A bill granting the consent of Congress to the Mississippi-Louisiana bridge construction compact.
PL 95-35 (H.R.3662), enacted 06/01/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-35—JUNE 1, 1977 
91 STAT. 175 
Public Law 95-35 
95th Congress 
An Act 
Granting the consent of Congress to the Mississippi-Louisiana Bridge construc-
tion compact. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of 
Congress is given to the Mississippi-Louisiana Bridge construction 
compact entered into between the States of Mississippi and Louisiana, 
which compact reads as follows: 
"Mississippi-Louisiana Bridge Construction Compact" 
"Article I. The purpose of this compact is to promote the construc-
tion of a bridge connecting the States of Mississippi and Louisiana at 
or near Natchez, Mississippi, and Vidalia, Louisiana, and to establish 
a joint interstate authority to assist in these efforts. 
"Article II. This compact shall become effective immediately as to 
the States ratifying it whenever the States of Louisiana and Missis-
sippi have ratijfied it and Congress has given consent thereto. 
"Article III. The States which are parties to this compact (herein-
after referred to as 'party States') do hereby establish and create a 
joint agency which shall be known as the Mississippi-Louisiana Bridge 
Authority (hereinafter referred to as the 'authority'). The member-
ship of such authority shall consist of the Governor of each party 
State, one representative each from the Mississippi State Hignway 
Department and the Louisiana Department of Highways, five other 
citizens of each party State, to be appointed by the Governor thereof. 
The appointive members of the authority shall serve for terms of four 
years each. Vacancies on the authority shall be filled by appointment 
by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term. The members 
of the authority shall not be compensated for service on the authority, 
but each of the appointed members shall be entitled to actual and 
reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings, or incurred other-
wise in the performance of his duties as a member of the authority. 
The members of the authority shall hold regular quarterly meetings 
and such special meetings as its business may require. They shall 
choose annually a chairman and vice chairman from among their 
members, and the chairmanship shall rotate each year among the party 
States in order of their acceptance of this compact. The secretary of 
the authority (hereinafter provided for) shall notify each member 
in writing of all meetings of the authority in such a manner and under 
such rules and regulations as the authority may prescribe. The author-
ity shall adopt rules and regulations for the transaction of its busi-
ness ; and the secretary shall keep a record of all its business and shall 
furnish a copy thereof to each member of the authority. It shall be the 
duty of the authority, in general, to promote, encourage, and coordi-
nate the efforts of the party States to secure the development of the 
JNIississippi-Louisiana Bridge at or near Natchez, Mississippi, and 
Vidalia, Louisiana. Toward this end, the authority shall have power 
to hold hearings; to conduct studies and surveys of" all problems, bene-
fits, and other matters associated with the construction of the Missis-
sippi-Louisiana Bridge, and to make reports thereon; to acquire, by 
gift, grant, or otherwise, from local. State, Federal, or private sources 
June 1, 1977 
[H.R. 3662] 
Mississippi-
Louisiana Bridge 
Construction 
Compact. 
Congressional 
consent. 
2 9 - 1 9 ^ 0 -
91 STAT. 176 
PUBLIC LAW 95-35—JUNE 1, 1977 
such money or property as may be provided for the proper perform-
ance of their function, and to hold and dispose of same; to cooperate 
with other public or private groups, whether local, State, regional, or 
national, having an interest in the bridge construction; to formulate 
and execute plans and policies for emphasizing the purpose of this 
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compact before the Congress of the United States and other appro-
priate officers and agencies of the United States; and to exercise such 
other powers as may be appropriate to enable it to accomplish its func-
tions and duties in connection with the construction of the Mississippi-
Louisiana Bridge and to carry out the purposes of this compact. 
"Article IV. The authority shall appoint a secretary, who shall be 
a person familiar with the nature, procedures, and significance of the 
bridge construction and the informational, educational, and publicity 
;, _, ^ methods of stimulating general interest in such developments, and 
who shall be the compact administrator. The term of office of the 
secretary shall be at the pleasure of the authority and such officer 
shall receive such compensation as the authority shall prescribe. The 
secretary shall maintain custody of the authority's books, records, and 
papers, which shall be kept by the secretary at the office of the author-
ity, and shall perform all functions and duties and exercise all powers 
and authorities which may be delegated to the secretary by the 
authority. 
"Article V. Each party State agrees that its legislature may, in its 
discretion, from time to time make available and pay over to the 
authority funds for the establishment and operation of the authority. 
The contribution of each party State will be in equal amounts. 
"Article VI. Nothing in this compact shall be construed so as to 
conflict with any existing statute, or to limit the powers of any party 
State, or to repeal or prevent legislation, or to authorize or permit 
curtailment or diminution of any other bridge project, or to affect any 
existing or future cooperative arrangement or relationship between 
any Federal agency and a party State. 
"A^rticle VII. This compact shall continue in force and remain 
r 
binding upon each party State until the Legislature or Governor of 
each or either State takes action to withdraw therefrom; provided 
that such withdrawal shall not become effective until six months after 
the date of the action taken by the legislature or Governor. Notice of 
such action shall be given to the other party State or States by the 
secretary of state of the party State which takes such action." 
SEC. 2. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly 
reserved. 
Approved June 1, 1977. 
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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-279 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-136 accompanying S. 837 (Coram, on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
May 16, considered and passed House; S. 837 considered and passed Senate. 
May 18, considered and passed Senate, in lieu of S. 837.