HR0249 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0249 LRB099 11386 MST 32202 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia and Mississippi Rivers are vital drivers to the economic well-being of Southwestern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, To support economic development along the waterways, the Kaskaskia Regional Port District was created by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by the Governor into statute on June 22, 1965; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia Regional Port District is a partner with the State of Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the navigation of the Kaskaskia River; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia Regional Port District serves the region to promote industrial, commercial, transportation, and economic activities, thereby reducing the evils attendant upon unemployment and enhancing the public health and welfare of this State; and

WHEREAS, Some of the Kaskaskia Regional Port District's many accomplishments include: achieving the one million ton benchmark for tonnage shipped on the Kaskaskia River in 2014, which is a critical number for agencies that look at the performance of locks and dams; being featured in Expansion Solutions Magazine; being added to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's national database; and Congress renaming the Kaskaskia Lock and Dam to the Jerry F. Costello Lock and Dam in honor of the former Congressman; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia Regional Port District is governed by an active 15-member uncompensated board representing all walks of life from Monroe, Randolph, and St. Clair Counties; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia Regional Port District has grown over the past 50 years and now has 5 terminal locations serving both the Kaskaskia and Mississippi Rivers, weathering both drought and flood in recent years; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia Regional Port District has facilitated the creation of jobs with businesses that rely on river navigation to ship cargo both inbound and outbound, having a positive impact on the economy of the region; and

WHEREAS, The Kaskaskia Regional Port District has been recognized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as one of the few port districts in the country that is growing each year and has developed a strategic plan to continue growing and serving the waterways and surrounding areas; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Kaskaskia Regional Port District serving both the Mississippi and Kaskaskia Rivers in Southwestern Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we declare June 22, 2015 as Kaskaskia Regional Port District Day in the State of Illinois.