HR0843 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0843 LRB094 15504 MKM 50703 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, No oil refinery has been built in the United States in the past 30 years and U.S. consumers now rely upon imported supplies of refined petroleum products to a degree that is incompatible with national security; and

WHEREAS, In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused damage to several Gulf Coast refineries, illustrating the vulnerability of the nation's refining infrastructure and resulting in gasoline shortages and dramatic fluctuations in fuel prices; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. refining industry runs at nearly 100% capacity in order to keep up with demand; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there is created the Illinois Oil Refining Task Force for the purpose of studying the lack of sufficient gasoline and diesel-fuel refining capacity in Illinois; the Task Force shall consist of 12 members as follows: one member appointed by the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency; one member appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; one member who represents the interests of the petroleum industry; one member who represents the interests of the State's petroleum marketers; 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall appoint one member to serve as chairperson; the initial meeting of the Task Force shall be within 30 days after the appointment of a majority of the members and all other meetings shall be at the call of the chairperson; the members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for their services as members of the Task Force but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred as a result of their service from appropriations made by the General Assembly for that purpose; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide staff support to the Task Force, as necessary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report to the General Assembly its recommendations on ways to improve the condition of the State's refining capacity and shall file its report with the Clerk of the House and with the Secretary of the Senate no later than December 31, 2006; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.