HR0718 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0718 LRB102 26579 ECR 37290 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Oil and natural gas are vital components of our nation's economy and provide more than 11 million jobs nationwide, including 356,000 total jobs and $53.5 billion in gross domestic income in Illinois alone; and

WHEREAS, U.S. energy abundance has provided security that has historically led to reliable, affordable energy for American consumers and our allies; and

WHEREAS, The world is looking to America for energy leadership and stability as current geopolitical events pose potential economic disruptions in addition to the inflation already affecting households, both in the U.S. and across Europe; and

WHEREAS, Russia is the third leading oil producer in the world but is risking economic and global security along with the loss of lives by invading the democratic nation of Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, Russian exports of oil and gas provide 36 percent of Russia's national budget that is used to finance the war in Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, The European Union (EU) is Russia's primary market for oil and natural gas, with the EU obtaining 35 percent of its natural gas and 25 percent of its oil from Russia; and

WHEREAS, The United States can increase its production of oil and gas to help provide economic and global security in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, Operation and expansion of our oil and natural gas pipelines, key components of America's energy success that provide the most efficient means of transporting those commodities, are being blocked by the federal government and many state governments; and

WHEREAS, The Biden Administration continues to increase costs and delay efforts to develop oil and natural gas leasing on federal lands and waters, despite the fact that the program provides billions in revenues to federal, state, and local governments and supports conservation programs throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, U.S. offshore production is one of the lowest carbon intensive energy-producing regions in the world, and halting offshore leasing and development will shift production and capital investment overseas and undermine decades of environmental progress; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we strongly urge the President of the United States to take measures and support policies that ensure long-term American energy leadership, security, and progress, including those that result in the continued operation of existing oil and natural gas pipelines, the construction of new oil and gas pipelines, the resumption of consistent, credible federal lease sales, and the immediate preparation of a new five-year program to guide future offshore leasing; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House send duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of the Interior, the United States Secretary of Transportation, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Illinois Congressional delegation.