SR1347 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1347 LRB103 43709 JDS 77070 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Senator Tom Bennett has served the people of Illinois with distinction for nearly a decade, representing the 106th District in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2015 to early 2023 and the 53rd District in the Illinois State Senate from 2023 to 2025, which includes Bureau, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, Peoria, Putnam, Tazewell, Will, and Woodford Counties; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bennett is well-known for his kindness, compassion, and legislative acumen; his accomplishments and enduring impact will resonate throughout the Capitol and the State of Illinois for years to come; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bennett was born on June 8, 1956 and raised on a family farm in Gibson City, Illinois; he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Eastern Illinois University, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Business Administration from Illinois State University, and a Doctor of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University; and

WHEREAS, Before entering public service, Senator Bennett dedicated himself to education as a high school and junior high science teacher and later worked as an IT professional at State Farm Insurance, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to learning and innovation; and

WHEREAS, While working and raising a family, Senator Bennett served his community as a member of a local preschool board, which included two years as chairman, as a K-12 school board member, and as a member of the Parkland College Board of Trustees, serving for 19 years with the last three years as chairman; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bennett was actively engaged in state and national trustee organizations, serving as Chair of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) in Springfield and the only Illinoisan to ever serve as Chair of the Board of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, As a legislator, Senator Bennett served on task forces and commissions focused on early childhood education, teacher assessments, the environment, and energy, while holding key positions on Senate committees, including Appropriations-Education, Appropriations-Higher Education, Early Childhood Education, Education, Energy and Public Utilities, and Higher Education; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bennett brought his passion for education to the Illinois General Assembly, where he was a leader in addressing critical issues around the teacher shortage, co-chairing a task force focused on Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) concerns, encouraging retired teachers to re-enter classrooms, and supporting excused absences for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H events to foster experiential learning; and

WHEREAS, From being raised on his family farm, Senator Bennett was a steadfast advocate for Illinois agriculture, supporting funding restoration for Soil and Water Conservation Districts, working with the Prairie Research Institute to create a study on carbon capture and carbon sequestration for the State of Illinois, easing estate tax burdens on family farms, and aiding small-scale farmers through legislation exempting on-farm composting from permit requirements; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bennett's contributions to public safety include supporting tax credits for volunteer firefighters, advocating for extended stop arms on school buses to protect children, and strengthening emergency response services; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bennett's exceptional service has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Illinois Farm Bureau's Friend of Agriculture Award (2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024), the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs' Legislator of the Year Award (2018), the Illinois Chamber's Champion of Free Enterprise Award (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024), and the 2024 Illinois Firefighters Public Service Award; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bennett finds his greatest joy in the people he has met and served throughout his career, reflecting his genuine dedication to uplifting others; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Senator Tom Bennett on his retirement from the Illinois General Assembly after nearly a decade of honorable and dedicated service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Senator Bennett as an expression of our gratitude for his hard work and best wishes for his future endeavors.