HJ0082 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0082 LRB099 12626 GRL 36251 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Urban Weatherization Initiative (Public Act 96-0037) is administered by the Office of Urban Assistance in the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; it is the first state-funded weatherization program in the country; and

WHEREAS, The Urban Weatherization Initiative is comprised of 3 main components: the Weatherization Specialist Training Grant, in which grant organizations will provide trainees with the skills they need to become weatherization specialists, including addressing air infiltration issues and installing pipe, duct, wall, and attic insulation; the Home Energy Auditor Training Grant, in which organizations will provide home energy auditor training and prepare trainees to become nationally certified as Home Energy Auditors; and the Residential Weatherization Program, which is designed to employ certified trainees, weatherize homes, create energy savings, and stimulate the local economy; and

WHEREAS, The Urban Weatherization Initiative was created in order to: create jobs and increase skills and career opportunities for the underemployed and unemployed; improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs in disadvantaged communities; and stimulate local economies by purchasing supplies from local distributors and manufacturers; and

WHEREAS, The Urban Weatherization Initiative will assist citizens in numerous urban communities in Alexander, Kane, Lake, Macon, Peoria, St. Clair, Will, Cook, Kankakee, LaSalle, Madison, Rock Island, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties; and

WHEREAS, The 2016 State budget has included a total of $325 million in appropriations for the Urban Weatherization Initiative; and

WHEREAS, These appropriations include $75 million for cultural site programs, $60 million for vocational learning programs, $100 million for housing programs, $40 million in youth development programs for libraries, park districts, and schools, and $50 million for weatherization projects; and

WHEREAS, The Urban Weatherization Initiative is an extremely important policy initiative for the State of Illinois; the passage of the program's appropriations is paramount to the growth and stability of our State's urban areas; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Governor to approve the appropriations that will fund the Urban Weatherization Initiative and to consider those appropriations as a priority in the budget process; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Governor.