093_SJ0037

 
                                     LRB093 12180 KEF 17267 r

 1                       SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The United States of America  was  founded  upon
 3    the  dreams  and  traditions and with the energy and labor of
 4    immigrants who came from many different nations searching for
 5    a better life; and

 6        WHEREAS,  For  more  than  300  years,  various   ethnic,
 7    cultural,  and  social  groups  have  come  to  our shores to
 8    reunite with their loved ones, to seek economic  opportunity,
 9    and to find a haven from religious and political persecution,
10    bringing   their   hopes,   their   dreams,   and,  in  turn,
11    contributing, enriching, and energizing the United States  of
12    America; and

13        WHEREAS,  The  United  States of America has taken up the
14    mantra of protector of the downtrodden, ensuring  that  those
15    brave   men  and  women  who  face  the  prospect  of  ethnic
16    cleansing, religious oppression, torture, and even death find
17    haven in a country founded in large part by  those  who  fled
18    these  same  kinds  of  persecution, making it our historical
19    responsibility to serve as an advocate for human rights; and

20        WHEREAS,  Current  immigration  laws   in   this   nation
21    frustrate many immigrants who want to become lawful permanent
22    residents  and  citizens  of the United States of America but
23    are prevented in doing so or must wait several years  due  to
24    bureaucratic backlogs in the immigration system; and

25        WHEREAS, In this new century, immigrants continue to be a
26    key   driving   force  in  our  economy,  making  substantial
27    contributions to our economic, civic and  cultural  life  and
28    creating  a skilled and diverse workforce allowing the United
29    States of America to compete globally in  the  21st  Century;
30    therefore, be it

31        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
 
                          -2-        LRB093 12180 KEF 17267 r
 1    ASSEMBLY  OF  THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS,   THE   HOUSE   OF
 2    REPRESENTATIVES  CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Congress
 3    of the United States of America to draft and pass legislation
 4    to speed up the process  of  residency  and  citizenship  for
 5    those  immigrants  already  residing in Illinois and in other
 6    states; and be it further

 7        RESOLVED, That we urge the Congress of the United  States
 8    of  America  to  reform  current  immigration  laws to better
 9    facilitate the naturalization of individuals residing in  the
10    United States of America; and be it further

11        RESOLVED,  That  suitable  copies  of  this resolution be
12    delivered to the President pro tempore of the  United  States
13    Senate,   the   Speaker   of   the  United  States  House  of
14    Representatives,   and   each   member   of   the    Illinois
15    congressional delegation.