HR1386 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1386 LRB098 23512 MST 62702 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor our friend and colleague, Illinois State Representative Renée Kosel, for her years of dedicated service to the people of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel earned her bachelor's degree in education from Western Illinois University; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel enjoyed a career as a school teacher in both Chicago and New Lenox, where she gained a keen understanding of the Illinois education system and the need for improvement; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel and her husband, Dr. Alfred Kosel, are long-time residents of New Lenox and have 3 children, Janine Valkema, Christopher, and Eric; she and her husband have been blessed with 9 grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel has been an active member of her community working towards its betterment, having served on the Lincoln-Way Central High School Board of Education and served on the Lincoln-Way Foundation for Educational Excellence Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel and her husband are members of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Lenox, and she is a member of the New Lenox Rotary Club; she currently serves with the Advocate Christ Medical Center Cancer Institute Foundation Board, the Alliance of the Illinois State Dental Society, and the Illinois State Rifle Association; she is also a past member of the Frankfort, Homer Township, Mokena, and New Lenox Chambers of Commerce, and is a current member of the Mokena Woman's Club; additionally, she serves as a member of Advocate Christ Medical Center Governing Council, serving as Chair from 2007 to 2009 and currently serving as Vice-Chair; she also serves as a Scholarship America Advisory Board member; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel was first elected to serve as State Representative on November 5, 1996, taking office in January of 1997; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel served as Assistant Republican Leader during her tenure, bringing the voice of her legislative district to the forefront of important issues; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel honorably represented the people of New Lenox, Mokena, Tinley Park, Frankfort, Homer Glen, Joliet, Lockport, and Orland Park; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel served with distinction on many committees, caucuses, and task forces, including Tollway Oversight, Health Care Licenses, International Trade & Commerce, and Executive Committees, and as Republican Spokesperson for the Museums, Arts, & Cultural Enhancement Committee; she was a member of the Illinois Historic Preservation Caucus, the Local Government Caucus, the Environmental Legislative Caucus, the Fire Prevention Caucus, the Manufacturing Caucus, the Education Caucus, the Illinois House Special Committee on the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, the Tax Relief Task Force, the Gambling Reform Task Force, the Education Task Force, the Project Success Oversight Committee, the Teacher Health Insurance Funding Task Force, the Jobs Creation Task Force, the Oral Health Summit Steering Committee, the Illinois-Liaoning (China) Sister State Committee, the House Republican Education Working Group, and the American Legislative Exchange Council Public Safety and Elections Task Force; and

WHEREAS, During much of the 2000 to 2010 decade, Representative Kosel's district was one of the fastest-growing suburban areas in the United States, leading to major challenges for her and her office; she rose to the occasion and successfully met the needs of a rapidly-growing constituency; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel always put the wishes of her legislative district first by being a fierce advocate for fiscal responsibility, consistently voting to balance the State budget and hold the line on taxes to protect the citizens of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel has received many awards during her years in office, including the American Legislative Exchange Council Legislator of the Year in 2008, the ARC of Illinois Legislator of the Year, the Illinois Home Health Care Council Legislator of the Year, the Advocates United Legislator of the Year in 1999 and 2003, the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce Legislator of the Year, the Illinois Farm Bureau's Friend of Agriculture in 2002, 2006, and 2010, the Employment Law Council's Job Defenders Award, the South Suburban Park & Recreation Professional Association's Legislator of the Year in 2002, the Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education 2005 Friend of Career and Technical Education, and both the Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Champion of Free Enterprise Award and Champion of Small Business Award; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel has worked tirelessly for the residents of her legislative district, sponsoring key pieces of legislation during her tenure, including a tax rebate for homeowners, expanding the Circuit Breaker Program, the "Bill of Rights" for property owners, and a waiting list bill for the disabled; and

WHEREAS, Representative Kosel has always placed education as her highest legislative priority; she fought for increased funding for our local schools and sponsored initiatives to improve school safety and reduce classroom sizes; she sponsored legislation to reform School Superintendents' retirement plans and was instrumental in enacting the School Construction Program; and

WHEREAS, During her 18 years in the Illinois House of Representatives, Representative Kosel served as the Chief Sponsor and Co-Sponsor on countless bills that have improved the lives of those living within her legislative district and the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor our friend and colleague Illinois State Representative Renée Kosel for her years of dedicated service to the people of this great State and wish her great success and happiness in her future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Representative Kosel and her family as a symbol of our esteem, respect, and gratitude.