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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives recognize our former colleague, State
4Representative Constance A. "Connie" Howard, and thank her for
5her many years of service to the people of Illinois; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Representative Howard was born on December 14,
71942, in Chicago to Henry and Thelma Bozeman, the second of 4
8children, and was raised in the Woodlawn neighborhood; she
9attended James Wadsworth Elementary School and Hyde Park High
10School; Rep. Howard graduated from Chicago Teacher's College,
11now Chicago State University, with a bachelor of arts degree in
12liberal arts, later earning a master's degree in corrections
13and criminal justice from Chicago State University; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Representative Howard was an active community
15volunteer, worked for the Illinois Department of Human Rights,
16and also covered the south side of Chicago as a reporter for a
17community newspaper, all which fueled her passion for social
18justice; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Representative Howard served as a coordinator for
20the historic 1983 and 1987 campaigns of former Chicago Mayor
21Harold Washington; in 1984, she was chosen by Mayor Washington
22and the late State Senator and former Illinois Senate President

 

 

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1Cecil Partee to be the Democratic State Central Committee's
2woman representative for the lst Congressional District; and
 
3    WHEREAS, In 1992, Representative Howard coordinated the
4south side U.S. Senate campaign office of Carol Moseley-Braun,
5who became the first and only African-American woman to serve
6in the body; she coordinated south side efforts to elect Bill
7Clinton president in 1992; in 1996, she served on the Rules
8Committee of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and
9served as an alternate convention delegate in 1984 and 1988;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, In 1994, Representative Howard campaigned for and
12was elected to represent a large portion of the southeast side
13of Chicago and the south suburbs in the Illinois House of
14Representatives; and
 
15    WHEREAS, As State representative, Representative Howard
16earned a reputation as a compassionate yet firm voice for
17working families and the less fortunate; she focused her
18legislative efforts on improving public health, criminal
19justice reform, and empowering families through the
20development of high speed internet accessibility; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Representative Howard served on numerous
22committees in the Illinois House, including the committees on

 

 

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1Aging, Small Business, Veterans Affairs, Housing, Healthcare
2Disparities, and Public Safety Appropriations, among others;
3she served as chair of the Judiciary II - Criminal Law
4Committee and vice-chair of Human Services; she also served as
5chair of the House Legislative Black Caucus and as a member of
6the Conference of Women Legislators; and
 
7    WHEREAS, As HIV and AIDS spread rapidly through the
8African-American community, Representative Howard was one of
9the strongest voices for treatment and prevention programs that
10saved countless lives; she authored the Illinois African
11American HIV/AIDS Response Act to formulate a coordinated
12government response to the epidemic, considered the first of
13its kind in the nation; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Representative Howard has long been active in the
15movement to raise awareness and funding for breast cancer
16research during times of scare resources; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Representative Howard led statewide efforts to
18raise awareness of the "digital divide" and expand internet
19access in impoverished communities across Illinois, helping to
20increase usage of high speed internet by African Americans; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Representative Howard consistently fought for
22criminal justice reforms that emphasized rehabilitation and

 

 

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1results; she worked with numerous faith-based and
2community-based prisoner re-entry programs, recognizing that
3the best way to leave crime behind is the opportunity for a job
4and a legitimate way to support one's family; she worked
5tirelessly to convince others that everyone shares the same
6goal of an end to crime, and helped to create countless
7opportunities to receive an education and job skills that will
8allow everyone to contribute to society; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Representative Howard enjoys spending time with
10her family; she has been married to Phillip Howard, Jr. since
111963 and they are very proud of their son, Phillip III, an
12airline pilot, and adore spending time with their five
13grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16we thank State Representative Constance A. "Connie" Howard for
17her service to her community and State, and wish her the best
18in all her future endeavors; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to Connie Howard as an expression of our respect and
21gratitude.