative impact created 
     by losses to the Louisiana livestock industry as a result of 
     Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta; to the Committee on 
     Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 24

       Whereas, Hurricane Laura made landfall along the coast of 
     Louisiana on August 27, 2020, as a category four storm, 
     becoming the strongest storm in Louisiana history and causing 
     an estimated ten billion dollars in damage from the 
     southwestern to the northern part of the state; and
       Whereas, Hurricane Laura created an estimated one billion 
     six hundred million dollar loss to the Louisiana agriculture 
     industry, including a loss of one million eight hundred 
     thousand dollars to the livestock sector alone; and
       Whereas, an estimated one hundred one thousand poultry, one 
     hundred thirty cattle, and a dozen horses died as a direct 
     result of the storm and the extreme health and insect 
     conditions that followed; and
       Whereas, Louisiana was hit directly by Hurricane Delta on 
     October 9, 2020, causing more catastrophic damage to many of 
     the same areas of the state as Hurricane Laura; and
       Whereas, Hurricane Delta likely created numerous additional 
     losses to the Louisiana agriculture industry, including 
     livestock, the extent of which will only be known after 
     surveys and research of the industry can be conducted; and
       Whereas, the 2014 Farm Bill authorized the Livestock 
     Indemnity Program, within the United States Department of 
     Agriculture, to provide benefits to eligible livestock owners 
     or contract growers for livestock deaths in excess of normal 
     mortality caused by eligible loss conditions, including 
     adverse weather, disease, and attacks; and
       Whereas, the United States Congress neglected to fund the 
     Livestock Indemnity Program properly, creating a situation 
     where Louisiana livestock producers are unable to utilize the 
     program at a time when it is needed most to offset losses 
     created by Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta. Therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress and the Louisiana 
     congressional delegation to take such actions as are 
     necessary to fully fund the Livestock Indemnity Program in 
     response to the negative impact created by losses to the 
     Louisiana livestock industry as a result of Hurricane Laura 
     and Hurricane Delta. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-264. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress 
     to take such actions as are necessary to pass a stimulus plan 
     that includes funds for unemployment, housing, local 
     government, struggling businesses, education, and health 
     care; to the Committee on Finance.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 30

       Whereas, since surging around the globe into a worldwide 
     pandemic earlier this year, the COVID-19 virus has taken an 
     enormous economic and human toll across countries and 
     continents, crippling heretofore healthy citizens and 
     industries; and
       Whereas, to help states with costs for COVID-19 mitigation 
     and response measures, the United States Congress passed the 
     Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act; 
     and
       Whereas, measures designed to protect the health and safety 
     of Louisiana's populace from the COVID-19 virus have also had 
     a negative impact on the economic fortunes of many of those 
     same citizens through lost or reduced income from closures, 
     capacity restrictions, and other public health measures; and
       Whereas, the cost of this highly infectious pandemic to 
     Louisiana businesses, citizens, and local and state 
     government continues to rise; and
       Whereas, the unprecedented number of unemployment insurance 
     claims due to COVID-19 has drained the state's previously 
     robust unemployment insurance trust fund; and

[[Page S7327]]

       Whereas, local revenue collections have plummeted as 
     economic activity has slowed, and as a result, local 
     governments are struggling to provide crucial services; and
       Whereas, already made vulnerable by lost jobs or decreased 
     income from the COVID-19 pandemic, many Louisiana citizens 
     face the prospect of housing insecurity as they struggle to 
     provide a safe and secure place for themselves and their 
     families to live while also maintaining basic services such 
     as water, electricity, and food; and
       Whereas, the federal government provided unemployment and 
     housing assistance in its last COVID stimulus package, but 
     there is a great need for further economic relief. Therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to pass a stimulus plan that includes funds 
     for unemployment, housing, local government, struggling 
     businesses, education, and health care; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.

                          ____________________