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Gov. Blagojevich
takes important action to protect
Illinois food and water supplies;
provides grant to Illinois Center for
Food Safety and Technology
Builds on
Governor's State of the State commitment
to enhancing Illinois homeland security
efforts
SPRINGFIELD - Demonstrating Illinois
will not tolerate actions that endanger
the food and water supplies that people
in Illinois and around the world depend
on, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed
legislation that makes these types of
crimes subject to the state's strongest
penalties. Gov. Blagojevich also
announced nearly $400,000 in Opportunity
Returns support for the Illinois Center
for Food Safety and Technology (ICFST)
to build on his homeland security
efforts to protect Illinoisans and
nurture this industry in our state.
"Nothing is more vital to the lives of
Illinois citizens than the safety of our
food and water supplies," said Gov.
Blagojevich. "Anyone who knowingly tries
to harm these supplies is without a
doubt a terrorist. By signing this bill
I want to send a strong message that
Illinois will not tolerate such
unthinkable actions."
Gov. Blagojevich said the new
provisions, coupled with other actions
taken at both the state and federal
levels, will make food supplies safer
and better protect Illinois farms and
agribusinesses. House Bill 53 makes
endangering the food or water supplies
in Illinois an act of terrorism.
Food production is the state's number
one manufacturing activity, adding $13.4
billion to the economy each year.
Illinois is a leading exporter of food
manufacturing and agricultural products,
which totaled more than $3 billion in
2004. Tampering with the Illinois food
supply could have both human and
economic consequences around the world.
Endangering the food supply knowingly
would include transporting a domestic
animal that is infected with, or has
been exposed to, a contagious or
infectious disease into the state of
Illinois; exposing an animal to a
contagious or infectious disease;
delivering poultry that is infected with
a contagious or infectious disease to a
poultry producer; transporting or
releasing any insect pest into the state
of Illinois; or exposing any raw
agricultural commodity, animal feed or
processed food to a contaminant or
contagious or infectious disease.
Endangering the water supply could
include deliberate actions to
contaminate public or private water
wells, reservoirs or supplies. It also
includes tampering with bottled or
packaged water either during production
or in wholesale or retail outlets.
The Illinois Center for Food Safety and
Technology works daily with companies
throughout the state and nation on
initiatives to keep our food supply
safe. The $392,000 Opportunity Returns
grant enhances ICFST's ongoing
programming and initiatives. Based on
the support provided through this grant,
companies will have access to education,
training and product development
assistance that enables them to produce
the best and the safest food in the
world.
HB 53 was sponsored by State
Representative Patricia Bellock
(R-Westmont) and State Senator Kirk
Dillard (R-Westmont).
"People around the nation and around the
world depend on Illinois for corn,
soybeans and a wide variety of food
products," said State Rep. Bellock.
"It's chilling to think that anyone
could be so cold-hearted that they would
try to harm or destroy our food and
water, but, in today's world, we have to
be realistic and find ways to deter such
catastrophic events."
"Terrorism is not just flying planes
into buildings and setting off bombs in
public places," said State Senator
Dillard. "In many ways, purposely
contaminating our food and water
supplies is even worse because it could
impact the lives of thousands - perhaps
even millions - of people for years to
come."
Acts of terrorism are Class X crimes,
punishable by 20 years to life in prison
for actions that do not result in any
deaths. However, those that result in
the deaths of one or more people are
punishable by a minimum of life in
prison or the death penalty. The new
provisions to the terrorism section of
the state's Criminal Code are effective
immediately.
To further dialogue about steps to
protect the food supply, Gov.
Blagojevich recently announced the "Market Opportunities in Food Security
Conference" that will be held on Monday,
June 27th in Burr Ridge. The conference
is sponsored by the Illinois Center for
Food Safety and Technology and the
Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity's new Homeland Security
Market Development Bureau. Food
producers, distributors and companies
engaged in protecting our food supply
will gather to discuss additional
protections for our nation's food supply
and learn new ways to compete in today's
security-conscious world. At the
conference, experts in food security and
homeland defense will also highlight
current and emerging needs for products.
To learn more about the conference or to
RSVP, visit
www.hsmd.illinois.gov.
Gov. Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns
regional economic development strategy
is the most aggressive, comprehensive
approach to creating jobs in Illinois'
history. Since a one-size-fits-all
approach to economic development just
doesn't work, the Governor has divided
the state into 10 regions - each with a
regional team that is empowered and
expected to rapidly respond to
opportunities and challenges.
Opportunity Returns is about
tangible, specific actions to make each
region more accessible, more marketable,
more entrepreneurial and more attractive
to businesses. It is about upgrading the
skills of the local workforce,
increasing the access to capital,
opening new markets, improving
infrastructure, and creating and
retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is
about successfully partnering with
companies and communities, both large
and small, to help all of Illinois reach
its economic potential. |
