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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Soil is a natural resource that supports major | ||||||
| 3 | economic sectors of our State, including agriculture, | ||||||
| 4 | forestry, and recreation; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, Healthy soil filters, stores, and releases fresh | ||||||
| 6 | water; soil management is closely linked to the water quality | ||||||
| 7 | in our groundwater, lakes, ponds, rivers, and oceans; and
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| 8 | WHEREAS, Wetland soils mitigate the effects of major storms | ||||||
| 9 | and protect our riverine ecosystems; and
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| 10 | WHEREAS, Soil is a living ecosystem that provides keys to | ||||||
| 11 | scientific advances that directly affect human health, such as | ||||||
| 12 | the development of new medicines; and
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| 13 | WHEREAS, Good soil management can prevent damaging | ||||||
| 14 | erosion, loss of organic matter, soil compaction and | ||||||
| 15 | degradation of soil structure, thereby sustaining the | ||||||
| 16 | essential ecosystem functions performed by soils; and
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| 17 | WHEREAS, Soil is renewable only on the scale of geologic | ||||||
| 18 | time, yet it supports the renewable resources upon which | ||||||
| 19 | Illinois' future depends; and
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| 1 | WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly previously | ||||||
| 2 | designated the Drummer soil series as our official State Soil | ||||||
| 3 | to promote public awareness and education regarding soil | ||||||
| 4 | resources; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, 2015 has been declared the International Year of | ||||||
| 6 | Soils by the United Nations General Assembly and has been | ||||||
| 7 | celebrated by the Soil Science Society of America and many | ||||||
| 8 | other organizations; and
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| 9 | WHEREAS, The International Year of Soils has been | ||||||
| 10 | memorialized at www.fao.org/soils-2015; therefore, be it
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| 11 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
| 12 | NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | ||||||
| 13 | take the opportunity during the International Year of Soils to | ||||||
| 14 | recognize the essential role of all of Illinois' soils in | ||||||
| 15 | supporting a thriving Illinois economy, maintaining our strong | ||||||
| 16 | agricultural base and a healthy environment, and ensuring a | ||||||
| 17 | sustainable and productive future for the people of Illinois.
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