SJ0059LRB097 20631 GRL 66479 r

1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, From the 19th century to the present, the Rock
3Island Arsenal has been a part of the economic and government
4service history of the Quad Cities; and
 
5    WHEREAS, From an employment peak of 18,467 during the
6height of World War II, the arsenal's workforce has shrunk to
7less than half that number; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The arsenal remains a major economic engine in the
9region, with more than 8,500 employees and more than 70 federal
10and commercial tenants; the arsenal also adds some $1 billion
11to the local economy and impacts 14,000 community jobs; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center at
13the arsenal is one of the world's largest weapons manufacturing
14facilities; the arsenal and its employees have repeatedly
15proven that, for small-quantity orders and specialty jobs, it
16has the expertise, equipment, and dedication to the defense of
17the United States that cannot be equaled in private industry;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, A reduction at the Rock Island Arsenal would not
20only threaten the local economy, but would also jeopardize the
21readiness of United States forces to quickly respond in the war

 

 

SJ0059- 2 -LRB097 20631 GRL 66479 r

1on terror or in any future conflict; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
4CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the President of the United
5States, the United States Congress, and the Secretary of the
6Department of Defense to protect the Rock Island Arsenal from
7any future reductions or other budget cuts; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this Resolution be
9delivered to the President of the United States, the Secretary
10of the United States Department of Defense, and the members of
11the Illinois congressional delegation.