HR0727 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0727 LRB096 15120 GRL 30417 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Kurt DeWeese on the occasion of his retirement on January 1, 2010, after 38 1/2 years of dedicated service as a Legislative Staff Research Analyst for the Democratic Leadership of the Illinois House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, Kurt DeWeese attended Fairchild School in Normal and graduated from University School in Carbondale; he attended American Community School in Saigon, South Vietnam from 1965 to 1966; he attended Oregon State University in 1967, then transferred to and earned his bachelor's degree in education from Illinois State University in January of 1971; and

WHEREAS, Prior to his graduation from ISU, Kurt DeWeese served as a student teacher at Austin High School in Chicago; during this period, he applied for entrance to the Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program (ILSIP); after being chosen by then-Democratic Leader Clyde Choate, he began his career of public service with the 76th General Assembly as a legislative intern in October of 1971; during his time as an intern, he became dedicated to the General Assembly's mission to assure the health and safety of the people of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, After his tenure as a legislative intern, Kurt DeWeese was selected to serve as a Health & Human Services Analyst for the Democratic Leadership of the Illinois House; as an analyst, he has proven to be an invaluable resource to the members of the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate through his work with the various standing and temporary committees and legislative task forces on a myriad of issues; and

WHEREAS, Kurt DeWeese has consistently served as a voice of expertise and insight on numerous critical issues that the General Assembly has faced, including health planning reform; nursing home regulation; human service agency reorganization; the revision and editing of the Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Code and the Illinois Public Aid Code; the licensure of new health facilities and professions; managed care and numerous other health insurance reforms; the creation and development of the child abuse and neglect reporting and investigation system; child day care reform; child foster care reform; tobacco settlement fund distribution; hospital and long-term care Medicaid Provider Tax programs; the State Response to AIDS/HIV disease; public health emergency response planning; the State response to Alzheimer's and related disorders; Rural/Downstate and Medically Underserved Health development; the reform of mental health and developmental disability services; universal health care; welfare reform; various expansions/reforms of the Medical Assistance (Medicaid) program; the creation and reform of various prescription drug assistance programs; and the establishment and development of home and community-based care for the elderly and disabled; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his long legislative career, Kurt DeWeese has served under the guidance of Chiefs of Staff Douglas Kane, Ward Johnson, Jim Andrews, Gary LaPaille, and Tim Mapes and Research/Appropriations Staff Directors Veronica Lynch, Bill Foster, Bob Carter, Mary Ellen Lynch, Ralph Nickell, Tony Rossi, Terri Coombes, and John Lowder; and he has worked under the direction of the chairpersons of numerous committees, including Representatives Eugenia Chapman, Jesse White, Michael Holewinski, Aaron Jaffe, Eugene Barnes, Eugene Moore, David Phelps, Thaddeus Lechowicz, Lee Preston, Andrew McGann, John Cullerton, Carol Ronen, Jan Schakowsky, Sara Feigenholtz, Bob Rita, Mary Flowers, Barbara Flynn Currie, Naomi Jakobsson, Kathy Ryg, Will Davis, Lisa Dugan, Tom Holbrook, Dan Beiser, Lou Lang, Lee Daniels, William Delgado, Coy Pugh, Connie Howard, John Fritchey, Jack McGuire, and Wyvetter Younge; and

WHEREAS, During his many years of service in the Illinois House of Representatives, Kurt DeWeese has served faithfully under the leadership of Speakers William A. Redmond and Michael J. Madigan and served the Democratic Leadership during the tenures of Republican Speakers Robert Blair, George Ryan, and Lee Daniels; and

WHEREAS, Kurt DeWeese was inducted into the Legislative Internship Hall of Fame in 1997; he was also the recipient of the Legislative Staff Achievement Award in 2007 by the Leadership Staff Section of the National Conference of State Legislatures; and

WHEREAS, Following his retirement from State government, Kurt DeWeese plans to spend more time with his family and engage in other activities within his community; however, he will remain keenly interested in health and human service issues and will hopefully impart his extensive wisdom to future generations; and

WHEREAS, Kurt DeWeese's legacy of hard work, integrity, and dedication to both the government and people of the State of Illinois will be fondly remembered by the members of this august body; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Kurt DeWeese on the occasion of his retirement, thank him for his many years of dedicated service to the Illinois General Assembly and the people of the State of Illinois, and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Kurt DeWeese as a symbol of our esteem and respect.