HR0443 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission, has made recommendations about which military installations are to be considered for closure or realignment in cost-cutting measures for the military; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a distinct and important military installation that is listed for realignment, the Rock Island Arsenal; and

WHEREAS, Under the U.S. Department of Defense recommendations the Rock Island Arsenal will suffer a net loss of 1,263 jobs; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Defense recommendations, if adopted, would force the Rock Island Arsenal to eliminate approximately 20% of the approximately 6,500 job positions currently utilized by this facility; and

WHEREAS, The Rock Island Arsenal is one of the remaining facilities at the center of the continental United States and is perfectly situated for expedient transportation anywhere in the nation; and

WHEREAS, The Rock Island Arsenal is a major Army installation that is home to over 60 tenant organizations that provide critical products and services to all of our Armed Services; and

WHEREAS, The Rock Island Arsenal is indispensable in both our current and future efforts to counter threats to our security; and

WHEREAS, The Rock Island Arsenal is also a National Historic Site with a Confederate Cemetery, the Colonel Davenport House Museum, the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, and the historic Government Bridge over the Mississippi River; and

WHEREAS, The people of the State of Illinois have long been at the forefront of our nation's defense, are first to join and send troops in any conflict, and have a strong tradition of support and appreciation for the bases within our borders; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we take this opportunity to convey our appreciation for the advocacy and support for the Rock Island Arsenal that the Congress of the United States and the Illinois Congressional Delegation have provided over the years, and we strongly urge the Congress of the United States to consider the importance of this installation in this time of war on terrorism and the vital need to protect our nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President Pro-Tem of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, each member of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), and the President of the United States of America.