HR1516 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1516 LRB099 24144 MST 51825 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor our esteemed colleague, State Representative Edward Acevedo, on his 20 years as a member of the Illinois General Assembly and to thank him for his dedicated service to his State and his community; and

WHEREAS, Representative Acevedo was born and raised in the district he represents and where he raised his five sons; he earned his degree from Harold Washington College, was educated at the Academy of the Cook County Sheriff's Department and the Academy of the Chicago Police Department, and has served the State and the City of Chicago as a police officer; and

WHEREAS, Representative Acevedo was decorated for heroism, receiving the Award of Valor from the Cook County Sheriff's Office for rescuing victims trapped in a fire; and

WHEREAS, Representative Acevedo was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1997, and is the longest serving Latino member of the Illinois General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Representative Acevedo secured millions of dollars in funding for programs and organizations within the Second Representative District, including the Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy (IHSCA), which is the first dedicated career academy in the State; La Casa, which is the first off-campus student housing with the benefits of on-campus residence halls, near all major universities in Chicago; he sponsored and led passage of the Kid Care Health Program, a low-cost health insurance program for children, and the State Hispanic Employment Plan; and

WHEREAS, Representative Acevedo was the driving force behind legislation to grant temporary driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, making our roadways safer and creating better drivers; and

WHEREAS, Representative Acevedo sponsored the Illinois Dream Act, historical legislation designed to make scholarships, college savings, and prepaid tuition programs available to undocumented students who graduated from Illinois high schools, providing opportunities for students who would otherwise not be able to attend college; he has worked to be an advocate for the enhancement of our children's education and he continues to push for legislation that will provide the best educational experience for all Illinois children; and

WHEREAS, All who served with Representative Acevedo will miss his tenacity and strong, quiet but determined leadership to better the lives of the residents of his district and those of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate and honor State Representative Edward Acevedo for his dedicated service as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Representative Acevedo as an expression of our respect, esteem, and best wishes.