HJ0034 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0034 LRB097 11976 GRL 55599 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Many Illinoisans suffer from respiratory disease; in 2007, it was estimated that over 1.2 million people in Illinois (12.8% of adults) are burdened with asthma; and

WHEREAS, Air pollution causes major health problems for these and other Illinoisans; for the past 20 years, the State of Illinois has had one of the highest asthma mortality rates in the nation and has seen increasing prevalence, morbidity, and mortality rates; and

WHEREAS, The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) is charged by the United States Congress to protect and improve the nation's air quality as required by the Clean Air Act; and

WHEREAS, Clean air protections are good for Illinois' economy and help save money, as the average length of an asthma hospital stay is 3.3 days with a total direct cost of $15,155 per person; and

WHEREAS, On March 11, 2011, the U.S. EPA released the Second Prospective Study estimating the benefits and costs of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; the study found that the direct benefits significantly exceed their direct costs, improving the economic welfare and quality of life for Americans; and

WHEREAS, That same report estimates that the economic benefits of reducing fine particle and ground level ozone pollution under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 will reach approximately $2 trillion in 2020; these savings are a result of disease prevention, prevention of lost-work days, and from the prevention of approximately 230,000 premature human deaths in 2020 alone; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. EPA has a proven track record of cost-effectively cleaning up a variety of air pollutants as required under the Clean Air Act; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. EPA is poised to set a number of standards under the Clean Air Act in the next three years that will cut dangerous pollution to protect our health and environment; and

WHEREAS, These standards will address the reduction of toxic mercury pollution and ozone levels, and the curbing of carbon pollution from power plants; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we support the United States Environmental Protection Agency in its efforts to protect the health of Illinoisans and fulfill the charge of the Clean Air Act to clean up dangerous air pollution, including mercury, lead, soot, smog, and carbon pollution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we oppose any efforts in Congress to weaken the U.S. EPA's ability to set standards to protect our health and cut dangerous air pollution from power plants and other large pollution sources; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor to represent the State of Illinois as a supporter of the U.S. EPA's efforts to implement the Clean Air Act as appropriate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to President Barack Obama, Governor Pat Quinn, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lisa P. Jackson, and the members of Illinois' congressional delegation.