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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Scientists from 13 federal agencies have noted
3that thousands of studies, conducted by tens of thousands of
4scientists, have documented climate changes on land and in the
5air; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The National Climate Assessment Report, which is
7congressionally mandated every four years, finds it "extremely
8likely" that more than half of the global mean temperature
9increase since 1951 can be linked to human influence, stating:
10"Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities,
11especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are primarily
12responsible for the observed climate changes over the last 15
13decades. There are no alternative explanations. There are no
14apparent natural cycles in the observational record that can
15explain the recent changes in climate."; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The report cites the European heat wave of 2003
17and the record heat in Australia in 2013 as specific episodes
18where "relatively strong evidence" showed that a man-made
19factor contributed to the extreme weather and concludes that it
20is "extremely likely" that more than half of the global mean
21temperature increase since 1951 can be linked to human
22influence; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Extreme weather resulting from climate change
2poses a grave threat in Illinois to the economy,
3infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, transportation, air and
4water quality, and the health of its citizens; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Public statements from the Trump administration
6indicate that no action is coming from the federal government
7on this issue; and
 
8    WHEREAS, If we do not act now, the consequences for the
9country and the State will be devastating and irreversible;
10therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
12HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE
13CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge President Trump to acknowledge
14the conclusions found in the National Climate Assessment
15Report, and we urge the President and the United States
16Congress to immediately begin taking action to curb greenhouse
17gas emissions; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Environmental
19Protection Agency to report back to the General Assembly with a
20range of options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in lieu
21of federal action, focusing on solutions that create jobs and
22aid the transition to a clean energy economy, protect

 

 

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1environmental justice communities and consumers, and also
2reduce pollutants that cause or exacerbate asthma and other
3respiratory health problems; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
5delivered to President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Majority
6Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck
7Schumer, U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, U.S. House of
8Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, all members of
9the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and the Illinois
10Environmental Protection Agency.