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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Senator
4Scott Bennett, who passed away on December 9, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett was born to Dr. Robert and Barbara
6Bennett in Fort Campbell, Kentucky on July 16, 1977; he moved
7with his family as an infant to Gibson City, where five
8generations of his family have worked on their family farm; he
9graduated from Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School in 1995;
10following, he studied history at Illinois State University and
11graduated in 1998; he then studied law at the University of
12Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated in 2002 with a
13Juris Doctor; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett began his career in law and politics
15in 1999 when he earned an internship at the White House and
16served the Clinton Administration in the Office of
17Presidential Gifts; he served as a prosecutor with the City of
18Chicago and returned to central Illinois to work as an
19assistant state's attorney in Bloomington-Normal and later as
20an assistant state's attorney in Champaign-Urbana; some of his
21most important work was dedicated to seeking justice for child
22victims of crime; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett was appointed to fill Michael
2Frerichs' vacant state senate seat in 2015; he was known to
3rise above partisanship to find common ground for the good of
4Illinois; he was a tireless advocate for measures to protect
5the environment, agriculture in Illinois, and the quality of
6life for the most vulnerable in the State of Illinois; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett served as the chairman of the Higher
8Education Committee; he served as the vice chairman of the
9Judiciary Committee and State Government Committee; he served
10as the sub-chairman of the Judiciary, Appropriations for
11Higher Education, Redistricting for East Central and Southeast
12Illinois, Judiciary-Privacy, and Unemployment Insurance
13Committees; he served as the sub-vice-chairman for the
14Redistricting of West Central Illinois and Judiciary-Business
15Entities Committees; he served as a member of the Agriculture
16Committee, the Executive Appointments Committee, Redistricting
17Committee, and Redistricting Southern Illinois Committee; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett instituted protections to keep
19drinking water in the Mahomet Aquifer safe; he promoted
20compassionate courtrooms, including authorizing the use of
21comfort dogs; he worked with Treasurer Michael Frerichs to
22create the ABLE Act, which helped cover expenses for persons
23with disabilities; he fought to increase college affordability
24and worked to support the University of Illinois, Parkland

 

 

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1College, and Danville Community College; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett was dedicated to the people of his
3district; he would always make time to hear of their troubles
4and work towards solutions within and without the State
5legislature; he was known for checking on his constituents to
6ask how they were doing and if there was anything he could do
7to help; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett was a beloved family man and was
9known for his humor and quick wit; he was a genuine and caring
10person with friends, family, constituents, and colleagues from
11his own party and across the aisle; he could bring a smile to
12anyone's face and create a space for connection with a laugh;
13and
 
14    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett always found time to take care of
15his family and to work on his family's centennial farm; he was
16proud to obtain a commercial driver's license so he could haul
17grain in a semi-truck to the area grain elevator; he took time
18to call constituents while waiting for the truck to be loaded
19to ask about their day; he loved being a part of the farming
20community of Illinois; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett final act of service was to his
22beloved family; he safely drove his family home from the

 

 

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1airport after a family trip, tucked his children into bed, and
2kissed his wife goodnight; he was found unresponsive in bed
3the next morning due to an undiagnosed brain tumor and was
4taken to the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett was preceded in death by his
6grandmother, Charlene Bennett; his grandmother, Marge Barry;
7his grandfather, Lee Barry; his uncle, Dennis Barry; his
8cousin, Crystal Barry; and his mother-in-law, Mardelle
9Meredith; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Sen. Bennett is survived by his wife of 20 years,
11Stacy Bennett; his children, Sam and Emma; his parents, Dr.
12Robert and Barbara Bennett; his brother, Rob Bennett; his
13sister-in-law, Mabruka Yazidi; his niece, Naimi
14Yazidi-Bennett; his uncles, Rep. Tom Bennett and Doug Bennett;
15his aunt, Carol Bennett-Barker; his aunt, Wanda Driscoll; his
16aunt, Carol Sanecki; his father-in-law, Bill Meredith; many
17cousins and friends; and his dog, Betty White; therefore, be
18it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
20HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21we mourn the passing of Senator Scott Bennett and extend our
22sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
23and loved him; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Sen. Bennett as an expression of our
3deepest sympathy.