SR0049 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0049 LRB097 10315 KXB 50549 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, State Senator J. Bradley Burzynski has represented the citizens of the State of Illinois and the families of the 35th Legislative District since 1993; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has also represented the citizens of the State of Illinois by serving in the Illinois House of Representatives for the 76th House District from 1990 to 1993; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski served the residents of Boone, DeKalb, LaSalle, Ogle, and Winnebago Counties by bringing to the General Assembly their concerns for fiscal responsibility, conservation of wildlife, public safety, renewable energy, agriculture, and growing business in the State; and

WHEREAS, During Senator Burzynski's two decades of service in the Illinois General Assembly, he has served as a powerful voice for the State's education system, from primary school to higher education; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has recently served as the Republican Spokesperson on the Higher Education Committee and served on the Education Committee; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski sponsored legislation to allow students to receive their bachelor's degrees by completing their education at a community college, making it possible for more Illinoisans to achieve their higher education goals; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski continued to work to improve the Illinois education system at all levels as a governor-appointed member of the P-20 Council, where he sought to find ways to provide students of all ages a robust and comprehensive education; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski created the Alternative Opportunities Learning Program in the Illinois School Code to provide an educational program that provides at-risk students an increased ability to succeed in their studies; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski worked to allow students to voluntarily practice and engage in student-initiated prayer and religious exercises in public schools; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski sponsored legislation to modernize the State's schools by allowing school districts to utilize electronic filing in reports to the Illinois State Board of Education and receive funds through electronic transfers; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski helped in co-sponsoring legislation to give the State's public universities their own governing systems, and he sponsored legislation to allow public universities to keep the tuition they collected directly; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has been a constant advocate for increasing public safety in schools; acting as a lead sponsor on legislation to curb the practice of bullying in schools, to provide greater gang resistance education, and to allow a teacher's institute to include training in First Aid; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has represented Illinois while serving as a Commissioner with the Midwest Higher Education Compact since 1993, where he worked to help find ways to reduce costs, improve student access, and discover new policies in higher education; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski sponsored the Advanced Practice Nursing Act, which helped underserved areas of the State to receive additional medical and health care resources; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski acted as a voice for fiscal responsibility by sponsoring legislation to require the Governor's Office of Management and Budget to outline the long-term economic and fiscal policy objectives of the State and the State's financial condition and to make that information available to the public; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has supported the use of renewable energy in Illinois through his successful sponsorship of the Promote Illinois Ethanol and Biodiesel Act to increase public awareness and provide information about E-85 and biodiesel fuels; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has been a consistent advocate of outdoor sports and conservation in Illinois and has worked to expand the number of apprentice hunters in Illinois so future generations can experience the richness of the State's wildlife; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski served on the Illinois Leadership Council on Agricultural Education where he worked to expand agricultural programs at all education levels; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has served on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules since 1995, where he is the longest-serving member of that bi-partisan committee; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has also served on the Insurance Committee, the Local Government Committee, and the Executive Committee, and in the past he has chaired the Executive Committee and the Licensed Activities Committee; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has served as the Assistant Senate Republican Leader since January 2007, and he previously served as the Senate Republican Caucus Chairman from 2003 to 2007; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski served as the DeKalb County Republican Chairman from 1993 to 1994; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and an Associate degree from Rend Lake Community College; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski taught band and choir to students from 5th to 8th grade at Pinckneyville Middle School for two years; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski worked as the Farm Bureau Manager of Clark and Clinton counties; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski served as the Governmental Affairs Director of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau for 11 years; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has been recognized for his work in the General Assembly by more than 70 statewide and local organizations throughout his career of public service; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has been recognized by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce for his continued commitment to support the growth of businesses throughout the State and was awarded the honor of "Champion of Free Enterprise" by the Chamber for his distinguished voting record; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has been recognized by the Illinois Civil Justice League for his dedication to reforming the State's civil justice system and was awarded the honor of "Friend of Fairness" by the League for his distinguished voting record; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski has been named "Legislator of the Year" by multiple organizations throughout the State for his work in the General Assembly, including the Illinois Nurses' Association, the Illinois Manufactured Homes Association, the Illinois Optometry Association, the Illinois Academy of Physicians Assistants, and the Illinois Public Transportation Association; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski is a member of the Maywood Evangelical Free Church; and

WHEREAS, Senator Burzynski and his wife, Judy, will spend time with their son, Benjamin, daughter-in-law, Abbie, and their children, Ethan, Hannah and Zoe; and with his daughter, Beth, son-in-law, Kristian, and their children, Kylie and Bailey; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Senator Burzynski for his dedicated service to the people of Illinois and honor him with this resolution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Senator Burzynski with our best wishes for his future endeavors.