HR0664 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION

2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of

3 Representatives wish to recognize that July 4, 2026 marks the

4 250th anniversary, or Semiquincentennial, of the adoption of

5 the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental

6 Congress in Philadelphia in 1776, signifying the founding of

7 the United States of America; and

8 WHEREAS, The Declaration of Independence proclaimed

9 timeless principles of profound significance to the national

10 heritage of the United States, including that all are created

11 equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights, including

12 life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that

13 governments derive their just powers from the consent of the

14 governed; and

15 WHEREAS, The founding of the United States established the

16 principle of federalism, emphasizing a decentralized system of

17 government wherein powers are divided between national and

18 state governments, fostering liberty, accountability, and

19 responsiveness to local communities; and

20 WHEREAS, This decentralized governance model has allowed

21 for innovation, diverse policy approaches, and stronger

22 accountability to the citizens of each state, ensuring that

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1 government remains close to and reflective of the people's

2 will; and

3 WHEREAS, The founding of the United States initiated a

4 journey toward forming a "more perfect Union," marked by

5 historic achievements, struggles, and progress in realizing

6 the nation's founding ideals for all its citizens; and

7 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois, having joined the Union in

8 1818, has played a significant role throughout the history of

9 the United States, contributing to the nation's development,

10 culture, economy, and defense through the efforts and

11 sacrifices of its citizens; and

12 WHEREAS, The semiquincentennial offers a unique

13 opportunity for the people of Illinois to reflect on our

14 shared history, honor the diverse contributions of all

15 Americans, celebrate our heritage of liberty, and look forward

16 to the future we strive to create for subsequent generations;

17 and

18 WHEREAS, Commemorative activities across Illinois will

19 provide educational opportunities, foster civic engagement,

20 encourage community participation, and strengthen appreciation

21 for the history, federalist principles, and foundational

22 ideals upon which both the nation and our state were built;

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1 therefore, be it

2 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE

3 HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

4 we recognize and commemorate the upcoming 250th anniversary of

5 the founding of the United States of America on July 4, 2026;

6 and be it further

7 RESOLVED, That we encourage all citizens, communities,

8 educational institutions, civic organizations, and businesses

9 within Illinois to participate in commemorative events and

10 activities that reflect on our history, celebrate our

11 achievements, and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of

12 liberty, equality, self-government, and federalism; and be it

13 further

14 RESOLVED, That we strongly encourage educational

15 institutions across Illinois to enhance civics education,

16 ensuring that future generations understand the critical

17 importance of active civic participation, the principles of

18 federalism, and the decentralized governance that protects

19 liberty and promotes responsive government.