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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Each year the President of the United States
3declares January 16th as Religious Freedom Day and calls upon
4Americans to observe this day through appropriate events and
5activities in homes, schools, and places of worship; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of
7freedom of religion, and the U.S. Constitution protects an
8individual's right to worship as they so choose with the First
9Amendment; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Declaring such a day for religious freedom is
11part of our American foundation and heritage; and
 
12    WHEREAS, January 16th was the chosen date for celebration
13as it is the anniversary of the exact date in 1786 when the
14Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom was passed; and
 
15    WHEREAS, This statute restrained the practice of taxing
16people to pay for the support of the local clergy and protected
17the civil rights of people to express their religious beliefs
18without suffering discrimination; and
 
19    WHEREAS, In Illinois, this date was observed by former
20Governor Rauner, and this important day of freedom should be

 

 

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1brought into our chamber and State; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
3HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we declare January 16, 2024 as "Religious Freedom Day" in the
5State of Illinois and encourage our citizens to reflect on our
6proud tradition of religious freedom so that it may be
7preserved for future generations.