SR0081

LRB096 10696 GRL 20871 r






1

SENATE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The waterways system of the Upper Mississippi and 
3
Illinois Rivers is a vital avenue of commerce, moving over $16 
4
billion worth of material to and from the State of Illinois 
5
each year; and

 
6
    WHEREAS, 75% of Illinois agricultural products produced 
7
for the export market are transported via the waterways system, 
8
keeping them more competitive on the world market; and

 
9
    WHEREAS, Billions of dollars in raw materials that supply 
10
Illinois industry and support tens of thousands of jobs are 
11
shipped to manufacturing facilities via the waterways system; 
12
and

 
13
    WHEREAS, Each year, barges on Illinois waterways help 
14
reduce congestion on Illinois highways by transporting the 
15
equivalent of 4.4 million semi-trailer trucks worth of 
16
materials; and

 
17
    WHEREAS, Transporting one ton of material by barge on the 
18
waterways system produces four times less CO2 emissions than by 
19
truck; and

 
20
    WHEREAS, Shipping via waterways saves other businesses 
 


 






SR0081
- 2 -
LRB096 10696 GRL 20871 r




1
approximately $7 billion per year in transportation costs; and

 
2
    WHEREAS, The waterways shipping industry directly employs 
3
over 4,000 men and women in Illinois; and

 
4
    WHEREAS, The locks and dams that make these waterways 
5
navigable were constructed over 70 years ago and have become 
6
both technologically obsolete and significantly deteriorated; 
7
and

 
8
    WHEREAS, The failure of just one lock along the system 
9
stops all commerce along that river; and

 
10
    WHEREAS, Such a lock failure would cause a significant 
11
increase in highway congestion, negatively impact highway 
12
safety, and worsen existing pollution problems; and
 
13
    WHEREAS, Such a lock failure would cause thousands of 
14
workers to sit idle, resulting in higher costs and shipping 
15
problems for agriculture; and

 
16
    WHEREAS, Plans are in place for a comprehensive 
17
modernization of the national lock and dam and waterways 
18
system, including along the Illinois, Mississippi, and Ohio 
19
Rivers; and

 
 


 






SR0081
- 3 -
LRB096 10696 GRL 20871 r




1
    WHEREAS, Such a modernization program would result in a 
2
major investment in Illinois' infrastructure, supporting 
3
thousands of construction jobs, improving the shipping of 
4
goods, and providing environmental benefits; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, The Illinois Chamber of Commerce, with the support 
6
of a coalition of business, labor, and agriculture 
7
organizations, including the Illinois Corn Growers and the 
8
Illinois Councils of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and 
9
Joiners, have issued a report calling for support for the 
10
modernization of the waterways system; therefore, be it

 
11
    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
12
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage the 
13
Illinois congressional delegation to support efforts to 
14
undertake modernizations projects to improve the waterways 
15
system in order to support the State's economic growth, reduce 
16
highway congestion, and reduce pollution; and be it further

 
17
    RESOLVED, That we pledge to work with the Illinois 
18
congressional delegation to further our shared goal of waterway 
19
modernization; and be it further
 
20
    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
21
presented to the members of the Illinois congressional 
22
delegation.