SJR 136

SJR136 192232-2 By Senators Allen, Reed, Waggoner, Albritton, Beasley, Blackwell, Brewbaker, Bussman, Chambliss, Coleman-Madison, Dial, Dunn, Figures, Glover, Hightower, Holley, Holtzclaw, Livingston, Marsh, McClendon, Melson, Orr, Pittman, Sanders, Sanford, Scofield, Shelnutt, Singleton, Smith, Smitherman, Stutts, Ward, Whatley and Williams RFD: First Read: 21-MAR-18 SJR136 SJR136 ENROLLED, SJR136, URGING THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUED AND EXPANDED ACCESS TO GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE OIL AND NATURAL GAS. WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the critical importance of energy to the people and businesses who reside in the state, which is in the top 15 for both energy use and energy expenses per capita; and WHEREAS, on July 3, 2017, the United States Department of the Interior initiated the development of a new National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program (OCS) for 2019-2024; and WHEREAS, on January 8, 2018, the United States Department of the Interior issued a 2019-2024 draft proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program that includes continued and expanded opportunities to develop Gulf of Mexico energy, which will benefit Alabama's economy and citizens; and WHEREAS, the Gulf of Mexico region contributes nearly 20 percent of the nation's crude oil production; and SJR136 WHEREAS, the Department of Interior estimates that in fiscal year 2014, Gulf of Mexico offshore oil and natural gas activity sustained 651,000 jobs, including 18,000 in Alabama, and provided over seven billion dollars in revenue to the federal government; and WHEREAS, an analysis by Quest Offshore has estimated that for Alabama, expanded access to Gulf of Mexico energy resources could create 23,000 jobs, over 1.7 billion dollars in annual Gross Domestic Product, and over 3.5 billion dollars in state government revenue; and WHEREAS, the Quest Offshore analysis also found that expanded access to Gulf of Mexico energy resources could generate an additional one million barrels of oil equivalent per day, or 55 percent of the nation's daily crude oil and petroleum product imports from the Persian Gulf; and WHEREAS, the Department of the Interior has estimated that without Gulf of Mexico lease sales, the nation would have to rely on imports to replace nearly 60 percent of the foregone production; and without Gulf of Mexico lease sales over a five-year period, between five billion dollars and 13 billion dollars in environmental and social costs would result; and WHEREAS, the United States Interior Secretary has stated, "...it is better to develop our energy here under SJR136 reasonable regulations rather than have it produced overseas with little or no regulation...."; and WHEREAS, offshore oil and natural gas revenue sharing, authorized by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, is essential to maintaining a strong Alabama coastline and economy and ensuing the long-term sustainability of Alabama's energy infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the federal government has previously proposed the repeal of revenue sharing; and WHEREAS, members of the Alabama Congressional Delegation have supported revenue sharing and efforts to lift the existing statutory cap of Gulf of Mexico revenue sharing; now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we urge the federal government to provide for continued and expanded access in the Gulf of Mexico in the 2019-2024 National OCS Program. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we further urge the federal government to continue revenue sharing with Gulf Coast states and support congressional efforts to lift the existing revenue sharing cap currently in place for gulf producing states. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, the SJR136 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and each member of the Alabama Congressional Delegation. SJR136 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives SJR136 Senate 21-MAR-18 I hereby certify that the within Senate Joint Resolution originated in and was adopted by the Senate. Patrick Harris, Secretary. House of Representatives Adopted: 28-MAR-18 By: Senator Allen