HR0059LRB103 29508 ECR 55903 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to recognize the Good Friday Agreement on
4the occasion of the 25th anniversary of its ratification as
5the framework for lasting peace in Northern Ireland; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The Good Friday Agreement was signed in Belfast,
7Northern Ireland on April 10, 1998; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The Good Friday Agreement represented a landmark
9breakthrough that provided Ireland with a political framework
10to address its future; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The Good Friday Agreement acknowledged the right
12of differing political traditions to pursue their goals of
13remaining part of the United Kingdom or of Irish unity; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The Good Friday Agreement demonstrated democratic
15and peaceful means of resolving differences; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Despite the historic progress of the Good Friday
17Agreement and subsequent agreements, important issues remain
18unresolved in Northern Ireland, including securing justice for
19victims of state-sponsored violence and other violence and
20providing for the rights of all sections of the community; and
 

 

 

HR0059- 2 -LRB103 29508 ECR 55903 r

1    WHEREAS, In the United States, members of both political
2parties came together in support of the Good Friday Agreement;
3therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
5HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
6we recognize the 25th anniversary of the ratification of the
7Good Friday Agreement as the framework for lasting peace in
8Northern Ireland; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That we encourage all men, women, and children
10of all ethnic origins to become Irish for one day on the 17th
11of March during the annual celebration of the feast of Saint
12Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and to celebrate with
13Irish Americans this year for the 25th anniversary of the Good
14Friday Agreement; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That we recognize the governments of the United
16Kingdom and Ireland and their ongoing support and
17implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, as it is the
18irrevocable foundation of the peace process regardless of the
19United Kingdom's status regarding the European Union; and be
20it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be

 

 

HR0059- 3 -LRB103 29508 ECR 55903 r

1presented the 24th Chair Mark Daly of the Senate of Ireland and
2the national co-chairs of the American Irish State Legislators
3Caucus, which include Assemblywoman Carol Murphy of the New
4Jersey Legislature, Assemblyman Robin Vos of the Wisconsin
5State Assembly, Senator Shannon O'Brien of the Montana
6Legislature, Representative Brian Patrick Kennedy of the Rhode
7Island General Assembly, Assemblyman James Gallagher of the
8California State Assembly, and Representative Killian Timoney
9of the Kentucky General Assembly.