Bill Text: IL HJR0034 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Supports the United States Environmental Protection Agency in its efforts to protect the health of Illinoisans and fulfill the charge of the Clean Air Act to clean up dangerous air pollution, including mercury, lead, soot, smog, and carbon pollution.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-0)

Status: (Failed) 2013-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HJR0034 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HJR0034-Introduced.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Many Illinoisans suffer from respiratory disease;
in 2007, it was estimated that over 1.2 million people in
Illinois (12.8% of adults) are burdened with asthma; and
WHEREAS, Air pollution causes major health problems for
these and other Illinoisans; for the past 20 years, the State
of Illinois has had one of the highest asthma mortality rates
in the nation and has seen increasing prevalence, morbidity,
and mortality rates; and
WHEREAS, The United States Environmental Protection Agency
(U.S. EPA) is charged by the United States Congress to protect
and improve the nation's air quality as required by the Clean
Air Act; and
WHEREAS, Clean air protections are good for Illinois'
economy and help save money, as the average length of an asthma
hospital stay is 3.3 days with a total direct cost of $15,155
per person; and
WHEREAS, On March 11, 2011, the U.S. EPA released the
Second Prospective Study estimating the benefits and costs of
the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; the study found that the
direct benefits significantly exceed their direct costs,

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improving the economic welfare and quality of life for
Americans; and
WHEREAS, That same report estimates that the economic
benefits of reducing fine particle and ground level ozone
pollution under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 will reach
approximately $2 trillion in 2020; these savings are a result
of disease prevention, prevention of lost-work days, and from
the prevention of approximately 230,000 premature human deaths
in 2020 alone; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. EPA has a proven track record of
cost-effectively cleaning up a variety of air pollutants as
required under the Clean Air Act; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. EPA is poised to set a number of
standards under the Clean Air Act in the next three years that
will cut dangerous pollution to protect our health and
environment; and
WHEREAS, These standards will address the reduction of
toxic mercury pollution and ozone levels, and the curbing of
carbon pollution from power plants; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE

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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we support the United States
Environmental Protection Agency in its efforts to protect the
health of Illinoisans and fulfill the charge of the Clean Air
Act to clean up dangerous air pollution, including mercury,
lead, soot, smog, and carbon pollution; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we oppose any efforts in Congress to weaken
the U.S. EPA's ability to set standards to protect our health
and cut dangerous air pollution from power plants and other
large pollution sources; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor to represent the State
of Illinois as a supporter of the U.S. EPA's efforts to
implement the Clean Air Act as appropriate; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to President Barack Obama, Governor Pat Quinn,
Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lisa
P. Jackson, and the members of Illinois' congressional
delegation.