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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General 
3Assembly recognize the accomplishments and contributions made 
4by exceptional officials and citizens of the State of 
5Illinois; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In honor of the lasting legacy former Illinois 
7Secretary of State Jesse White made on the citizenry of the 
8State, the General Assembly wishes to recognize him with 
9naming a public building in his honor; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Jesse White was first elected Secretary of State 
11in 1998, becoming the first Black man and 37th individual to 
12hold this position in Illinois; during his 24-year tenure, he 
13maintained widespread popularity while working to improve 
14traffic safety, reducing teen driving deaths by 50%, 
15fortifying commercial truck driver standards, strengthening 
16DUI laws, and improving customer service through streamlined 
17operations and the use of innovative technology; he completed 
18his sixth term in January 2023, making him the longest-serving 
19Secretary of State in Illinois history; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Prior to serving as Secretary of State, Jesse 
21White served as the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, first being 
22elected in 1992 and then reelected in 1996; he previously 
 
 
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1represented the 8th District in the Illinois House of 
2Representatives from 1975 to 1977 and 1979 to 1993; while in 
3office, he served on the Committees on Aging, Elementary & 
4Secondary Education, and Public Utilities, chaired the 
5Committee on Children and Human Services, and worked to fight 
6crime, improve education, and protect senior citizens; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Jesse White has made vital contributions of 
8service and merit to the State and its citizens, and he is 
9highly deserving of the honor to have his achievements noted 
10and remembered by current and future generations; therefore, 
11be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
13HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
14SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the State of 
15Illinois Building at 555 West Monroe in Chicago as the "Jesse 
16White State of Illinois Building"; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
18presented to Jesse White and the Director of Central 
19Management Services.