PRINTER'S NO. 945
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
152
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, READSHAW, BULLOCK, TOOHIL, SCHLOSSBERG,
KINSEY, MURT, HILL-EVANS, FREEMAN, O'BRIEN, SOLOMON,
CALTAGIRONE, WATSON, MILLARD, FRANKEL, V. BROWN, WARREN,
VITALI, THOMAS, NEILSON, D. COSTA AND MARSICO, MARCH 16, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 16, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of May 2017 as "Rainforest Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania and urging Commonwealth residents to
become aware of the disappearing rainforests worldwide and to
make choices that can lead to protection of those remaining
areas.
WHEREAS, Rainforests originally covered 12% of the earth's
surface, and now cover just 6%, yet are home to more than one
half of the planet's species; and
WHEREAS, Fifty million indigenous peoples call the
rainforests home and have lived there sustainably for thousands
of years; and
WHEREAS, More than 25% of the medicines in general use today
originated in the rainforests; and
WHEREAS, Although they cover only a small portion of the
earth's surface, rainforests affect climate and weather
worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Tropical rainforests replenish 20% of the oxygen in
the atmosphere through photosynthesis; and
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WHEREAS, More importantly, tropical rainforests store vast
amounts of carbon in their biomass which is, in large part, the
carbon released by the burning of fossil fuels for cars,
electricity and industry; and
WHEREAS, When forests are destroyed, often by burning, huge
amounts of CO2 are released, exacerbating the greenhouse effect
and global warming; and
WHEREAS, Rainforests play a key role in controlling flooding,
erosion and siltation in many parts of the world, as they absorb
huge amounts of rainfall and then slowly release it as a
constant supply of clean H2O; and
WHEREAS, Global weather patterns are impacted by the dark,
warm and humid rainforests due to the slowly released water
vapor that rises to the atmosphere and forms clouds, which
travel great distances and bring essential rain all over the
world; and
WHEREAS, Rainforests are also responsible for maintaining the
hydrological cycle and rainfall patterns, and one tree can
release as much as 75 gallons of water per day; and
WHEREAS, According to the Rainforest Foundation US,
rainforest acreage equal to the size of a football field is
destroyed every second; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 32 million acres of rainforest are
lost each year around the globe; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania join with the Rainforest Foundation
US in recognizing the month of May 2017 as "Rainforest Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania, and urge all Commonwealth residents to
make small, everyday choices which can have a far-reaching
positive impact on rainforest protection by choosing products
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that include sustainably harvested rainforest resources that do
not compromise the well-being of rainforest communities and
species; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
Commonwealth residents to become more conscious of the benefits
of the world's rainforests, for schools to hold discussions
about the effects that the disappearance of rainforests may have
on the world and that all residents speak out to the President
and the Congress of the United States, corporate officials and
others about any concerns they may have about the need to
protect the world's rainforests; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the Rainforest Foundation US, to the presiding officers of each
house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
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