HR0181 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0181 LRB100 11584 MST 22548 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Many members of the Illinois House of Representatives have risen to condemn Donald Trump's proposed construction of a wall between the United States and Mexico; a wall will hurt the long-standing relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, hurt the country and the State of Illinois economically, and wreak havoc on the environment; and

WHEREAS, A wall will be a political and economic disaster; Mexico is one of America's largest trading partners; in 2015, the United States imported $295 billion in products from Mexico, including cars and machinery; Mexico is also the second largest supplier of agriculture, including fruits and vegetables, for the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in 2015, Illinois imported more than $13 billion from Mexico; Mexico is the third largest import market for the United States; and

WHEREAS, A wall will come with an enormous cost; it is estimated a wall would cost between $15-25 billion, paid for by a 20% tax on goods coming from Mexico; this will fall upon the American consumer; and

WHEREAS, A wall poses an ecological threat; a 2016 report based on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data explained that its construction could have a negative impact on 111 endangered species, 108 species of migratory birds, four wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries, and an unknown number of protected wetlands; and

WHEREAS, The climate impacts of a massive concrete wall running along the border of the United States and Mexico begin with the source of the materials; the production of cement is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, According to the Center for Biological Diversity, billions of dollars have already been spent on existing border fencing, with little to no environmental oversight; this has led to erosion and flooding in border communities as well as a roadblock for the natural movement of wildlife across the border; and

WHEREAS, The negative human impact of a wall is incalculable and goes against the very values upon which this nation of immigrants is built; children have written letters to representatives of the General Assembly about how the idea of a wall is a great concern for families that may be divided by a wall when they just want to have better lives; the idea of a wall is causing a great deal of stress for many children; and

WHEREAS, The Pew Research Center shows emerging evidence that illegal immigration flows have fallen to their lowest level in at least two decades; the nation's population of illegal immigrants has decreased by about one million since 2007; and

WHEREAS, Walls do not work; walls such as the one between East and West Germany have shown building walls to keep people out does not work; in the words of President Reagan regarding the Berlin wall, such a wall, "...cannot withstand faith. It cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom."; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge President Donald Trump to cease his plans to build a wall on the southern border between the United States and Mexico; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Congress to refuse any appropriation to fund the building of a wall along the southern border; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Majority 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.