SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today issued the following statement regarding the Illinois House of Representatives' passage of Senate Bill 1715, the Hydraulic Fracturing Regulation Act, and encouraged the Illinois Senate to act swiftly on this bill that contains the nation's strongest environmental protections and significant economic potential. The governor called for passage in his 2013 budget address and the Quinn Administration helped negotiate the bill:
"Today's passage of hydraulic fracturing legislation in the House brings good news for jobs, economic development and environmental protection in Illinois. This legislation will unlock the potential for thousands of jobs in Southern Illinois, while ensuring that our state has the nation's strongest environmental protections in place for this industry.
"Over the past year, we have brought together lawmakers, industry and labor leaders and environmental groups in a collaborative, bipartisan effort to develop the best possible legislation. This approach has not only worked, but been praised as a national model for transparency, public participation, environmental safety and economic development.
"I want to thank Rep. John Bradley for his hard work on this issue and environmental advocates for their efforts to ensure Illinois' natural resources are protected.
"I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk as soon as possible."
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