HR1620 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1620 LRB095 23014 KXB 53506 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama's mother instilled in him the importance of empathy and compassion from a very young age and these values shaped him to become the great man that he is today; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Columbia University in 1988, Barack Obama moved to Chicago, where his tireless work as a community organizer helped to improve the lives of many people living in impoverished neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama earned his law degree from the prestigious Harvard Law School in 1991 and proved himself to be a leader and trailblazer even then by becoming the first African-American to be president of the Harvard Law Review; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004, where he sponsored several key pieces of legislation and worked in a bipartisan manner to accomplish the business of the State while earning the respect and admiration of his colleagues; and

WHEREAS, In July of 2004, Barack Obama established himself as a rising star in the Democratic Party when he delivered a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama was sworn into the United States Senate on January 4, 2005 and took the lead on many significant issues that will define America in the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama's commitment to public service and "doing the people's work" is evident in both his personal and professional life, as he continues to push for policies that will strengthen America's working families; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States, on Saturday, February 10, 2007, from the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, and also announced his choice for Vice President at the same location in Springfield on August 23, 2008; and

WHEREAS, On November 4, 2008 Barack Obama became the first African-American to be elected President of the United States; that day will forever be remembered as a historic and monumental day where Americans stood up together and said "YES WE CAN!"; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama is a devoted husband and father who accepted the opportunity to allow his family to inspire others to believe that change could begin with them; and

WHEREAS, Barack Obama is a living example of the American dream and his resounding message of unity and hope will continue to inspire all who hear it; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate President-elect Barack Obama on his victory and wish him all the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize that Barack Obama has made a indelible mark on not only the State of Illinois, but on the world; and that we honor Barack Obama for his hard work; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to President-elect Barack Obama as a symbol of our esteem and respect.