HR1088enr 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1088 Enrolled LRB097 21522 GRL 69635 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION 1088

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a strategic interest in the operations of the Illinois International Port District and its Board, whose function is to develop the District's port and harbor facilities, issue construction permits, regulate the District's facilities and waterways, establish and operate foreign trade zones, and govern and administer all the District area within Chicago's corporate limits; and

WHEREAS, The City of Chicago aims to revitalize the Port of Chicago; in 2010, cargo shipments at the Port of Chicago directly or indirectly supported 6,930 jobs and generated $425,000,000 in revenue for Illinois firms, according to the Washington D.C.-based American Great Lakes Ports Association; and

WHEREAS, The Port of Chicago links rail and trucking lines with barges and ships supplying the Great Lakes and nearby rivers; the port handles an estimated 26,000,000 cargo tons annually throughout its 1,500 acre complex on the far south side, according to a recent estimate by a consortium of Great Lakes shipping interests; and

WHEREAS, Chicago is the 7th largest U.S. Customs district for imports and exports in the country; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ranks Illinois as the 5th highest state for all waterborne commerce in 2009 by tonnage; the Great Lakes is considered "America's Fourth Coast"; and

WHEREAS, Although the Illinois International Port District Board has operated the port since the 1950s, there have been no major dockside improvements in 30 years; in 2011, half of the District's revenue originated with the 2 golf courses on the District's land, while the other half originated from fees paid by freight companies, according to Crain's Chicago Business; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois, the City of Chicago, and the entire Midwest economy need a major change in the operations of the Illinois International Port District; and

WHEREAS, The Chairman of the Illinois International Port District Board has requested that the Auditor General conduct an audit as described below; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Auditor General is directed to conduct a management audit of the Illinois International Port District to examine the operations and management of the district and to report the findings to the Illinois General Assembly; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois International Port District and the Illinois International Port District Board fully cooperate with the audit and turn over any materials requested by the Auditor General; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General shall submit a bill to the Illinois International Port District for costs associated with the review with the management audit; the Illinois International Port District shall reimburse the Auditor General for such costs in a timely manner; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General is further directed to commence this audit as soon as possible and, upon completion, distribute a report in accordance with Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Auditor General and to all 4 legislative leaders of the Illinois General Assembly.