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91_HJ0031
LRB9109157CBcbA
1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, An extraordinary blessing, known as "global
3 aging", is upon us and people are living substantially longer
4 than any generation that preceded them; and
5 WHEREAS, The "blessing" is accompanied by societal
6 problems that are counterbalancing the benefits of longer
7 lives, in the form of subtle discrimination that discourages
8 older people from continuing to work; and
9 WHEREAS, Older workers of this new generation are
10 capable, and often desirous, of working considerably longer
11 than the generation that preceded them; and
12 WHEREAS, The economic realities of the so-called baby
13 boomer generation often make it difficult for them to save
14 sufficient money before reaching the customary retirement
15 age; and
16 WHEREAS, A considerable number of older persons,
17 especially women, are either below or close to the poverty
18 line; and
19 WHEREAS, Older persons, regardless of their health
20 levels, are more prone to illness and injury, especially in
21 the workplace; and
22 WHEREAS, Millions of capable and motivated older persons
23 find themselves unemployed at times and often desperate for
24 income; and
25 WHEREAS, Illinois is one of the nine most populous states
26 with an aging population, 25-plus percent of its population
27 being 50 years of age or older; and
28 WHEREAS, Governor George Ryan, himself an older worker
29 and concerned for the problems that are accompanying this
30 major age shift, has declared November 16, 1999, OLDER
-2- LRB9109157CBcbA
1 WORKERS' DAY in Illinois; and
2 WHEREAS, The State, under the aegis of the Illinois
3 Department on Aging and the University of Illinois at Chicago
4 School of Public Health, and Marsh Risk Consulting, a private
5 organization representing the community of employers in the
6 State of Illinois, are co-sponsoring a public Forum on the
7 Aging Workforce that day to encourage employers to help older
8 workers to remain in and return to the workforce if they wish
9 to do so; therefore, be it
10 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
12 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we jointly declare our support
13 for the cause of the older worker and recognize the
14 importance of studying ways, through legislative action, that
15 will enhance the productive role of the older worker for the
16 joint benefit of the workers and employers of the State; and
17 be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the Department on Aging exercise its
19 prerogatives to develop support systems for older workers who
20 wish to remain in or return to the workforce and the
21 Department of Public Health, including through its Office on
22 Women's Health, also exercise its prerogatives to study and
23 propagate information on the maintenance of good health for
24 all Illinois citizens into their senior years; and that both
25 Departments assist the corporate business community to
26 develop programs to encourage workers, as they age, to
27 maintain positive attitudes towards work, full or part-time,
28 as an alternative to retirement in their senior years; and be
29 it further
30 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
31 forwarded to the Department on Aging and the Department of
32 Public Health.