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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The federal farm bill impacts all Illinoisans;
3agriculture represents a vital part of both rural and urban
4economies; and
 
5    WHEREAS, There is growing consumer demand from Illinois
6citizens for locally and regionally-produced farm and food
7products; and
 
8    WHEREAS, There is growing farmer and entrepreneur interest
9in meeting the consumer demand for local and regional farm and
10food products; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Local and regional food economies are a vital
12source of employment in our communities; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Supporting public health and protecting our
14environment are essential to the viability and livability of
15our communities and our economy; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Communities throughout Illinois face multiple
17health, social, and environmental issues connected to food,
18including hunger, malnutrition, increasing incidences of
19obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic
20diseases; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Increased access to healthy food is an important
2tool for communities to address the multifaceted health,
3social, and environmental issues connected to food; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Access to healthy food is increased when local and
5regional community-based food production, processing,
6aggregation, distribution, and retail work together to build
7markets for healthy food; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The policies, programs, and funding included in
9the 2012 Farm Bill will affect how successful Illinois
10communities can be in developing local and regional food
11systems that advance the goals of environmental
12sustainability, economic development, public health, racial
13and social justice, and emergency preparedness; therefore, be
14it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
16ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Congress to
17adopt a farm bill that supports and promotes the development of
18local and regional food systems; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
20delivered to the members of the Illinois congressional
21delegation.