SJ0087

LRB096 19755 JDS 35185 r





  
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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is located in the Upper 
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Mississippi River Valley; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Recent floods have demonstrated the tremendous 
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toll that catastrophic flooding can take on our communities and 
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how unprepared our nation remains to deal with such disasters; 
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and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The Great Flood of 1993 resulted in the loss of 
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life, property damage, and billions of dollars in other 
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damages, lost earnings, and wages; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Over the last 2 decades, floods in the Upper 
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Mississippi River Valley have required the expenditure of 
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billions of dollars for flood fighting and restoration; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Flood control protects urban and rural areas, 
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highways, railroads, water and sewage treatment plants, 
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schools, homes, businesses, and wildlife areas; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The lives and livelihoods of our citizens depend 
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in great part on robust flood protection; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed a 
 


 






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systemic, integrated strategy and implementation plan for 
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flood damage reduction and related environmental restoration; 
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and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, This Comprehensive Plan was developed in 
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coordination with Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and 
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Wisconsin; the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association; and 
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non-governmental organizations; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, This Comprehensive Plan, if implemented, would  
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provide the greatest level of protection to the greatest number 
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of residents in the Upper Mississippi River Valley by ensuring 
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enhanced flood protection for most currently-protected urban 
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and agricultural areas; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, A study conducted by the Tennessee Valley 
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Authority shows that every $1 spent on flood control in the 
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500-year floodplain of the Upper Mississippi River Valley 
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generates a nearly 5-fold  economic return in, among other 
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things, costs avoided and increased income; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The United States Congress must authorize and fund 
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the Comprehensive Plan in order for it to be implemented; 
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therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
 


 






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LRB096 19755 JDS 35185 r




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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
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CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Congress of the United 
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States to authorize and fund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' 
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Comprehensive Plan for Flood Control in the Upper Mississippi 
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River Valley; and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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delivered to the members of the Illinois congressional 
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delegation.