HR1315 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1315 LRB100 24058 MST 43162 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate State Rep. David Harris on his distinguished service to the 53rd and 66th Legislative House Districts and the people of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris was a member of the Illinois House from 1983 to 1993 and 2011 to 2018 and served the body with honor and distinction; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris is known and respected for his expertise in budgeting and appropriations, serving all of his 18 years in the General Assembly on the House Revenue & Finance Committee and several as the Republican Spokesperson for the Committee; and

WHEREAS, The people of suburban Cook County have been well-served by the leadership and bipartisanship of Rep. Harris during his tenure in the Illinois House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris graduated from Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. with a degree in government, and the U.S. Army's Command & General Staff College; he also took courses at the U.S. Army War College; and

WHEREAS, After serving five terms in the General Assembly, Rep. Harris left state government to become the Senior Vice President of the Illinois Hospital Association; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, Rep. Harris returned to government service when the Governor appointed him as The Adjutant General (Commanding General) of the Illinois National Guard, a position he held until 2003; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris was inducted into the Ft. Benning Infantry Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 2002 and retired from the Army in 2003 with the rank of Major General after serving his country for 33 years; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris served in Iraq from 2005 to 2006 with the U.S. Department of State after he retired from the military and was the Deputy Director and Chief of Staff of the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris is a Life Member of the Association of the U.S. Army, the Military Officers Association of America, the National Guard Association of the U.S., and the Illinois National Guard Association; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris and his wife, Michelle, raised their family in Arlington Heights; together, they are the proud parents of two adult children, Court and Jonathan; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris served as the ranking Republican on several influential House Committees, including the Revenue & Finance and Appropriations-General Service Committees; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris always promoted honest dialogue on all points of view on legislative issues and has been a fierce advocate for balanced budgets and responsible spending; and

WHEREAS, During his 18 years in the House of Representatives, Rep. Harris ushered 57 bills into law as the Chief Sponsor and championed dozens of other bills as a Chief Co-Sponsor or Sponsor; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris assisted the Illinois National Guard by authoring Illinois Public Act 99-0796, which established a Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for the State of Illinois similar to the federal UCMJ; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris showed his support of the environment by serving as the Chief House Sponsor of Public Act 98-0442, which requires a certain percentage of vehicles used in Illinois by the Central Management Services (CMS) fleet to be alternative powered vehicles; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris addressed the issue of delinquent child support by championing Public Act 98-0466, which requires casinos and racetracks to deduct child support from the winnings of individuals who have been flagged as owing child support; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris showed support for animal welfare by serving as the Chief House Sponsor of Public Act 98-0855, which increased penalties for those associated with puppy mills; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Harris has been honored with a multitude of awards and recognitions during his time in the General Assembly, including the Legislative Achievement Award from the Illinois Enterprise Zone Association, the Friend of Agriculture Award from the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business/Illinois (NFIB), the Champion of Free Enterprise Award from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Friend of Manufacturing Award from the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, the Legislator of the Year Award from the Illinois Association of County Auditors, and a Recognition Award from the Illinois Municipal League for his support of legislation related to municipalities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate State Rep. David Harris on his retirement, recognize him for making a positive difference in the lives of the people he represented in suburban Cook County and across Illinois, and wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Rep. Harris, his wife, Michelle, and their family as an expression of our esteem and respect for our colleague and friend.