HR1027 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1027 LRB095 20174 RCE 46737 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Great Lakes are a tremendous value to Illinois as an environmental and economic resource, both as the world's largest body of fresh water and as a crucial international shipping channel; and

WHEREAS, Aquatic invasive species have caused significant damage to native environments and industrial operations in the Great Lakes and around the world; and

WHEREAS, Current federal laws governing the introduction of aquatic invasive species into United States waters via ballast water of ocean-going ships and other sources are inadequate; and

WHEREAS, Because of the detrimental effects of imposing regional restrictions on an international shipping channel, there is a need for federal regulation; and

WHEREAS, There is currently no nationally accepted standard for ballast water quality nor any approved ballast treatment technologies available to ship operators; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the we have a great concern for the protection of our environmental and economic resources; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to acknowledge the national urgency of this problem and move quickly to enact federal legislation to establish a strong ballast water regulatory program sufficient to prevent future introduction of aquatic invasive species into all United States waters; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we declare our support for the efforts of the United States Coast Guard and International Maritime Organization to put in place an international ballast water treatment and regulatory program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we declare our support for the "Great Ships Initiative", a research and development project funded jointly by the Illinois International Port Authority and other Great Lakes ports, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and other federal agencies with the goal of accelerating the development and availability of ballast water treatment technology; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to the President of the United States, the Illinois Congressional delegation, federal agencies that regulate maritime transportation, and the Great Lakes Commission.