Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SJR0038
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Full Text of SJR0038  100th General Assembly

SJ0038 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  

 


 
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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, In 1818, Illinois became the 21st state admitted
3to the Union and December 3, 2018 will mark the State's 200th
4anniversary; and
 
5    WHEREAS, For 200 years the Prairie State has been a
6national and international crossroad, from the days of
7Cahokia's mound builders to being a current hub of innovation,
8creativity, agricultural bounty, and industrial output; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Native Americans, early settlers, and people
10throughout the world, came to Illinois via footpaths, river
11routes, railroads, highways, and air travel; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois grew steadily throughout the
1319th century, with Illinois citizens becoming leaders in
14agriculture, business, finance, technology, higher education,
15and science; the 19th century also saw the rise of the City of
16Chicago as an economic, industrial, and cultural leader; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Business innovators, entrepreneurs, and builders
18found a welcoming climate and ready workers to build and create
19diverse enterprises, locally, nationally, and internationally;
20and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Illinois workers were pioneers in organizing to
2improve their lives and working conditions, with Illinois
3boasting more labor "local 1" union organizations than any
4other state; their efforts were marked in labor struggles at
5Haymarket Square, Pullman, Republic Steel, and mine camps and
6mill towns across the State; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has cultivated many
8political leaders, including Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S.
9Grant, Adlai Stevenson II, Ronald Reagan, Hillary Rodham
10Clinton, and Barack Obama, who have had a great impact on
11national and world affairs; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th
13Amendment to the United States Constitution abolishing slavery
14and was among the early states in ratifying the 14th and 15th
15constitutional amendments addressing citizenship and voting
16rights; and
 
17    WHEREAS, For two centuries, Illinois has often been the
18first American home to uncounted immigrants from all parts of
19the world, which has enriched our State's cultural diversity;
20and
 
21    WHEREAS, Illinois has always been a crossroads for the
22nation, historically linking north, south, east, and west, and

 

 

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1a destination for millions of people from all backgrounds who
2seek a fair chance and an equal opportunity in life; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Illinois is home to the nation's first African
4American President, Barack Obama, who was elected in 2008 and
5reelected in 2012; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Illinois has been home to many influential people
7including authors, educators, artists, entertainers, poets,
8athletes, social reformers, entrepreneurs, and scientists who
9have made significant contributions to the history and culture
10of our nation and have improved the quality of life of its
11citizens; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois continues to serve as a
13world leader in the 21st century in the fields of science,
14technology, finance, higher education, agriculture, and
15industry, a position made possible by the great industriousness
16of the people of this State; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The bicentennial of our statehood is an
18opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many cultural,
19political, economic, and academic contributions that Illinois
20and its residents have made to the nation and the world; and
 
21    WHEREAS, It is in the public interest to ensure that this

 

 

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1occasion is properly celebrated throughout the State; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The Commemorative Medallions Act (15 ILCS 555)
3provides that the State Treasurer may issue medallions to
4commemorate popular contemporaneous events of statewide
5interest; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
8CONCURRING HEREIN, that the State Treasurer is authorized to
9issue official commemorative medallions honoring the State's
10bicentennial; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That the State Treasurer shall contract for the
12production, marketing, distribution, and the sale of the
13medallions; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15delivered to State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and the Illinois
16Bicentennial Commission.