HR1049

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives wish to honor former State Representative 
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Chuck Hartke, as he steps down as the Director of the 
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Department of Agriculture on February 29; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Chuck Hartke, who spent more than 18 years as 
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State Representative from the 108th District in the Illinois 
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House of Representatives, and became director of the Illinois 
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Department of Agriculture in 2003, is stepping down from his 
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position to take care of family needs; and

 
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    WHEREAS,  Mr. Hartke has been active in public service for 
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most of his life, first
by valiantly serving his country in the 
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United States Army
from 1966 until 1968, including a tour in 
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Vietnam; he served on the Effingham
County Board from 1970 to 
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1974, was elected Secretary of the Democratic Central
Committee 
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in 1976, and was elected as Effingham County Democratic Central

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Committee Chairman from 1978
to 1985; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr.

Hartke, a former president of the Effingham 
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County Pork Producers, served in the Illinois House of 
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Representatives starting in 1985; he was confirmed by the 
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Illinois Senate on May 16, 2003 to oversee the Illinois 
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Department of Agriculture;  and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, As Director, Mr. Hartke supported the expansion of 
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livestock in the State, worked to expand the biofuels industry, 
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including ethanol, biodiesel, and biomass, strengthened 
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relations with foreign trading partners, supported specialty 
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crop and diversified agriculture operations, and worked to 
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protect the State food supply; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Hartke promoted both the State and county 
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fairs while serving as Director; he serves as president of the 
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Midwest Association of State Departments of Agriculture and a 
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board member of the National Association of State Departments 
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of Agriculture; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Hartke is active in his community, as a member 
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of St. Francis Parish, the Knights of Columbus, the American 
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Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Association 
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of Retired Persons, the Farm Bureau, and the Farmer's Union; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, His family is still actively involved in farming, 
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with his son renting Mr. Hartke's 800-acre farm; Mr. Hartke, in 
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his own words, plans to do something less strenuous, like being 
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a professional golfer or a consultant; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
 


 






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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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wish Chuck Hartke the best for both him and his family and 
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thank him for his years of service to the people of the State 
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of Illinois; and be it further

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