HJ0046 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0046 LRB095 11761 CMK 34614 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Freedom from poverty is a basic human right; and

WHEREAS, Full participation in civic life cannot be achieved without the things that protect and preserve human dignity and make for a healthy life, including adequate nutrition and housing, meaningful work, safe communities, health care, and education; and

WHEREAS, The Preamble to the Constitution of the State of Illinois provides that the elimination of poverty is one of the fundamental goals of our State Government; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Human Rights Act provides that the public policy of the State of Illinois is "to promote the public health, welfare and safety by protecting the interest of all people in Illinois in maintaining personal dignity, in realizing their full productive capacities, and in furthering their interests, rights and privileges as citizens of this State"; and

WHEREAS, Persons living in extreme poverty have incomes of 50% or less of the federal poverty level, which is $10,310 or less for a family of 4; and

WHEREAS, In 2006 over 681,000 individuals residing in Illinois were living in extreme poverty; and

WHEREAS, Extreme poverty exists in every county in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is one of the wealthiest states in the United States, yet has one of the highest rates of extreme poverty in the midwest; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has no comprehensive plan for the elimination of extreme poverty; and

WHEREAS, The Office of the Lieutenant Governor has agreed to facilitate a series of 10 public hearings in defined geographic areas throughout the State beginning in June, 2007, aimed at documenting both the experiences of those living in extreme poverty and their ideas for eradicating extreme poverty in Illinois with the objective of creating a poverty eradication strategy that initially will halve the number of people living in extreme poverty in Illinois by the year 2015 and reduce overall poverty in Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the General Assembly applauds the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for agreeing to facilitate public hearings on the critical issue of extreme poverty in Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That members of the General Assembly are urged to attend and participate in the public hearings covering their respective legislative or representative districts; and be it further

RESOLVED, That local stakeholders, including governmental officials, are encouraged to attend the hearings; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall prepare and deliver a report of findings and recommendations based on information collected at the public hearings to the General Assembly and to the Governor no later than January 15, 2008; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.