HR0268 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0268 LRB100 12121 MST 24412 r

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 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 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.