HR0765ham001 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0765HAM001 LRB100 17978 ALS 36027 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 765

AMENDMENT NO. ___. Amend House Resolution 765 by replacing everything after the heading with the following:

"WHEREAS, Agricultural productivity in the United States is growing faster than domestic demand; and

WHEREAS, U.S. farmers and agricultural firms rely heavily on export markets to sustain adequate prices for agricultural products with as much as one in three bushels of U.S. corn exported in some form and as much as one in two bushels of soybeans exported in some form; and

WHEREAS, A large amount of the corn and soybeans grown in Illinois is destined for the export markets, making those markets a critical factor in the economic success of Illinois soybean and corn farmers; and

WHEREAS, As much as 20 percent of Illinois farmland is planted with crops destined to feed Canada, Mexico, and the North American market; this farmland is crucial to Illinois producers and is aided by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); and

WHEREAS, Illinois is the largest exporting state in the Midwest and the fifth largest exporting state in the nation; and

WHEREAS, The North American market is especially crucial to corn and soybean exports, with Mexico taking over 534 million bushels of US corn worth $2.5 billion and over 195 million bushels of US soy, also worth $2.5 billion last marketing year; and

WHEREAS, Canada is the top export market for US ethanol, which is corn based; it is the third largest export market for US soybean meal, and it is the fourth market for US pork, which consumes 25 percent of US corn and soybean meal; and

WHEREAS, Mexico is a top destination for Illinois-produced, dried distillers' grains, a high-value livestock feed and co-product of Illinois ethanol production; and

WHEREAS, The US exports of agricultural products, and many Illinois agricultural products, are greatly aided by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); and

WHEREAS, Mexico and Canada represent more than a third of US pork exports and the loss of NAFTA would amount to a loss of five percent of US pork production; and

WHEREAS, The Trump Administration is currently in negotiations to redraft NAFTA and make changes to the agreement; therefore be it;

RESOLVED, BY THE ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge our Congressional delegation to work to ensure that any modifications made to NAFTA do not endanger or harm the strong export market that Illinois enjoys with our neighbors to the North and South; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be provided to members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation."