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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The federal farm bill impacts all Illinoisans; 
3agriculture represents a vital part of both rural and urban 
4economies; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, There is growing consumer demand from Illinois 
6citizens for locally and regionally-produced farm and food 
7products; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, There is growing farmer and entrepreneur interest 
9in meeting the consumer demand for local and regional farm and 
10food products; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Local and regional food economies are a vital 
12source of employment in our communities; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Supporting public health and protecting our 
14environment are essential to the viability and livability of 
15our communities and our economy; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Communities throughout Illinois face multiple 
17health, social, and environmental issues connected to food, 
18including hunger, malnutrition, increasing incidences of 
19obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic 
20diseases; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Increased access to healthy food is an important 
2tool for communities to address the multifaceted health, 
3social, and environmental issues connected to food; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Access to healthy food is increased when local and 
5regional community-based food production, processing, 
6aggregation, distribution, and retail work together to build 
7markets for healthy food; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, The policies, programs, and funding included in 
9the 2012 Farm Bill will affect how successful Illinois 
10communities can be in developing local and regional food 
11systems that advance the goals of environmental 
12sustainability, economic development, public health, racial 
13and social justice, and emergency preparedness; therefore, be 
14it
  
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL 
16ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Congress to 
17adopt a farm bill that supports and promotes the development of 
18local and regional food systems; and be it further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
20delivered to the members of the Illinois congressional 
21delegation.