HCR 9 — Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake

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ConcurrentThis Resolutionresolution Addressingurges thefederal {Nationalassistance Debt}in Greatstabilizing Saltand Lakerestoring GENERALthe SESSIONGreat STATESalt OFLake. UTAH Chief Sponsor:

Joseph Elison Senate Sponsor:Scott D.

Sandall 3 LONG TITLE General Description:

This resolution urges {Congress to resolve the national debt} federal assistance in stabilizing and restoring the Great Salt Lake.

▸ {discusses the ongoing and cumulative rise of the national debt;} ▸ {highlights } discusses the {adverse impacts on } importance of the Great Salt Lake to Utah's economy and {national security arising from the national debt, both now } residents and {in } explains the {future} lake's decline;

▸ {recognizes the national debt as a threat to } addresses Utah's efforts in restoring the {prosperity of our nation} Great Salt Lake;

and ▸ urges {Congress } the federal government to {take action towards balancing } provide assistance in stabilizing and restoring the {federal budget} Great Salt Lake.

C R Money Appropriated in this Bill:

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WHEREAS, {as of January 2026, } the {outstanding public debt of } Great Salt Lake is the largest lake in the Western United StatesStates, {totaled } , the largest $38.4saline trillion,lake within the nationalWestern debtHemisphere, equalingand 124%one of grossAmerica's domesticmost productimportant andnatural theresources; debt owed per citizen $115,134;

WHEREAS, approximately $9.36 trillion of the nationalGreat debtSalt Lake is owneda byvital individualssource notof locatedcritical inminerals thefor UnitedU.S. States, including $683 billion owned by individuals in China;

WHEREAS,industry, innational fiscalsecurity, year 2025, the United States had a deficit totaling $1.8 trillion after Congress failed to pass a balanced budget and federalenergy; tax receipts totaled $5.2 trillion, short of the federal outlays totaling $7 trillion;

salineH.C.R. lake in the Western Hemisphere, and one of America's most important natural resources;

WHEREAS,9 theEnrolled {SocialCopy SecurityWHEREAS, andfertilizer Medicareextracted Boardsfrom }the Great Salt Lake issupports afarmers vitalacross source of {Trustees projects the Old-Agecountry; and } critical minerals for U.S.

industry, Survivors Insurance Trust Fund to be depleted in 2033, and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund to be depleted in 2036;

WHEREAS, improvements in the business climate in populous countries and aging populations around the world are likely to contribute to higher global interest rates, which will curtail all U.S.

policy priorities, including defense and foreign policy;

WHEREAS, on September 22, 2011, Michael Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned that the single biggest threat to our national security is the national debt;

WHEREAS, on March 6, 2018, Dan Coats, former Director of National Intelligence, cautioned that the federal government's steep plunge into debt is unsustainable and represents a {dire future threat to our economy and } national security, and energy;

{and} WHEREAS, fertilizer extracted from the Great Salt Lake supports farmers across the country;

- 2 - HCR009 compared with HCR009S03 WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake sustains more than 10 million migratory birds that make their way to every state in the nation and to every country in the Western Hemisphere;

WHEREAS, {with the last } the federal {budget surplus occurring in 2001, the continued rise } and state government have invested billions of dollars in infrastructure near the Great Salt Lake, including investments in the Hill Air Force Base, a federal prison, federal buildings home to the federal judiciary and federal agencies, federal interstates, highways, the international airport, and other critical infrastructure;

WHEREAS, the Great Salt Lake has lost more than half of its area and water volume, with unsustainableyears waterof diversion,drought, climate change, population growth, and other increasing demands on the lake's tributaries threatening to drive the Great Salt Lake to record lows;

WHEREAS, due to its resolve, Utah has undertaken significant efforts to conserve water, modernize water policy, invest in restoration initiatives, and increase inflows to the Great Salt Lake,Lake; but continues to fall short of success;

WHEREAS, restoring the Great Salt Lake may cost the state a significant investment of state and federal dollarsdollars; and will require sacrifice from the agricultural industry that uses two-thirds of the depleted water in the basin;

WHEREAS, there is strong precedent for federal-state partnerships and investment in - 3 - HCR009 compared with HCR009S03 Western water projects, including Bureau of Reclamation projects and cost-sharing for major {national- debt2 is- aEnrolled majorCopy concernH.C.R. across Utah and around } restoration projects across the country{:} , that provide an established model for federal assistance in restoring the Great Salt Lake;

and9 WHEREAS,restoration multipleprojects U.S.across the country, that provide an established model for federal assistance in restoring the Great Salt Lake;

administrationsWHEREAS, haveon recognizedFebruary the21, urgency2026, ofPresident savingDonald theJ. Great Salt Lake and committed funding to restore the lake to a healthy level for the longterm:

NOW,Trump THEREFORE,publicly BErecognized IT RESOLVED that the Legislaturerescue of the stateGreat ofSalt Utah,Lake theas Governoran concurringurgent therein, {recognizes that the national debtpriority constitutes a threat to the } urges the President, Congress, and federaldescribed executive branch national security of the Unitedlake's Statesdecline andas urgesan Congressenvironmental tohazard committhat tomust establishingbe anaddressed effectiveimmediately; regular order for budgeting.

agenciesWHEREAS, toPresident provideTrump substantialexpressed andhis timelywillingness assistanceto dedicatedsupport toUtah stabilizingin saving the lake and restoringmaking the Great Salt Lake.Lake Great Again;

and WHEREAS, Utah praises the President's recognition and assistance and stands ready to partner with the federal government and regional states to restore the Great Salt Lake:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein, urges the President, Congress, and federal executive branch agencies to provide substantial and timely assistance dedicated to stabilizing and restoring the Great Salt Lake.