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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Each year the President of the United States 
3declares January 16th as Religious Freedom Day and calls upon 
4Americans to observe this day through appropriate events and 
5activities in homes, schools, and places of worship; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of 
7freedom of religion, and the U.S. Constitution protects an 
8individual's right to worship as they so choose with the First 
9Amendment; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Declaring such a day for religious freedom is 
11part of our American foundation and heritage; and
 
12    WHEREAS, January 16th was the chosen date for celebration 
13as it is the anniversary of the exact date in 1786 when the 
14Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom was passed; and
 
15    WHEREAS, This statute restrained the practice of taxing 
16people to pay for the support of the local clergy and protected 
17the civil rights of people to express their religious beliefs 
18without suffering discrimination; and
 
19    WHEREAS, In Illinois, this date was observed by former 
20Governor Rauner, and this important day of freedom should be 
 
 
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1brought into our chamber and State; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
3HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
4we declare January 16, 2024 as "Religious Freedom Day" in the 
5State of Illinois and encourage our citizens to reflect on our 
6proud tradition of religious freedom so that it may be 
7preserved for future generations.