HR1240 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1240 LRB096 22286 GRL 41356 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, located approximately 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana, exploded and later sank in the Gulf of Mexico; and

WHEREAS, The Deepwater Horizon oil rig is owned by Transocean Ltd. and leased by BP PLC; and

WHEREAS, The accident killed 11 workers and generated an oil spill that is now endangering wildlife and businesses along the Gulf Coast; and

WHEREAS, Every day, thousands of gallons of oil continue to leak into the Gulf of Mexico as a result of this disaster; and

WHEREAS, Efforts are ongoing to curtail and contain the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico; and

WHEREAS, The oil slick that is being created by this accident is becoming one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in recent memory; and

WHEREAS, The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will likely have long-term economic and environmental effects; and

WHEREAS, This disaster reaffirms the need for a safe, diverse, reliable, and renewable energy supply, of which biofuels play a very important role and will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil; and

WHEREAS, Expanded production of biofuels would generate domestic economic development and create employment opportunities; and

WHEREAS, The production of biofuels pose fewer environmental threats than drilling for oil; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the continued growth and development of biofuels to help reduce our dependence on oil and help avert future environmental disasters caused by oil production; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented the Governor of Illinois, each member of the Illinois congressional delegation, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Growers Association, and the Illinois Soybean Association.