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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, State Senator John Sullivan has represented the
3citizens of the State of Illinois and the residents of the 47th
4Legislative District since 2003; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan was elected in 2002 to represent
6the historically Republican district with the distinction of
7being the only Democrat State Senator with two Republican
8representatives and the largest geographical State Senate
9District in Illinois; and
 
10    WHEREAS, As a working farmer in the State Senate and a
11lifelong resident of the 47th Senate District, Senator Sullivan
12has first-hand knowledge of agriculture and has been an
13effective voice in Springfield for farmers across Illinois;
14during his service as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture
15Committee, he worked with great diligence to make sure current
16laws evolved to meet new demands and that new laws were created
17with the best interests of Illinois farmers in mind; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan was awarded the Friend of
19Agriculture award by the Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR seven
20times for standing up for Illinois farmers; he worked to ensure
21Illinois consistently took advantage of crop-based fuels by
22expanding ethanol tax incentives to include soy-based diesel

 

 

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1fuels and providing three million dollars for research to
2invest further in this technology to grow the Illinois
3agriculture industry and decrease dependence on foreign oil;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, Putting political affiliation aside, Senator
6Sullivan served as the chief negotiator for the 2009 $31
7billion capital construction program that addressed vital
8regional priorities such as the Macomb bypass and continued
9construction towards a four-lane U.S. 34 between Monmouth and
10Burlington; and
 
11    WHEREAS, During his time in the Senate, Senator Sullivan
12has looked for every way the State could save money and cut
13down on wasteful spending; this is evident by his success in
14spearheading bipartisan legislation to find $9.2 million in
15yearly savings by changing the way the Temporary Assistance to
16Needy Families (TANF) entitlement program is administered by
17limiting retroactive payments; ultimately the legislation
18passed the House and Senate with unanimous support; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan, an avid hunter, worked to
20protect the Second Amendment rights of Illinois residents by
21securing the passage of concealed carry laws, extending deer
22hunting hours, youth hunting licenses, creating otter hunting
23season, and updating concealed carry laws to allow competent

 

 

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1and qualified hunters with mild disabilities to obtain a
2concealed carry permit; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Understanding the importance of creating future
4jobs and taking care of our vulnerable populations, Senator
5Sullivan worked to create a consensus to open a new treatment
6facility in Rushville for those seeking treatment for sexually
7violent behavior by hosting local meetings in Rushville to
8answer questions and provide assurances to concerned community
9residents and then later fighting for a $13 million expansion
10to alleviate overcrowding in the facility; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan has worked hard to enhance
12transportation and economic development opportunities in
13Quincy by helping to secure over $1.2 million in State funding
14to revitalize downtown Quincy and make sure it is safe,
15accessible, and well-lit for residents; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Putting veterans first, Senator Sullivan worked
17diligently to secure and protect veterans at the Quincy
18Veterans Home by securing over $16.3 million to keep the Quincy
19Veterans Home Guest House open, funding safety renovations and
20repairs; and
 
21    WHEREAS, To honor returning Illinois veterans and help them
22find gainful employment, Senator Sullivan wrote and passed a

 

 

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1law with unanimous support to implement a 20% tax credit for
2Illinois employers when they hire an unemployed veteran who has
3served on active duty since September 11, 2001; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan believes in true constituent
5service and common sense legislation; he has worked with many
6of his constituents to write laws to address the needs of
7Illinois residents, such as his initiative to increase
8educational opportunities for Illinois National Guard members
9by allowing Guard members to be eligible for a grant for up to
10one year after their service ends to make sure Illinois
11veterans are able to take advantage of these vital benefits;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan, recognizing the importance of
14investing in higher education due to the economic and
15educational benefits, secured over $820 million in funding for
16Western Illinois University in Macomb; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan understands the importance of
18working with every stakeholder, regardless of their political
19party, to guarantee the residents of the 47th State Senate
20District are represented to the best of his ability which can
21be seen by the support he has received by a wide variety of
22organizations, unions and associations such as the Illinois
23Farm Bureau, Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs

 

 

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1(IAAF), the Illinois Association of Soil and Water Conservation
2Districts, and Extension Partners, the Illinois Manufacturers'
3Association, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois
4AFL-CIO, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Illinois
5Education Association, University Professionals of Illinois,
6the National Rifle Association, the Illinois Fraternal Order of
7Police, and many others; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan has built a reputation as an
9effective legislator who is always willing to reach across the
10political aisle to work in a bipartisan manner; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan is the devoted husband of 33
12years to Joan Sullivan; the loving father of son, Matt, and
13daughter-in-law, Karla; daughter, Emily; son, Luke, and
14daughter-in-law, Charlene; son, Mark; and granddaughters,
15Elaine, Audrey, Molly, and Rosie; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Senator John
18Sullivan for his dedicated service to the people of Western
19Illinois and honor him with this resolution; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21presented to Senator John Sullivan with our best wishes for his
22future endeavors.