HR1046 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1046 LRB102 30185 MST 42517 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, There are few members in the history of the Illinois General Assembly who have had as great an impact on the lives of millions of Illinois residents as House Majority Leader Greg Harris; and

WHEREAS, While serving the residents of the 13th District over the course of the last 16 years in the Illinois General Assembly, Leader Harris has established a reputation as a respected and esteemed legislator, a trusted and honest negotiator, and a master policy expert who combines humility and civility with an unparalleled work ethic to achieve historic legislative initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Originally from Colorado, Leader Harris attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, earning a degree in journalism, and, after moving to Chicago, began his career in marketing and governmental relations at the National Home Furnishings Association; and

WHEREAS, While the association left Chicago in 1988, Leader Harris stayed and co-founded Open Hands Chicago, an in-home meal delivery program targeting people living with HIV and AIDS, serving 41,476 meals in its first year of operation in 1989 and 750,000 meals by the end of 1994; and

WHEREAS, Following his community involvement, Leader Harris served as the chief of staff to former 48th Ward Alderwoman Mary Ann Smith for 14 years, establishing strong relationships across the city and with social service agencies and managing various political campaigns in the city; and

WHEREAS, Upon his election to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2006, Leader Harris became the first openly gay man to succeed another openly gay man, the late Representative Larry McKeon, in the State legislature; and

WHEREAS, Leader Harris has taken his personal experiences as an openly gay man, an activist during the AIDS crisis, and a person living openly with HIV to fuel his policy agenda and raise the profile of human services issues, and while chairing the House Human Services and Appropriations-Human Services committees, he ensured that government worked to expand and enhance supports and services for those who need it the most; and

WHEREAS, Leader Harris spearheaded marriage equality, advancing the issue for numerous terms until passing a bill was possible, spending a year folding roll calls in his jacket pocket to track his progress gathering support for the measure, and ultimately enshrining same-sex marriage in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, When many of the human service providers with whom Leader Harris worked faced a crisis as a result of a protracted budget impasse, he assumed the role of lead budget negotiator for the House Democratic Caucus, ultimately helping to forge the bipartisan compromise that balanced the budget, restored funding for lifesaving services, and set Illinois back on the path to fiscal responsibility; and

WHEREAS, Leader Harris was elevated to Majority Leader in 2019, making history as the first openly gay legislative leader in the Illinois General Assembly, and during a landmark legislative session under his leadership, $45 billion was allocated toward rebuilding crumbling roads and bridges, draconian marijuana prohibition was ended, the minimum wage for Illinois working people was raised, and the right to choose was enshrined in law; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Leader Harris championed efforts to secure the medical care and vaccines all Illinoisans needed, while remaining a leading voice for extending financial relief to struggling small businesses; and

WHEREAS, Leader Harris maintains a wide variety of interests outside the General Assembly, including an abiding appreciation of bacon, watching little-seen science fiction movies, maintaining a unique collection of socks, raising awareness of days of recognition and celebration on social media, and acting as a human companion to Tip the Cat; and

WHEREAS, Leader Harris, who leaves the Illinois General Assembly with a void that will be impossible for a single individual to fill, is a well-known advocate for equality and fairness throughout the state, a treasured figure in his community and the City of Chicago, a respected colleague to members of the General Assembly on both sides of the aisle, a compassionate leader who embodies the spirit of public service, a voice for those who are often voiceless, and a dedicated and dear friend to many, and he leaves a legacy worthy of enduring remembrance; and

WHEREAS, In his community and throughout Illinois, the lives of those whom he has befriended and represented and for whom he has been an advocate are fundamentally richer because of Leader Harris' compassion, his tireless work, and his everyday efforts to inspire joy in those around him; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we offer our profound thanks to House Majority Leader Greg Harris for his 16 years of dedicated service to the people of Illinois and congratulate him on his retirement from the Illinois House of Representatives; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Leader Harris as an expression of our gratitude, respect, and best wishes.