PRINTER'S NO. 1336
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
213
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, BURNS, DiGIROLAMO, CALTAGIRONE,
WILLIAMS, SONNEY, KORTZ, SCHLOSSBERG, NEILSON, HOWARD,
FREEMAN, MURT, YOUNGBLOOD, PASHINSKI, MILLARD, DALEY, HILL-
EVANS, McCLINTON, READSHAW AND MARKOSEK, APRIL 9, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 9, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of May 2019 as "Rainforest Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania and urging Commonwealth residents to
become aware of the disappearance of 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%; and
WHEREAS, Rainforests 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
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the atmosphere through photosynthesis; and
WHEREAS, 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 carbon dioxide 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 water; 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 deliver essential rain; and
WHEREAS, Rainforests are also responsible for maintaining the
hydrological cycle and rainfall patterns; and
WHEREAS, 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 recognize the
month of May 2019 as "Rainforest Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania and urge Commonwealth residents to become aware of
the disappearance of rainforests worldwide and to make choices
that can lead to protection of those remaining areas; and be it
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further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
Commonwealth residents to make small, everyday choices which can
have a far-reaching positive impact on rainforest protection by
choosing products 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 of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge all Commonwealth residents to
become more conscious of the benefits of the world's
rainforests, that schools 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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