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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 36


 
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    WHEREAS, Article XI, Section 1 of the Illinois Constitution 
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states, "The public policy of the State and the duty of each 
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person is to provide and maintain a healthful environment for 
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the benefit of this and future generations"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, A capital construction program is urgently needed 
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and would fix aging infrastructure in Illinois, create jobs for 
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working men and women, and stimulate the economy; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Previous capital construction proposals have 
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called for as much as $34 billion in spending; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The potentially massive public expenditure 
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involved in a capital plan represents a once-in-a-generation 
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opportunity to modernize and improve the basic infrastructure 
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of our State; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The 21st century has already witnessed the 
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development of technologies that promise to improve 
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significantly the energy efficiency of buildings; to limit the 
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environmental impact of new roads, bridges, and structures; to 
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bring information technology resources to underserved areas; 
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and to conserve and manage water resources; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Previous capital proposals have allocated vast 
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financial resources to projects unguided by the principles of 
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environmental protection, energy efficiency, and 
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sustainability; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Numerous scientific studies have concluded that 
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the health of our people can be directly affected by the 
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products used in our buildings and that utilizing alternative 
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green products can greatly reduce the risk of health problems 
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caused by, among other things, volatile organic compounds; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Green and sustainable principles and practices 
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promote environmental health and offer significant energy 
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savings; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
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CONCURRING HEREIN, that the General Assembly, together with the 
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Governor, ought to make passage of a green and sustainable 
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comprehensive capital construction plan a top priority; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the principles of environmental health, 
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environmental protection, energy efficiency, and 
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sustainability ought to guide the allocation of all funds in 
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any capital construction plan; and be it further
 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, That in providing funding for the construction of 
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new buildings or the renovation of existing buildings, the law 
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should require builders to adhere to sustainable building 
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standards including the U.S. Green Building Council's 
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Leadership in Environment and Energy Design (LEED) standards, 
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the Green Globes standards, or construction elements with an 
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equivalent certification; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That in determining the allocation of 
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transportation funding, the State should give due 
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consideration to new public transportation, including  rail, in 
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the interest of planning  sustainable transportation 
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infrastructure for a more densely populated society; and be it 
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further
 
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    RESOLVED, That in providing for the construction and 
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improvement of roads, the State should prioritize the laying of 
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fiber-optic lines, particularly to rural areas and other 
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regions of the State historically lacking in technological 
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infrastructure; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the State should consider and prioritize 
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each project in light of its potential to create jobs, its 
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environmental impact, and its long-term energy savings.