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92_HR0641
LRB9211421BDsbA
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The Great Lakes contain 6 quadrillion gallons of
3 water, accounting for 20% of the world's fresh water and 95%
4 of the fresh water in the United States of America; and
5 WHEREAS, Lake Michigan alone provides drinking water for
6 10 million people every day and it supplies more than one
7 billion gallons of water per day to the citizens of the
8 Chicago Metropolitan Area; and
9 WHEREAS, In addition to providing vital drinking water,
10 the Great Lakes are the source of a thriving tourism industry
11 and they provide ecological diversity and habitation for fish
12 and waterfowl; and
13 WHEREAS, The water quality of the Great Lakes has
14 improved remarkably over the last 3 decades because of the
15 responsible regulation of businesses and industries affecting
16 the Great Lakes; and
17 WHEREAS, The City of Chicago and numerous other cities
18 located along the Great Lakes are concerned that the Great
19 Lakes may be targeted for drilling for oil and natural gas;
20 and
21 WHEREAS, An ecological accident caused by oil or natural
22 gas drilling could contaminate Lake Michigan and endanger the
23 drinking water used by the citizens of Chicago and the
24 surrounding communities; and
25 WHEREAS, In the context of America's total energy use,
26 the amount of natural gas or oil that is potentially
27 available under the Great Lakes is insignificant, and
28 drilling would unnecessarily risk the destruction of the
29 world's largest fresh water supply, countless miles of
30 shoreline, and other environmentally sensitive areas; and
-2- LRB9211421BDsbA
1 WHEREAS, The United States Congress is considering
2 legislation that would protect the Great Lakes from drilling
3 for the next two years; only a total ban on drilling,
4 however, will adequately protect this vital national
5 resource; therefore, be it
6 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
8 we urge the United States Congress to adopt a total ban on
9 all drilling for natural gas or oil under the Great Lakes;
10 and be it further
11 RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution be
12 delivered to President George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader
13 Thomas Daschle, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, and each
14 member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.