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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The United States of America, as a nation, should
3be committed to the welfare, prosperity, and resilience of all
4of its territories, including Puerto Rico; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Puerto Rico currently imports approximately 85%
6of its food, leaving it vulnerable to global market
7fluctuations and potential supply chain disruptions; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Strengthening Puerto Rico's local agricultural
9sector by reprogramming United States Department of
10Agriculture funds toward purchasing locally grown items will
11significantly enhance food sovereignty and resilience on the
12island; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Supporting local agriculture in Puerto Rico has
14the potential to stimulate economic growth, creating jobs and
15encouraging entrepreneurship within the agricultural sector,
16including increasing commerce between the island and the more
17than 200,000-strong Illinois Puerto Rican diaspora; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The initiative will promote sustainable
19agricultural practices and reduce the carbon footprint
20associated with long-distance food transportation, thereby
21contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Food sovereignty can bolster Puerto Rico's
2ability to recover from natural disasters, reducing the
3reliance on federal aid and demonstrating a model for
4resilience that could be replicated across the country; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Encouraging the production and consumption of
6locally grown produce can foster the preservation of Puerto
7Rico's rich culinary traditions, promote healthier eating
8habits, and enrich our national cultural heritage; therefore,
9be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we express our strong
12support for the initiative to reprogram USDA funds allocated
13to Puerto Rico toward purchasing locally grown items in Puerto
14Rico; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to
16endorse and implement this initiative in recognition of its
17potential to foster economic growth, promote sustainability,
18enhance resilience, and enrich cultural heritage; and be it
19further
 
20    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
21delivered to the President of the United States, the U.S.

 

 

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1Senate Majority Leader, the U.S. Senate Minority Leader, the
2U.S. Speaker of the House, the U.S. House of Representatives
3Minority Leader, all members of the Illinois Congressional
4Delegation, and the Governor of Puerto Rico.