SJ0036 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0036 LRB096 07420 JDS 17507 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Article XI, Section 1 of the Illinois Constitution states, "The public policy of the State and the duty of each person is to provide and maintain a healthful environment for the benefit of this and future generations"; and

WHEREAS, A capital construction program is urgently needed and would fix aging infrastructure in Illinois, create jobs for working men and women, and stimulate the economy; and

WHEREAS, Previous capital construction proposals have called for as much as $34 billion in spending; and

WHEREAS, The potentially massive public expenditure involved in a capital plan represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize and improve the basic infrastructure of our State; and

WHEREAS, The 21st century has already witnessed the development of technologies that promise to improve significantly the energy efficiency of buildings; to limit the environmental impact of new roads, bridges, and structures; to bring information technology resources to underserved areas; and to conserve and manage water resources; and

WHEREAS, Previous capital proposals have allocated vast financial resources to projects unguided by the principles of environmental protection, energy efficiency, and sustainability; and

WHEREAS, Numerous scientific studies have concluded that the health of our people can be directly affected by the products used in our buildings and that utilizing alternative green products can greatly reduce the risk of health problems caused by, among other things, volatile organic compounds; and

WHEREAS, Green and sustainable principles and practices promote environmental health and offer significant energy savings; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the General Assembly, together with the Governor, ought to make passage of a green and sustainable comprehensive capital construction plan a top priority; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the principles of environmental health, environmental protection, energy efficiency, and sustainability ought to guide the allocation of all funds in any capital construction plan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That in providing funding for the construction of new buildings or the renovation of existing buildings, the law should require builders to adhere to sustainable building standards including the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Environment and Energy Design (LEED) standards or substantially equivalent standards; and be it further

RESOLVED, That in determining the allocation of transportation funding, the State should give due consideration to new public transportation, including rail, in the interest of planning sustainable transportation infrastructure for a more densely-populated society; and be it further

RESOLVED, That in providing for the construction and improvement of roads, the State should prioritize the laying of fiber-optic lines, particularly to rural areas and other regions of the State historically lacking in technological infrastructure; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State should consider and prioritize each project in light of its potential to create jobs, its environmental impact, and its long-term energy savings.