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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Many members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives have risen to condemn Donald Trump's proposed
4construction of a wall between the United States and Mexico; a
5wall will hurt the long-standing relationship between the U.S.
6and Mexico, hurt the country and the State of Illinois
7economically, and wreak havoc on the environment; and
 
8    WHEREAS, A wall will be a political and economic disaster;
9Mexico is one of America's largest trading partners; in 2015,
10the United States imported $295 billion in products from
11Mexico, including cars and machinery; Mexico is also the second
12largest supplier of agriculture, including fruits and
13vegetables, for the U.S.; and
 
14    WHEREAS, According to the Illinois Department of Commerce
15and Economic Opportunity, in 2015, Illinois imported more than
16$13 billion from Mexico; Mexico is the third largest import
17market for the United States; and
 
18    WHEREAS, A wall will come with an enormous cost; it is
19estimated a wall would cost between $15-25 billion, paid for by
20a 20% tax on goods coming from Mexico; this will fall upon the
21American consumer; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, A wall poses an ecological threat; a 2016 report
2based on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data explained that its
3construction could have a negative impact on 111 endangered
4species, 108 species of migratory birds, four wildlife refuges
5and fish hatcheries, and an unknown number of protected
6wetlands; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The climate impacts of a massive concrete wall
8running along the border of the United States and Mexico begin
9with the source of the materials; the production of cement is a
10major source of greenhouse gas emissions; and
 
11    WHEREAS, According to the Center for Biological Diversity,
12billions of dollars have already been spent on existing border
13fencing, with little to no environmental oversight; this has
14led to erosion and flooding in border communities as well as a
15roadblock for the natural movement of wildlife across the
16border; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The negative human impact of a wall is
18incalculable and goes against the very values upon which this
19nation of immigrants is built; children have written letters to
20representatives of the General Assembly about how the idea of a
21wall is a great concern for families that may be divided by a
22wall when they just want to have better lives; the idea of a
23wall is causing a great deal of stress for many children; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The Pew Research Center shows emerging evidence
2that illegal immigration flows have fallen to their lowest
3level in at least two decades; the nation's population of
4illegal immigrants has decreased by about one million since
52007; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Walls do not work; walls such as the one between
7East and West Germany have shown building walls to keep people
8out does not work; in the words of President Reagan regarding
9the Berlin wall, such a wall, "...cannot withstand faith. It
10cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.";
11therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
14urge President Donald Trump to cease his plans to build a wall
15on the southern border between the United States and Mexico;
16and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That we urge Congress to refuse any appropriation
18to fund the building of a wall along the southern border; and
19be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
21delivered to President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Majority

 

 

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1Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck
2Schumer, U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul
3Ryan, U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy
4Pelosi, and all members of the Illinois Congressional
5Delegation.