HR1551 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1551 LRB096 24551 GRL 44372 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate and thank Illinois State Representative Michael K. Smith for his 16 years of service on behalf of the people of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Representative Smith was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1994; he served as a tireless advocate for the 91st District in a variety of positions, including Chairman of the House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education and the House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education-Appropriations; and

WHEREAS, Representative Smith is one of the State's leading voices on education issues and improving the public school system, having brought back millions of dollars in school funding for local schools and community colleges; he also helped revamp State graduation standards and address the pressing issues of school safety and early childhood education; and

WHEREAS, Representative Smith has always been a strong voice for the working men and women of his district; during his tenure, he has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for job-creating infrastructure improvement projects in the heart of Illinois, including vital work on Interstates 74 and 474 and the creation, expansion, and repair of many county, State, and U.S. highways throughout the 91st District; and

WHEREAS, Representative Smith has consistently defended consumers, having secured over one billion dollars in rate relief for electric ratepayers and championing new laws to fight identity theft; he also worked to educate his constituents on how they can better protect themselves against scam artists, and he served as a Citizen Advocate for the Illinois Attorney General before becoming a legislator; and

WHEREAS, Representative Smith has earned a reputation as a strong defender of local workers by supporting efforts to boost the local manufacturing industry and keep jobs in Central Illinois; he backed a tax fairness plan that would provide vital tax relief to middle-class families and pushed for policies that invest in new, cutting-edge alternative energy facilities; and

WHEREAS, Representative Smith has been identified as a leader in the fight against methamphetamine in downstate Illinois; he has sponsored one of the nation's toughest anti-meth laws; he also created tougher punishments for meth manufacturing and facilitated valuable interaction between constituents and members of law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, Representative Smith has worked hard to improve the quality of life for Illinois' senior citizens; he backed the creation of the Circuit Breaker/Pharmaceutical Assistance program and secured substantial property tax relief for older adults and disabled veterans; and

WHEREAS, Representative Smith has always voted with his district's values in mind; he is a staunch defender of the Second Amendment and has ensured that Central Illinois always received its fair share of State funding; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his chairmanship of the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, Representative Smith served as a member of many committees during his tenure in the House, including the Environment and Energy, Financial Institutions, Fire Protection, Homeland Security, Personnel and Pensions, and State Government Administration committees; he previously served as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee; and

WHEREAS, As a full-time legislator, Representative Smith has served his constituents with distinction, often returning home to his district on session days in order to be with his wife, Donna, and attend community functions; and

WHEREAS, Representative Smith will be truly missed by his colleagues, who widely regard him as one of the kindest and most thoughtful members of the General Assembly; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate and thank Illinois State Representative Michael K. Smith for his years of dedicated service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Representative Michael K. Smith as a token of our respect and esteem and with our best wishes for his future success.