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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to honor our esteemed colleague,
4State Representative Katherine Cloonen, and thank her for her
5dedicated service to our State and her community; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Representative Cloonen has lived in Kankakee
7County for more than 40 years; she and her husband, Gary,
8raised their two daughters, Jacquelyn and Kelly, on their
9family farm in Bonfield; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Representative Cloonen taught music for 16 years
11in the Herscher and Reddick school districts before starting
12her own small business, JK Steel Erectors, Inc.; as owner of a
13small construction company, she created more than 100 local
14union jobs; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Upon her election to the Illinois House of
16Representatives in 2012, Representative Cloonen took her 25
17years of business experience creating jobs, balancing budgets,
18and negotiating contracts to the State Capitol; she has worked
19with local and State employers to help revitalize the local
20economy and cut the local unemployment rate in half; she passed
21legislation to help bring a one billion dollar Competitive
22Power Ventures energy plant to Grundy County, and fought to

 

 

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1revitalize the Army Aviation Readiness Center project in
2Kankakee; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Representative Cloonen worked throughout her time
4in the General Assembly to remain in touch with the needs and
5concerns of local residents by constantly speaking with them at
6their homes, on the phone, and in her constituent service
7office; she worked to regularly bring services to the people of
8the 79th Representative District and help constituents
9navigate State government to receive quality service; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Representative Cloonen has been an advocate for
11education, securing greater funding for local schools and
12fighting for quality preschool to secondary education for local
13communities; she worked closely with superintendents and
14principals and advocated for greater investments in community
15colleges, including Kankakee Community College, job training
16programs and career and technical education programs; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Representative Cloonen, the wife of a Vietnam
18veteran, has been a tireless advocate for Illinois veterans and
19active military personnel and their families; she sponsored and
20passed legislation making it easier for returning veterans to
21further their education, obtain job training and secure
22civilian jobs; she fought for greater resources for the Manteno
23Veterans Home as well as organizations serving the local

 

 

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1veterans community; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
3NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
4thank State Representative Katherine Cloonen for her dedicated
5service; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to Representative Cloonen as an expression of our
8respect, esteem, and best wishes.