HR0986 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0986 LRB098 20828 GRL 58075 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Adult education has the power to transform the national economy and local family budgets; and

WHEREAS, There are 39 million adults who do not have a high school diploma; high school dropouts cost the United States $1.8 billion annually; and

WHEREAS, Adults who earn a General Educational Development (GED) credential can earn the same level of weekly wages as high school graduates, increasing their earning potential by about $115 per week; and

WHEREAS, If the number of dropouts among Americans at the age of 20 was cut in half, the United States would gain $45 billion in tax revenues and lower costs for health, jail, and welfare; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, the unemployment rate for high school dropouts was 12.4%, while high school graduates were at 8.3%, those with some college but no degree at 7.7%, those with an associate degree at 6.2%, those with a bachelor degree at 4.5%, and those with master degree at 3.5%; and

WHEREAS, The GED program gives adults a fighting chance to go to college or get a good job with good wages; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the GED Testing Service to not allow the price of taking the GED to rise above $50; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the GED Testing Service.