1 HJR196
2 211835-3
3 By Representative Faust
4 RFD: Rules
5 First Read: 13-APR-21
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 HJR196
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2 ENROLLED, House Joint Resolution,
3 RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEAN WATER ACCESS IN
4 THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND ENDORSING THE MISSION OF CLEAN WATER
5 ALABAMA.
6
7 WHEREAS, as residents of Alabama rely on water
8 access to support their economies, the state is committed to
9 ensuring that access to water is available for all; and
10 WHEREAS, within Alabama are more than 132,000 miles
11 of river and stream channels, and the state is thus entrusted
12 with stewardship over 14 percent of all freshwater in the
13 continental United States; the Mobile-Tensaw Delta at the head
14 of Mobile Bay is one of the most biodiverse areas in the North
15 American continent, and its watershed covers 65 percent of the
16 state; as such, the preservation of this area is a
17 responsibility held by the entire state; and
18 WHEREAS, Alabama is also home to the 9th largest
19 deep-water port by total tonnage, located in Mobile; this
20 economic driver spreads wealth through the entire state and
21 attracts industry and jobs to the state; across the bay in
22 Baldwin County, Alabama's fastest-growing county, access to
23 beautiful white sand beaches has helped drive Alabama's
24 tourism economy for decades and has made Alabama a national,
25 and international, destination; and
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1 WHEREAS, since the days of the original Alabama
2 settlers, access to rivers and streams - America's original
3 "highways of commerce" - was of the utmost importance; the
4 current sites of many of our cities and towns are due to their
5 access to these waterways, and continued access to clean water
6 remains critical to the health and vibrancy of Alabama's
7 communities; and
8 WHEREAS, the article, "Water Access Issues in
9 Alabama", published on the Alabama Cooperative Extension
10 System website, summarizes the importance of water access to
11 all Alabamians: "Transportation, sport fishing, seafood
12 processing, and canoeing are among the many uses of Alabama's
13 waterways. In the cities and towns along Alabama's many miles
14 of waterfront, the way of life depends on waterfront access,
15 and the economic web spun here stretches wide across the
16 state. Entire economies of some small towns depend on access
17 to waterways for traditional business uses, and water-related
18 activities make a large impact on the state's economy"; and
19 WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon the people of Alabama
20 to continue to work together to make sure that there is
21 sufficient access to clean water in the state; this is the
22 mission of Clean Water Alabama, and we recognize the vital
23 importance of that mission to all Alabamians; now therefore,
24 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
25 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That this body recognizes the
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 HJR196
1 importance of water access in Alabama and declares that it is
2 imperative that all Alabamians continue to work together to
3 ensure that access to clean water remains available, and
4 therefore endorses Clean Water Alabama and its paramount
5 mission.
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 HJR196
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2
3
4 Speaker of the House of Representatives
5
6 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
7 House of Representatives
8 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in
9 and was adopted by the House 20-APR-21.
10
11 Jeff Woodard
12 Clerk
13
14
15
16 Senate 22-APR-21 Adopted
17
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