HR1370 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1370 LRB099 22295 MST 49677 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The first total solar eclipse to occur along a path across the entire continental United States since 1918 will occur on August 21, 2017; and

WHEREAS, The point of greatest duration for the eclipse on August 21, 2017 will occur along a line of totality stretching northwest to southeast across Southern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, A second total solar eclipse will occur seven years later on April 8, 2024, with a line of totality stretching southwest to northeast across Southern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The centerline of totality for both eclipses will intersect over Cedar Lake, just a few miles south of Carbondale; and

WHEREAS, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which is ranked among the top 5% percent of all United States higher education institutions for research, will host educational events and activities for NASA and other top scientists from around the world, as well as the general public; and

WHEREAS, Roughly 250,000 visitors are estimated to travel to within a 100 mile radius of the intersection of eclipse totality in Southern Illinois on or about August 21, 2017 and April 8, 2024 to experience the total solar eclipses; and

WHEREAS, The sudden influx of visitors to Southern Illinois on or about August 21, 2017 and April 8, 2024 will provide much-needed, long-term economic opportunity for the southern 16 counties of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The 16 southernmost counties of Illinois historically suffer from high rates of poverty, low economic opportunity and related socio-economic problems, and accordingly, are part of the Delta region; and

WHEREAS, Congress established efforts in 2000 to improve regional economic opportunity in the Delta region through strategic investments that create jobs, build communities, and improve the lives of the 10 million people who reside in the 252 counties and parishes of the eight-state Delta Region; and

WHEREAS, It has been found that:

(1) The overall population in the Southern Illinois Delta region has fallen by 4.5% since 1980; the population grew in only four counties between the 2000 and 2010 census, and only two counties (Johnson and Williamson) grew since the 2010 census based on 2015 estimates;

(2) Between 2010 and 2015, Illinois Delta counties saw a net population change of -6,038; Illinois was the only state in the Delta region to experience a negative natural increase and negative net migration in its Delta counties; the natural increase in Illinois was -730 (12%) and net migration -5,308 (88%);

(3) Economic data shows that the Southern Illinois economy lags behind the nation in its recovery from the effects of the "Great Recession" that officially began in December of 2007 and ended in June of 2009; while the United States had recovered all jobs lost in the Great Recession by April of 2014, Illinois remains over 18% short of regaining its lost jobs as of April of 2015;

(4) Illinois is only one of two Delta states that saw a decline in job growth between 2010 and 2015; annual growth rate for jobs in Illinois was -0.1%, surpassed only by Alabama with -0.5%;

(5) The poverty rate in Southern Illinois has consistently surpassed that of the State rate of 14.3%; six counties, Alexander, Hardin, Jackson, Massac, Pulaski, and Saline, have poverty exceeding 20%, and Alexander and the Jackson county poverty rate exceeds 30%;

(6) The poverty rate for those under age 18 is equal to or exceeds 30% in seven counties, Alexander, Hardin, Jackson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, and Saline;

(7) Strengths of the Southern Illinois region include strategic location with proximity to major Midwest urban centers, multi-modal transportation systems, and natural resources including oil, coal timber, and agriculture, and scenic, natural, recreational, historic, cultural, and archeological resources;

(8) Opportunities in the Southern Illinois region include tourism potential, especially "heritage tourism", broadband expansion, improved support for entrepreneurs, development of specialty and value-added agriculture products, and marketing the region as a whole; and

(9) Threats to the Southern Illinois region include aging infrastructure and lack of sewer capacity in some areas, continued population decline, and low tax base; and

WHEREAS, The sudden influx of visitors to the region will stress existing infrastructure and services, including roads, broadband, housing and accommodations, health care, public safety, and potential disaster response; and

WHEREAS, The total solar eclipses on August 21, 2017 and April 8, 2024 will provide a unique opportunity to showcase the scenic, natural, historic, recreational, archeological, and cultural resources of Southern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Due to the anticipated 250,000 visitors to Southern Illinois on or about August 21, 2017, there is an urgent need to direct resources to the region that supports entrepreneurship, job creation, hospitality training, heritage tourism, workforce development, infrastructure, and disaster response; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare the month of August of 2016 as "Southern Illinois Eclipse Crossroads Awareness Month"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support development of a regional organization to ensure sustainable, long-term economic development that balances meeting immediate needs while dedicating resources to strategic and long-term goals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage development of a marketing plan for regional branding around the solar eclipse and general regional tourism and economic development in Southern Illinois that coordinates and leverages investment by federal, State and local government entities, private business, non-profit, and non-governmental organizations; and

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans, Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority.