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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to recognize State Representative
4Harry Osterman for his years of service and hard work on behalf
5of the people of the State of Illinois; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman is a lifelong resident of
7Chicago's North Side, born and bred in the Edgewater community;
8he served as President of the Edgewater Community Council and
9as a member of the Edgewater Development Corporation; he
10attended Illinois State University and Loyola University; he
11returned to his home neighborhood to help better his community,
12a value he learned from his mother, former 48th Ward Alderman
13and later Director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events
14Kathy Osterman; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman began his career as an
16aide to 48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith, serving as a public
17safety liaison to the Chicago Police Department and Cook County
18State's Attorney's Office; in 2000, he was appointed to fill a
19vacancy in the Illinois House of Representatives and has since
20been overwhelmingly re-elected by his constituents; during his
21time in the Illinois House, he has earned a reputation as a
22caring and passionate yet tough advocate for his constituents
23and for the issues that matter to them; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman has dedicated his career
2to making neighborhoods safer and ending gun violence; he has
3worked with the Chicago Police Department and the law
4enforcement community to keep illegal weapons off our streets,
5pass tougher firearm licensing requirements, and ban
6military-style assault weapons; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman, in his pursuit of public
8safety, has worked with neighborhood advocates and law
9enforcement agencies to increase funding for community
10policing and violence mediation programs; he has partnered with
11the Chicago Police Department to increase patrols in high-crime
12areas and to empower residents with information to help keep
13their families safe; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman believes strongly in
15helping all Illinois citizens attain equality; he helped to
16pass legislation to ban discrimination based on sexual
17orientation in housing, lending, employment, and public
18accommodation, and he has fought for increased funding for
19programs that help people living with HIV/AIDS; and he helped
20to pass landmark legislation legalizing civil unions in
21Illinois; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman has fought hard for a

 

 

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1strong education system that will provide our children with the
2knowledge and skills they will need to compete in a global
3economy; he has worked for funding to reduce class sizes and
4increase quality early education programs; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman believes that we must
6preserve and improve our environment for future generations; he
7has consistently supported efforts to protect Lake Michigan,
8including helping to create the Great Lakes Compact, and he has
9secured State funding to improve beach facilities; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman has championed strong
11ethics laws, transparency and campaign finance reform; he
12helped to pass the State's first law limiting campaign
13contributions and a law banning certain State contractors from
14donating to the campaigns of the State officeholders who award
15their contracts; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman has worked to reduce
17property taxes, expand access to quality health care, support
18local parks, foster economic development, and help residents
19cut red tape; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman was recently elected
21Alderman of Chicago's 48th Ward, a role that will allow him to
22continue as an advocate for the people; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Representative Osterman is married to the former
2Peggy Joyce; they are the proud parents of Jack, Harry, and
3Katie; and Representative Osterman is known affectionately to
4his colleagues as "Mr. Mom"; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
6NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we congratulate Representative Harry Osterman on his ascension
8from the Illinois House of Representatives to the Chicago City
9Council and wish him the best as he begins a new journey of
10public service; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to Representative Osterman as a symbol of our respect
13and esteem.