HR0141 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0141 LRB096 11039 GRL 21346 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly recognizes the immeasurable benefit this State receives from the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency, the federal law enforcement community, and the U.S. General Services Administration's Donation Program; and

WHEREAS, The law enforcement community attains many needed supplies from the Law Enforcement Surplus Office (LESO), the 1033 Program, and federal surplus programs operated by the Department of Central Management Services and supplied by the Department of Defense; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois LESO and federal surplus programs approve the transfer of a variety of excess and surplus federal property to our communities, effectively reducing program costs to our law enforcement agencies by acquiring items that are new/unused or have been deemed excess to the federal government; and

WHEREAS, The Military Base Realignment and Closure of 2005 has significantly reduced Illinois law enforcement access, and that of the central and western states, to federal excess; donation property has been short-supplied in recent months, putting law enforcement agencies at a geographic disadvantage for attaining necessary equipment and supplies; and

WHEREAS, The FCC has mandated a changeover to narrow-band frequencies for public safety; and

WHEREAS, This mandated changeover is costing public safety agencies, including law enforcement and fire safety agencies, thousand of dollars out of their already limited budgets; and

WHEREAS, The timeframe for the changeover has changed for some Illinois communities, putting them in an untenable situation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we strongly urge the United States Congress to place public safety communications infrastructure and supplies at the top of their stimulus package priority list; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we strongly urge the United States Department of Defense to renew and increase its supply of essential excess and donation surplus equipment to Illinois public safety officers through the 1033 Program, the LESO Program, and the U.S. General Services Administration's Donation Program (Federal Surplus); and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, to each member of the Illinois congressional delegation, and to the Secretary of the United States Department of Defense.