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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Adult education has the power to transform the
3national economy and local family budgets; and
 
4    WHEREAS, There are 39 million adults who do not have a high
5school diploma; high school dropouts cost the United States
6$1.8 billion annually; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Adults who earn a General Educational Development
8(GED) credential can earn the same level of weekly wages as
9high school graduates, increasing their earning potential by
10about $115 per week; and
 
11    WHEREAS, If the number of dropouts among Americans at the
12age of 20 was cut in half, the United States would gain $45
13billion in tax revenues and lower costs for health, jail, and
14welfare; and
 
15    WHEREAS, In 2012, the unemployment rate for high school
16dropouts was 12.4%, while high school graduates were at 8.3%,
17those with some college but no degree at 7.7%, those with an
18associate degree at 6.2%, those with a bachelor degree at 4.5%,
19and those with master degree at 3.5%; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The GED program gives adults a fighting chance to

 

 

HR0789- 2 -LRB098 18508 GRL 53645 r

1go to college or get a good job with good wages; therefore, be
2it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
5we urge the Illinois Community College Board, as the
6administering agency, to not allow the price of taking the GED
7to rise above $50; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the Executive Director and the Chair of the
10Illinois Community College Board.