HR0814

LRB093 21834 HSS 49800 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate John Gordon, 
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Chairman of the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors, on his 
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quest to bring awareness to blind vendors in Illinois and to 
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make the public aware of the plight of blind vendors; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Gordon was born in Chicago; he married Sandra 
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in June of 1990; he is the father of 4 children, Kelly, Johnny, 
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April, and Veronica; he has been the Chairman of the Illinois 
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Committee of Blind Vendors for the last 7 years; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In his time as chairman, the Committee received 
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the Employer of the Year award from the Department of Human 
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Services for extending an arm of employment to people with 
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disabilities; he is a former member of the Board of Directors 
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for the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, and, in 1999, he 
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was named the National Vendor of the Year by that organization; 
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he currently operates a vending service at Stroger Hospital in 
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Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Current State law provides that State agencies 
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shall give opportunity to blind vendors at State offices; this 
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program enlarges economic opportunities for the blind; and
 
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    WHEREAS, In order to bring awareness  to this situation and 
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to make the public aware of the plight of blind vendors, Mr. 
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Gordon embarked on a walk from Chicago to Springfield on April 
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12, 2004; he plans to arrive in Springfield on Tuesday, April 
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20, 2004, where he will be joined by friends, supporters, and 
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blind business people from around the State; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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urge the Office of the Governor and all State agencies to give 
 


 






HR0814
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LRB093 21834 HSS 49800 r




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preference, not just opportunity, to blind vendors as the law 
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provides; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That we congratulate John Gordon on his quest to 
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make the public aware of the plight of blind vendors that led 
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to his trek from Chicago to Springfield; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to John Gordon as an expression of our respect and 
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esteem; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to 
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Governor Rod R. Blagojevich.