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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to recognize Speaker Emanuel 
4"Chris" Welch and congratulate him on the fifth anniversary of 
5his historic speakership; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Speaker Welch was elected Speaker of the Illinois 
7House of Representatives on January 13, 2021; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Taking office as the 70th Speaker of the House in 
9Illinois' 203-year history, Speaker Welch became the first 
10African-American lawmaker to ever hold the office, a historic 
11first in a state known for pioneering leaders; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Speaker Welch has followed through on his 
13commitment to "a new day in Illinois", bringing a 
14collaborative leadership style to the House, promoting greater 
15openness and engagement, and undertaking efforts to 
16professionalize the operations of the House; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Under Speaker Welch's leadership, the House has 
18taken a leading role in major legislation, including state 
19budgets that have rebuilt Illinois' fiscal house and restored 
20the state to A-level credit, the Climate and Equitable Jobs 
21Act of 2021, major affordability measures that included a new 
 
 
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1child tax credit, cutting the state's grocery tax, eliminating 
2over $1 billion in old medical debt for tens of thousands of 
3Illinois families, major healthcare reforms to make insurance 
4better and more affordable by creating new oversight of 
5premium increases, ending step therapy and pre-clearance 
6gimmicks big insurance companies use to deny care, cracking 
7down on the big pharma middlemen who drive up the cost of 
8lifesaving prescriptions, the nation's strongest gun safety 
9laws, and landmark investments and reforms to save public 
10transit and create a system that more effectively and 
11responsibly delivers affordable bus and train options for 
12communities across the State; and
 
13    WHEREAS, In the pivotal moments facing our State, Speaker 
14Welch has rallied a strong response, delivering new 
15protections for women's rights, voting rights, due process 
16rights, and workers' rights; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Throughout his first five years in the role, 
18Speaker Welch has assembled a diverse and dynamic team of 
19leaders, committee chairs, emerging lawmakers, and talented 
20staff, and he has empowered them all with the words he lives by 
21"Winners do the work"; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Speaker Welch's historic speakership has changed 
23Illinois for the better; therefore, be it
 
 
 
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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
2HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
3we recognize Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and congratulate 
4him on the fifth anniversary of his historic speakership; and 
5be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That we look forward to Speaker Welch's 
7continued leadership on behalf of the people of our State; and 
8be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
10presented to Speaker Welch as a token of our respect and 
11gratitude.