92_SR0593 LRB9218498KFkf 1 SENATE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, For 22 years, Laura Kent Donahue has dedicated 3 her life to serving the people of western Illinois; and 4 WHEREAS, Laura had the privilege of serving in the same 5 area her mother, Mary Lou Kent, represented; and 6 WHEREAS, She began her legislative service in the State 7 Senate in 1981; and 8 WHEREAS, She was appointed an Assistant Majority Leader 9 in the Illinois State Senate in 1997 after serving as 10 Majority Caucus Chairman for four years; and 11 WHEREAS, As a lawmaker, Laura secured nearly $1 billion 12 for road and bridge improvements in her district since 1981; 13 and 14 WHEREAS, Her dedication to improving the funding process 15 for downstate nursing homes and hospitals has earned her 16 numerous legislative awards from the Illinois Association of 17 Homes for the Aging, the Illinois Hospital Association, the 18 Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities and the 19 Illinois Healthcare Association; and 20 WHEREAS, She has devoted much of her time and energy 21 toward finding a resolution to the education funding issue in 22 Illinois; and 23 WHEREAS, Laura was instrumental in bringing a juvenile 24 prison facility to Rushville, adult prison facilities to Mt. 25 Sterling and Canton and work camps to Clayton and Pittsfield; 26 and 27 WHEREAS, She is a member of the Vermont Street Methodist 28 Church in Quincy; and 29 WHEREAS, She is a member of the Daughters of the American -2- LRB9218498KFkf 1 Revolution, the Lincoln Club of Adams County and the PEO 2 Chapter MK; and 3 WHEREAS, She graduated with a bachelor's degree from 4 Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri; and 5 WHEREAS, She is respected by her colleagues from both 6 political parties for her honesty and integrity; and 7 WHEREAS, Laura will be remembered as a Senator who took 8 her responsibility as an advocate for her district seriously; 9 therefore be it 10 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL 11 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Laura 12 Kent Donahue for her accomplishments as she leaves the 13 Illinois Senate and wish her success in her future endeavors; 14 and be it further 15 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this preamble and 16 resolution be presented to Laura Kent Donahue to honor her 17 for her years of service to the citizens of Illinois.