Bill Text: IL HR0268 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges President Trump and the United States Congress to fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-2)

Status: (Passed) 2017-06-22 - Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Patricia R. Bellock [HR0268 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HR0268-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Great Lakes border eight states, contain 84%
of the fresh water in the United States, and impact the lives
of 30 million Americans; and
WHEREAS, The 63 miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan in
Illinois are home to six million people and communities that
strive to preserve and protect them; and
WHEREAS, Lake Michigan provides safe, clean drinking water
to seven million residents in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Tourism brings 20 million people to Illinois to
visit the Lake Michigan shoreline, generates $3.2 billion
annually in economic activity, and supports 33,000 jobs; and
WHEREAS, Lake Michigan provides Illinois with an inland
port connecting it to the Eastern United States, Canada, and
the Atlantic Ocean; and
WHEREAS, Commerce along Lake Michigan provides nearly
7,000 jobs that are connected to shipping and the Port of
Chicago and adds over $400 million to the local economy; and
WHEREAS, The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was

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created in 2010 to remove toxic substances, slow the growth of
invasive species, address pollution near the shore, and protect
and restore natural habitats in the Great Lakes; and
WHEREAS, Maintaining the Great Lakes is essential to
protecting industries throughout Illinois, including tourism,
agriculture, manufacturing, shipping, and freight transport;
and
WHEREAS, In President Trump's proposed budget, funding for
the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was slashed by 97%, from
$300 million to just $10 million; and
WHEREAS, The funding for this program has helped many
critical environmental restoration programs to increase the
health and safety of the Great Lakes and improve the lakes for
recreation and commerce; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
urge President Trump and the United States Congress to fully
fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is vital to
our environment and economy; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Majority

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Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck
Schumer, U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul
Ryan, U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy
Pelosi, and all members of the Illinois Congressional
Delegation.