HR0343 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0343 LRB096 12599 RLJ 25960 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, During the last several decades, women have made tremendous progress in Illinois and the United States toward gaining economic and social equality; and

WHEREAS, Women enjoy several safeguards against discrimination, a high level of economic security, and substantial protections against violence and exploitation; and

WHEREAS, Despite this significant progress, the State must continue to ensure that women enjoy opportunities for equality, health care, safety, economic security, and career development; and

WHEREAS, Women continue to earn less wages than men; women are less likely to own a business and more likely to live in poverty than men; gender based economic disparities abound regionally in Illinois, and, even more profoundly, race and ethnicity continue to shape women's economic opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Women constitute a growing segment in our nation's economy; businesses owned and managed primarily by women contribute approximately $2.46 billion to the nation's economy and employ more than 19 million Americans; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, the last year of available data, Illinois women-owned businesses numbered 285,000, representing 29.7 percent of the State's businesses; and

WHEREAS, Educational achievement is foundational to economic opportunity for women and provides women with access to good-paying and technology based jobs in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The State needs to (1) be proactive in educating the next generation of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, (2) create incentives for all Illinois citizens to obtain a postsecondary education, and (3) increase workforce development opportunities, particularly for women who are underrepresented in the higher education population; and

WHEREAS, Women's health issues need to be prioritized to help prevent, diagnose, and treat illnesses commonly suffered by women including heart disease, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and

WHEREAS, Nationwide heart disease is the number one cause of fatality in women; one in five females has some form of heart or blood vessel disease; approximately 42,540 Illinois citizens, about half of whom are women, will die of cardiovascular disease; and 38 percent of women die within a year after having a heart attack, as compared to 25 percent of men; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is at the forefront of preventative health care for women, but gender specific research and technological efforts should be escalated to make certain our progress continues; and

WHEREAS, In 2004, the Governor's Commission of the Status of Women, created by an Executive Order in 1999, was abolished in favor of the creation of the Governor's Office of Women's Affairs; and

WHEREAS, The Office of Women's Affairs has been effective in disseminating information on State agency programs, advocating for legislation affecting women and their families, and serving as an information center on government services, private services, and resources available to women; however, a strategic planning process should be set up in the State on behalf of women and their families; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Governor Pat Quinn to establish and appoint members to a Commission on the Status of Women in order to continue progress on issues impacting women in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor urge the Commission to focus its efforts on helping women attain economic independence, lifelong equality, health care, safety, and career development opportunities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Governor of the State of Illinois.