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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Illinois rivers were once a vital part of the
3culture and lives of the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Piankashaw, Wea,
4Miami, Mascoutin, Odawa, Sauk, Mesquaki, Kickapoo, Potawatomi,
5Ojibwe, and Chickasaw peoples who inhabited the land, which
6continues to carry their stories; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Illinois rivers have been a vital part of the
8State's history since statehood, including the life of the
916th President Abraham Lincoln, the story of the Underground
10Railroad up to and during the Civil War, and part of the
11development story of the City of Chicago; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Rivers throughout Illinois are premier natural
13resources, providing water for agriculture, wildlife,
14recreation, and residential and industrial uses; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Illinois contains more miles of rivers than any
16other state east of the Mississippi River, and Illinoisans
17throughout the State enjoy recreation on Illinois rivers,
18including boating, fishing, angling, kayaking, canoeing,
19paddleboarding, tubing, and many other sports; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Agriculture, water recreation, and water-related
21tourism are key economic drivers in the State, and the values

 

 

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1and services associated with watersheds such as clean water
2and energy are critical to the State's overall economic
3health; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Tons of trash, junk, and debris are annually
5dumped into Illinois Rivers along its banks, negatively
6impacting riparian wildlife, damaging both the aesthetic and
7biological qualities of a river; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Various state legislatures have encouraged
9waterway clean-up activities by designating September as River
10Clean Up Month; and
 
11    WHEREAS, During the month of September, water levels are
12usually low, temperatures are warm, and colleges and schools
13are in session, all of which present an educational
14opportunity to involve area youth and to highlight the
15importance of clean rivers and waterways; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
17HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
18we declare the month of September 2023 as River Clean Up Month
19in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That we encourage chambers of commerce,
21convention and visitors bureaus, local economic development

 

 

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1organizations, area groups and associations, and local schools
2and colleges to organize and coordinate local cleanup
3activities along portions of rivers and waterways in their
4area; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That the State of Illinois is encouraged to
6promote September as River Clean Up Month.