HJ0098 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0098 LRB094 19568 RSP 55692 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Throughout history brave Americans have shed their blood during wars and conflicts to preserve, protect, and defend the foundation of the principles of democracy and freedom; and

WHEREAS, In every military conflict and national time of need since 1818, the brave men and women of the State of Illinois have risen to the cause of defending democracy; and

WHEREAS, These brave Illinois men and women leave behind family and friends to proudly serve their country; and

WHEREAS, The federal government has an obligation to provide the benefits it has promised to Illinois veterans; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly was dismayed to discover in December 2004 that the State of Illinois' veterans were ranked last in the United States in the amount of benefits they receive through the federal government; and

WHEREAS, New reports in February 2006 place Illinois Veterans last in the nation for being hired through federal veterans job-placement programs, indicating that the federal government is not living up to its obligations to Illinois veterans; and

WHEREAS, The report states that only 34 percent of Illinois veterans and 28 percent of disabled Illinois veterans who sought help from the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service were hired last year-compared to the national average of 62 percent and 57 percent respectively; and

WHEREAS, The Government Accountability Office estimates 700,000 veterans are unemployed and anticipates more each year as 200,000 service members return to civilian life annually; and

WHEREAS, It is unacceptable that Illinois veterans who seek employment should be left behind by their government; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we encourage the United States Department of Labor and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that benefits due to Illinois veterans are indeed given to Illinois veterans, including job placement services afforded to veterans of other states; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage the Illinois Congressional delegation to pursue legislative or administrative remedies needed to ensure that all benefits are available and are in fact actually received by Illinois veterans in equal proportion to benefits received by veterans in other states; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this Resolution be delivered to the Secretary of the United States Department of Labor, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Illinois Congressional delegation.