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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Adult education has the power to transform the 
3national economy and local family budgets; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, There are 39 million adults who do not have a high 
5school diploma; high school dropouts cost the United States 
6$1.8 billion annually; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Adults who earn a General Educational Development 
8(GED) credential can earn the same level of weekly wages as 
9high school graduates, increasing their earning potential by 
10about $115 per week; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, If the number of dropouts among Americans at the 
12age of 20 was cut in half, the United States would gain $45 
13billion in tax revenues and lower costs for health, jail, and 
14welfare; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, In 2012, the unemployment rate for high school 
16dropouts was 12.4%, while high school graduates were at 8.3%, 
17those with some college but no degree at 7.7%, those with an 
18associate degree at 6.2%, those with a bachelor degree at 4.5%, 
19and those with master degree at 3.5%; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, The GED program gives adults a fighting chance to 
 
 
HR0789- 2 -LRB098 18508 GRL 53645 r

1go to college or get a good job with good wages; therefore, be 
2it
  
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
4NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
5we urge the Illinois Community College Board, as the 
6administering agency, to not allow the price of taking the GED 
7to rise above $50; and be it further
  
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
9presented to the Executive Director and the Chair of the 
10Illinois Community College Board.