Bill Text: IL HR0221 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declares September 7, 2019 as Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Appreciation Day in Illinois.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-4)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-16 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mark Batinick [HR0221 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HR0221-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Great Lakes system, which includes Lake Erie,
Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and the
St. Lawrence River, is a globally significant resource and
ecosystem, holding 21 percent of the world's surface
freshwater; and
WHEREAS, The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River provide
drinking water to more than 48 million Americans and Canadians
and supply 56 billion gallons of water per day for municipal,
agricultural, and industrial use; and
WHEREAS, On September 7, 2012, by signing a revised Great
Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the United States and Canada
reaffirmed their commitment to binational cooperation "to
restore, protect, and enhance the water quality of the Great
Lakes to promote the ecological health of the Great Lakes
basin"; and
WHEREAS, An abundant supply of clean, affordable water is
essential to support a healthy population, a thriving economy,
and a well-functioning ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, As the major source of water for communities
located within the Great Lakes basin, the Great Lakes system is

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a vital resource in which all the region's residents share a
common interest; and
WHEREAS, The Great Lakes system is an economic powerhouse
for the region, supporting industries such as shipping,
agriculture, technology, manufacturing, recreation, and
tourism; and
WHEREAS, The waters and shoreline of the Great Lakes system
provide exceptional habitat for thousands of species of native
mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, and plants; and
WHEREAS, The Great Lakes basin is home to numerous beaches,
parks, forests, harbors, marinas, piers, lighthouses,
boardwalks, and islands that provide recreational
opportunities for swimming, hiking, surfing, boating,
kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hunting, photography, wildlife
watching, and more; and
WHEREAS, Illinois' 63-mile stretch of Lake Michigan
shoreline is among the State's most valuable natural and
cultural resources and has extraordinary economic value; Lake
Michigan provides a coastal home to six million residents in
Lake and Cook counties, drinking water for seven million
Illinois residents, a tourism industry that brings 20 million
people to the Lake Michigan shoreline each year, recreational

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opportunities, such as boating, fishing, and swimming that
generate $3.2 billion annually and support 33,000 jobs, and a
maritime transportation network linking the nation's heartland
to world markets; and
WHEREAS, People greatly value the opportunity to live,
work, and play in areas near waters that are vibrant,
beautiful, and life-sustaining; and
WHEREAS, The region's environment, economy, and people
rely on the clean, healthy waters of the Great Lakes and St.
Lawrence River; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we declare September 7, 2019 as Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
Appreciation Day in Illinois and urge appropriate observance of
this occasion.