SJ0087 LRB096 19755 JDS 35185 r

1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is located in the Upper
3 Mississippi River Valley; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Recent floods have demonstrated the tremendous
5 toll that catastrophic flooding can take on our communities and
6 how unprepared our nation remains to deal with such disasters;
7 and
 
8     WHEREAS, The Great Flood of 1993 resulted in the loss of
9 life, property damage, and billions of dollars in other
10 damages, lost earnings, and wages; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Over the last 2 decades, floods in the Upper
12 Mississippi River Valley have required the expenditure of
13 billions of dollars for flood fighting and restoration; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Flood control protects urban and rural areas,
15 highways, railroads, water and sewage treatment plants,
16 schools, homes, businesses, and wildlife areas; and
 
17     WHEREAS, The lives and livelihoods of our citizens depend
18 in great part on robust flood protection; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed a

 

 

SJ0087 - 2 - LRB096 19755 JDS 35185 r

1 systemic, integrated strategy and implementation plan for
2 flood damage reduction and related environmental restoration;
3 and
 
4     WHEREAS, This Comprehensive Plan was developed in
5 coordination with Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and
6 Wisconsin; the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association; and
7 non-governmental organizations; and
 
8     WHEREAS, This Comprehensive Plan, if implemented, would
9 provide the greatest level of protection to the greatest number
10 of residents in the Upper Mississippi River Valley by ensuring
11 enhanced flood protection for most currently-protected urban
12 and agricultural areas; and
 
13     WHEREAS, A study conducted by the Tennessee Valley
14 Authority shows that every $1 spent on flood control in the
15 500-year floodplain of the Upper Mississippi River Valley
16 generates a nearly 5-fold economic return in, among other
17 things, costs avoided and increased income; and
 
18     WHEREAS, The United States Congress must authorize and fund
19 the Comprehensive Plan in order for it to be implemented;
20 therefore, be it
 
21     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL

 

 

SJ0087 - 3 - LRB096 19755 JDS 35185 r

1 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2 CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Congress of the United
3 States to authorize and fund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers'
4 Comprehensive Plan for Flood Control in the Upper Mississippi
5 River Valley; and be it further
 
6     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7 delivered to the members of the Illinois congressional
8 delegation.