HR0849 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0849 LRB104 21561 LAW 36972 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, This year, July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a foundational document that boldly proclaimed to the world the "self-evident" truths that all people are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and

WHEREAS, At the time of the nation's founding, these revolutionary ideals were far from reality for the vast majority of people living on this continent, as the benefits of liberty were restricted by race, gender, class, and creed, and the institution of chattel slavery stood in direct contradiction to the spirit of the Declaration of Independence; and

WHEREAS, The American constitutional system has been repeatedly challenged by internal strife, systemic inequality, and the failure to live up to its own creed, yet it has proven resilient through the tireless efforts of grassroots social movements that have dared to hold the nation accountable to its founding promises; and

WHEREAS, The United States of America, though an imperfect model, represents a global spirit of progress, demonstrating to the world that a diverse people can engage in the difficult, ongoing work of self-governance and the pursuit of a more equitable society for all of humanity; and

WHEREAS, Indigenous and Native Americans have persisted in the face of displacement and erasure, asserting their sovereignty and reminding the nation of its obligations to justice, land stewardship, and the preservation of diverse cultures that predated the republic; and

WHEREAS, The abolitionist movement, led by figures such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman and joined by Illinois' own "Great Emancipator" Abraham Lincoln, courageously fought to dismantle the scourge of slavery, asserting that the values of the Declaration of Independence could never be realized in a house divided; and

WHEREAS, African Americans, through centuries of struggle from Reconstruction to the modern Civil Rights Movement, have acted as the conscience of the nation, demanding that the protections of the United States Constitution be applied equally to all, and, in doing so, have strengthened the democracy for every citizen; and

WHEREAS, Voting rights advocates have marched, organized, and suffered to ensure that the "consent of the governed" is not a hollow phrase but a lived reality, resulting in the expansion of the franchise through the 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments and the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965; and

WHEREAS, Generations of women, from the suffragists at Seneca Falls to the leaders of the modern feminist movement, have challenged the patriarchal structures of the founding era to secure legal equality, bodily autonomy, and a seat at every table of power; and

WHEREAS, The United States has long served as a beacon of hope and a welcoming nation for millions of immigrants seeking a better life, whose courage to leave their homelands and contribute to our shared prosperity has fundamentally shaped the American character and reinforced our commitment to the values of the Declaration of Independence; and

WHEREAS, Latinos in America have enriched our national fabric through their labor, culture, and advocacy for labor rights and immigration reform, embodying the immigrant spirit that is central to the American story; and

WHEREAS, Asian Americans have overcome a history of exclusion and internment to contribute profoundly to the nation's economic and cultural prosperity, while continually advocating for a more inclusive definition of what it means to be American; and

WHEREAS, LGBTQ people in America have led a modern revolution for dignity and equality, from the streets of Stonewall to the halls of the Supreme Court, proving that the pursuit of happiness includes the right to live and love authentically; and

WHEREAS, Americans with disabilities, both visible and invisible, have relentlessly advocated for the recognition of their inherent dignity and right to full participation in society, leading to transformative shifts in accessibility, education, and employment, most notably through the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and reminding the nation that the pursuit of happiness must be accessible to every individual, regardless of physical or cognitive ability; and

WHEREAS, This semiquincentennial serves not only as a celebration of the past but as a rededication to the ongoing work of "forming a more perfect Union", acknowledging that our progress has been won through struggle and that our future depends on our shared commitment to expanding the circle of opportunity and justice; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America and the Declaration of Independence; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the countless activists and everyday citizens who have pushed this nation closer to its ideals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we express our commitment to a future that reflects the full diversity and promise of the American people; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Illinois America 250 Commission and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.