SR0240 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0240 LRB103 32196 MST 61328 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Improving Illinois roads improves the quality of life for the citizens of our State; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of Jackson, Perry, Randolph, and Monroe Counties have expressed a desire to expand Illinois Routes 127/154/3 from two to four lanes; and

WHEREAS, Since 2018, these counties have advocated for this expansion by forming the Four County Coalition, the Southwest Connector Task Force, and now the Southwest Connector Coalition; and

WHEREAS, In 2019, the Southwest Connector Task Force, as formed by a Senate Joint Resolution in the 100th General Assembly, issued a 125-page report giving the justifications for the project that included economic development, safety, and national security concerns; and

WHEREAS, The report is available for all to review at the coalition's website, siconnector.com; and

WHEREAS, This proposed highway expansion enjoys the support of Laborers Local 773, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, the Jackson County NAACP, Southern Illinois University, dozens of municipalities, hundreds of private businesses, and thousands of Southern Illinois residents; and

WHEREAS, The Biden Administration has authorized historic levels of federal spending to re-build and expand our nation's infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, The Southwest Connector Coalition is actively pursuing federal funding that has the potential to inject nearly a billion dollars into Illinois infrastructure, creating hundreds of good paying union jobs, enhancing the Illinois economy, and improving the safety of travel for all Illinoisans; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we express our support for the Southwest Connector Coalition's efforts to keep this project moving forward; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage the members of the Southwest Connector Coalition to remain engaged in their efforts to improve the great State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Southwest Connector Coalition as a symbol of our respect and esteem.