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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, From the 19th century to the present, the Rock 
3Island Arsenal has been a part of the economic and government 
4service history of the Quad Cities; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, From an employment peak of 18,467 during the 
6height of World War II, the arsenal's workforce has shrunk to 
7less than half that number; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, The arsenal remains a major economic engine in the 
9region, with more than 8,500 employees and more than 70 federal 
10and commercial tenants; the arsenal also adds some $1 billion 
11to the local economy and impacts 14,000 community jobs; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, The Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center at 
13the arsenal is one of the world's largest weapons manufacturing 
14facilities; the arsenal and its employees have repeatedly 
15proven that, for small-quantity orders and specialty jobs, it 
16has the expertise, equipment, and dedication to the defense of 
17the United States that cannot be equaled in private industry; 
18and

  
 
19    WHEREAS, A reduction at the Rock Island Arsenal would not 
20only threaten the local economy, but would also jeopardize the 
21readiness of United States forces to quickly respond in the war 
 
 
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1on terror or in any future conflict; therefore, be it
  
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL 
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
4CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the President of the United 
5States, the United States Congress, and the Secretary of the 
6Department of Defense to protect the Rock Island Arsenal from 
7any future reductions or other budget cuts; and be it further
  
 
8    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this Resolution be 
9delivered to the President of the United States, the Secretary 
10of the United States Department of Defense, and the members of 
11the Illinois congressional delegation.