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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate and commend Grace Lattz
4who, at the age of 15, successfully developed and lobbied for a
5bill eliminating a requirement that firefighters injured in the
6line of duty relive the details of their trauma during annual
7examinations for post-traumatic stress disorder; and
 
8    WHEREAS, On November 16, 2013, Champaign firefighters were
9called to the newly-opened Layalina Mediterranean Grill at 2:45
10a.m. to extinguish a large fire; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Two firefighters searching the second-floor
12apartment for occupants were unaware that fire had broken out
13below them; Grace Lattz's father, Lieutenant Jeff Lattz, saw
14that the conditions were developing for a sudden and rapid
15expansion of the fire and ran to the base of the stairs to warn
16the firefighters on the second floor; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The fire suddenly enveloped the entire staircase,
18sending furniture and debris flying through the air, and Lt.
19Lattz was pelted by flaming debris; and
 
20    WHEREAS, First responders acted quickly to remove Lt. Lattz
21from the building, strip off his gear, administer an IV and

 

 

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1breathing tube, and rush him to the burn unit at a local
2hospital; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Lt. Lattz's long recovery involved not only
4extensive physical healing but mental healing as well; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Watching her father struggle through
6post-traumatic stress disorder gave Grace Lattz an idea, which
7originally took the form of a homework assignment but morphed
8into a campaign for state legislation; and
 
9    WHEREAS, With the help of her mother, House doormen, State
10Representative Tom Bennett, and other lawmakers, Grace Lattz
11created business cards, learned government processes, lobbied
12legislators in their offices and off the floor, testified
13before committees, and visited Springfield multiple times to
14lobby and track the progress of legislation; and
 
15    WHEREAS, In late May of 2018, SB 3119, which was amended in
16the House of Representatives with Grace Lattz's legislation,
17cleared the House by a vote of 106 to 4 and passed the Senate
18unanimously; the legislation was signed by Governor Rauner in
19August 2018 and is P.A. 100-1097; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

 

 

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1we congratulate Grace Lattz on her drive and conviction and are
2proud of her efforts to make a difference for her family and
3community; she is a role model for all of us; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to Grace Lattz as a symbol of our respect and esteem.