SR0213 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Barack Obama Foundation is currently in the process of selecting a location for construction of the President Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum; and

WHEREAS, The final 4 locations being considered are one location in New York, one in Hawaii, and 2 within the City of Chicago - one on the West Side at the University of Illinois at Chicago and one on the South Side at the University of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Chicago is the largest city in the State of Illinois and Illinois is the State where President Obama served in the Senate from 1997 through 2004, representing the 13th Legislative District; and

WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is President Obama's hometown; it is where he started both his career in public service and his family, and it is where his family still calls home; Chicago has seen its profile as a global city grow and has seen increased economic and cultural development by having the President of the United States hail from within its boarders; and

WHEREAS, In support of Chicago's 2 bids, the 98th Illinois General Assembly passed Public Act 98-1005, which provides for the loan or donation to a presidential library or museum any books, items, furniture, equipment, or other materials or property of former Illinois State Senator Barack Obama in the possession or control of the Senate; and

WHEREAS, The Barack Obama Foundation is scheduled to select the final site by the end of March of 2015; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Barack Obama Foundation to select one of the 2 Chicago bids as the location to build the President Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and the Barack Obama Foundation board members.