HJ0095

LRB096 17691 GRL 33055 r





  
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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, A majority of the world's climate scientists have 
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concluded that greenhouse gases are causing the Earth's 
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temperature to rise, a phenomenon that is resulting in global 
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climate change; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The effects of unchecked global warming pose a 
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threat to our nation's health, agriculture, and national 
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security; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The United States participated in an 
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international summit on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark 
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to begin negotiations on a treaty to reduce greenhouse gas 
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emissions worldwide; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives passed 
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H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, 
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on June 26, 2009; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, United States Senators Barbara Boxer and John 
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Kerry have introduced S. 1733 in the U.S. Senate; and
 
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    WHEREAS, United States Senators John Kerry and Lindsey 
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Graham co-authored an editorial in the New York Times outlining 
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a bi-partisan approach to mitigating climate change; and
  
 
 


 






HJ0095
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LRB096 17691 GRL 33055 r




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    WHEREAS, 15 states have initiated economy-wide greenhouse 
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gas reduction goals; 13 states have regulated emissions from 
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automobile tailpipes; 10 states have set limits on greenhouse 
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gas emissions from power plants; 12 Midwestern states, 
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including the State of Illinois, have entered into an agreement 
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to promote global warming solutions in the Midwest; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The Governors of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, 
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Minnesota, and Wisconsin have entered into an agreement to 
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jointly develop greenhouse gas emission reduction targets; 
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therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we state our belief that the 
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United States of America should lead the international 
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community in brokering an international agreement to 
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significantly reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases to 
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ensure that all countries equally share the in the 
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responsibility of mitigating climate change; and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to pass 
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legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and be it 
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further
 
 


 






HJ0095
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LRB096 17691 GRL 33055 r




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    RESOLVED, That we state our belief that such national 
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legislation should include provisions to protect low and 
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moderate income Americans from increased energy costs; include 
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support for alternative sources of energy, including, but not 
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limited to, wind, solar, bio-fuels, nuclear, and clean coal; 
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provide for a suitable investment in energy efficiency; allow 
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for environmentally sensitive off-shore and on-shore oil and 
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gas exploration, subject to the approval of affected states; 
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and properly acknowledge the carbon-intensive nature of the 
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Illinois economy and include emissions offsets that protect 
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energy consumers and gradually reduces greenhouse gases; and be 
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it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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presented to the United States Congress and the President of 
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the United States.