HJ0095 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0095 LRB096 17691 GRL 33055 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, A majority of the world's climate scientists have concluded that greenhouse gases are causing the Earth's temperature to rise, a phenomenon that is resulting in global climate change; and

WHEREAS, The effects of unchecked global warming pose a threat to our nation's health, agriculture, and national security; and

WHEREAS, The United States participated in an international summit on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark to begin negotiations on a treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide; and

WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, on June 26, 2009; and

WHEREAS, United States Senators Barbara Boxer and John Kerry have introduced S. 1733 in the U.S. Senate; and

WHEREAS, United States Senators John Kerry and Lindsey Graham co-authored an editorial in the New York Times outlining a bi-partisan approach to mitigating climate change; and

WHEREAS, 15 states have initiated economy-wide greenhouse gas reduction goals; 13 states have regulated emissions from automobile tailpipes; 10 states have set limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants; 12 Midwestern states, including the State of Illinois, have entered into an agreement to promote global warming solutions in the Midwest; and

WHEREAS, The Governors of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have entered into an agreement to jointly develop greenhouse gas emission reduction targets; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we state our belief that the United States of America should lead the international community in brokering an international agreement to significantly reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases to ensure that all countries equally share the in the responsibility of mitigating climate change; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to pass legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we state our belief that such national legislation should include provisions to protect low and moderate income Americans from increased energy costs; include support for alternative sources of energy, including, but not limited to, wind, solar, bio-fuels, nuclear, and clean coal; provide for a suitable investment in energy efficiency; allow for environmentally sensitive off-shore and on-shore oil and gas exploration, subject to the approval of affected states; and properly acknowledge the carbon-intensive nature of the Illinois economy and include emissions offsets that protect energy consumers and gradually reduces greenhouse gases; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the United States Congress and the President of the United States.