HJ0017eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0017 Engrossed LRB100 08259 MST 18360 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 17

WHEREAS, It is appropriate and right to honor those great American figures who have served our nation in public office; and

WHEREAS, President Barack Hussein Obama is the pride of Chicago and Illinois; he began his professional life in Chicago as a community organizer; he attended Harvard Law School, where he was the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review; he taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for 12 years; and

WHEREAS, President Obama represented the 13th Senate District in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004; he garnered respect and passed multiple progressive bipartisan legislation; and

WHEREAS, President Obama was elected United States Senator from Illinois with a strong mandate of 70% of the vote; his bid for the presidency was a similar success, creating an impressive coalition and making history as the first African American president; and

WHEREAS, As President, Barack Obama was given command of the federal government during the most troubling months of the worst economic recession since the Great Depression and brought the country back from the brink of financial free-fall; he signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which saved the nation from the worst of the recession's effects; he also signed into law the Dodd-Frank financial institution regulations in order to help the nation avoid another economic catastrophe; and

WHEREAS, President Obama reduced the number of U.S. troops committed internationally; he signed the Paris Agreement and negotiated a successful Iran nuclear deal; he oversaw the opening of relations between the U.S. and Cuba; he served the United States with integrity and distinction and improved the image of the U.S. abroad; and

WHEREAS, President Obama fought for and signed the Affordable Care Act, providing healthcare to millions and protecting millions more from being denied for pre-existing conditions; he also urged the Supreme Court to strike down same-sex marriage bans and he repealed the "don't ask don't tell" policy; and

WHEREAS, President Obama served with distinction and dignity and the Illinois General Assembly would like to preserve his honor for generations to come; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the entirety of Interstate 294 of the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways as the "President Barack Obama Tollway" in recognition of President Barack Obama's dedication to public service as an Illinois State Senator, U.S. Senator from Illinois, and President of the United States of America; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name "President Barack Obama Tollway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution will be distributed to the Director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and President Barack Obama.