(By Delegates Cann and Coleman)


H. R. 5 -- "Acknowledging the contributions of the oil and natural gas industry to the State of West Virginia."
Whereas, Oil and natural gas were first discovered in the State of West Virginia in the middle of the nineteenth century; and
Whereas, The oil and natural gas industry operates in virtually all of West Virginia's fifty-five counties; and
Whereas, The oil and natural gas industry provides jobs for thousands of West Virginians, which generate millions of dollars for the economy of the mountain state; and
Whereas, The oil and natural gas industry has a cumulative gross plant investment of more than four billion dollars in the State of West Virginia; and
Whereas, There are over thirty-five thousand oil and gas wells and more than fifteen thousand miles of pipeline across the State of West Virginia providing oil and natural gas to more than a quarter of a million West Virginia homes and businesses throughout the mountain state; and
Whereas, The Governor of the State of West Virginia has proclaimed that January 20, 1998, be known as "Oil and Natural Gas Day" in the State of West Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That it is fitting and proper to recognize the significant contributions that the oil and natural gas industry makes to the state of West Virginia and its citizens; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the House of Delegates hereby acknowledges the many contributions that the oil and natural gas industry provide for the State of West Virginia and its citizens; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the appropriate representatives of the oil and natural gas industries of West Virginia.