Bill Text: IL HR0862 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges the State to redouble its efforts to work with the federal government, local governments, the private sector, civil society, schools, students, farmers, ranchers, fishing communities, and sportsmen to conserve the land, rivers, and lakes of Illinois for present and future generations to enjoy, taking into account a wide range of flexible and enduring conservation solutions that will improve access to nature for all people within Illinois, especially for communities that have historically lacked access to natural spaces. Further urges the State to pursue this goal in a way that protects private property rights and traditional land uses and enables landowners to pass down the working land of those landowners to the next generation.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-01-08 - Referred to Rules Committee [HR0862 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HR0862-Introduced.html

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HR0862 LRB101 21621 LAW 72553 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Illinois Constitution declares that it is the
public policy of the State "to provide and maintain a healthful
environment for the benefit of this and future generations";
and
WHEREAS, Illinois has historically demonstrated leadership
and resolve to protect, conserve, and restore the natural
environment, including through a network of protected areas;
and
WHEREAS, There are over 130 state parks and multiple
conservation programs in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, According to an estimate by the United States
Department of Agriculture, there were approximately five
million acres of forested land in Illinois in 2018, containing
over two billion trees; that is an increase of over 100,000
acres of wooded land since 2013; of those five million acres,
over 83% of them were owned by private land-owners; and
WHEREAS, The United States ranks among the top five
countries in the world for the amount of wilderness-quality
land and ocean it has remaining; and

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WHEREAS, The United States Geological Survey classifies
over seven-hundred million acres of land, or 30% of the U.S.
landmass, as protected; that network of protected areas is
preserved and supported by a variety of conservation laws; and
WHEREAS, The United States has the conservation experience
and traditions necessary to make great strides in the
preservation of natural areas for future generations; and
WHEREAS, The United States announced that it would join the
Trillion Trees Initiative, a global campaign to plant at least
one trillion new trees; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Senate is considering a resolution
calling for the establishment of a national goal of conserving
at least 30% of U.S. lands and oceans by 2030; and
WHEREAS, Congressional leaders of both major parties have
implemented legislation to protect the United States' rich
natural heritage; and
WHEREAS, Despite these accomplishments, there are over
1,300 threatened or endangered species in the United States
according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency; a
study published in the journal Science found that the bird
populations in the United States and Canada have declined by

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three billion since 1970; and
WHEREAS, Young people are taking the lead in the effort to
conserve Illinois' environmental resources; the students of
Pontiac Township High School raised $100,000 and launched
Operation Endangered Species to restore endangered species to
their historical habitats; and
WHEREAS, Through the Operation Endangered Species program,
these students have performed research, secured habitat,
informed citizens, and empowered youth to take action; and
WHEREAS, Operation Endangered Species fostered cooperation
between the students of Pontiac Township High School and the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, resulting in the
reintroduction of the Alligator Snapping Turtle back into its
natural habitat; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
the State should redouble its efforts to work with the federal
government, local governments, the private sector, civil
society, schools, students, farmers, ranchers, fishing
communities, and sportsmen to conserve the land, rivers, and
lakes of Illinois for present and future generations to enjoy,
taking into account a wide range of flexible and enduring

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conservation solutions that will improve access to nature for
all people within Illinois, especially for communities that
have historically lacked access to natural spaces; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the State should pursue this goal in a way
that protects private property rights and traditional land uses
and enables landowners to pass down the working land of those
landowners to the next generation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to
the students of Pontiac Township High School, Lemont High
School, and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School.