Bill Text: IL SR0081 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Encourages the Illinois congressional delegation to support efforts to undertake modernizations projects to improve the waterways system in order to support the State's economic growth, reduce highway congestion, and reduce pollution.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2009-04-29 - Resolution Adopted; 056-000-000 [SR0081 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-SR0081-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The waterways system of the Upper Mississippi and
Illinois Rivers is a vital avenue of commerce, moving over $16
billion worth of material to and from the State of Illinois
each year; and
WHEREAS, 75% of Illinois agricultural products produced
for the export market are transported via the waterways system,
keeping them more competitive on the world market; and
WHEREAS, Billions of dollars in raw materials that supply
Illinois industry and support tens of thousands of jobs are
shipped to manufacturing facilities via the waterways system;
and
WHEREAS, Each year, barges on Illinois waterways help
reduce congestion on Illinois highways by transporting the
equivalent of 4.4 million semi-trailer trucks worth of
materials; and
WHEREAS, Transporting one ton of material by barge on the
waterways system produces four times less CO2 emissions than by
truck; and
WHEREAS, Shipping via waterways saves other businesses

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approximately $7 billion per year in transportation costs; and
WHEREAS, The waterways shipping industry directly employs
over 4,000 men and women in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, The locks and dams that make these waterways
navigable were constructed over 70 years ago and have become
both technologically obsolete and significantly deteriorated;
and
WHEREAS, The failure of just one lock along the system
stops all commerce along that river; and
WHEREAS, Such a lock failure would cause a significant
increase in highway congestion, negatively impact highway
safety, and worsen existing pollution problems; and
WHEREAS, Such a lock failure would cause thousands of
workers to sit idle, resulting in higher costs and shipping
problems for agriculture; and
WHEREAS, Plans are in place for a comprehensive
modernization of the national lock and dam and waterways
system, including along the Illinois, Mississippi, and Ohio
Rivers; and

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WHEREAS, Such a modernization program would result in a
major investment in Illinois' infrastructure, supporting
thousands of construction jobs, improving the shipping of
goods, and providing environmental benefits; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois Chamber of Commerce, with the support
of a coalition of business, labor, and agriculture
organizations, including the Illinois Corn Growers and the
Illinois Councils of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners, have issued a report calling for support for the
modernization of the waterways system; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage the
Illinois congressional delegation to support efforts to
undertake modernizations projects to improve the waterways
system in order to support the State's economic growth, reduce
highway congestion, and reduce pollution; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we pledge to work with the Illinois
congressional delegation to further our shared goal of waterway
modernization; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to the members of the Illinois congressional
delegation.