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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
Resolution Honoring Congressman Danny K. Davis
WHEREAS, the Honorable Daniel Kendrick Davis, born September 6, 1941, in Parkdale, Arkansas, has served the people of Illinois with unwavering distinction, compassion, and intellectual rigor throughout his decades of public service; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis has maintained a steadfast commitment to education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a Master of Science in Guidance from Chicago State University, and a Doctorate in Public Administration from the Union Institute in Cincinnati, thereby laying a foundation of academic excellence that would inform his future in public leadership; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis began his service to the public as a teacher, community organizer, and health center administrator before rising to elected office, where he served with integrity and vision as a member of the Chicago City Council representing the 29th Ward from 1979 to 1990, and later as a Commissioner on the Cook County Board from 1990 to 1996; and
WHEREAS, in 1996, Congressman Davis was elected to represent Illinois’s Seventh Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, where he would go on to serve fifteen consecutive terms, spanning nearly thirty years and demonstrating unparalleled dedication to legislative advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis has been a fierce proponent of social justice and equity, using his role on the House Ways and Means Committee, particularly as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support, to advance policies that uplift working families, expand access to healthcare, and reduce poverty; and
WHEREAS, his legislative leadership was instrumental in the passage of the Second Chance Act, which has invested over one billion two hundred million dollars to reduce recidivism and promote reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals, reinforcing his belief in rehabilitation and restorative justice; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis has been a consistent champion for accessible and equitable healthcare, supporting provisions in the Affordable Care Act that funded Federally Qualified Health Centers, expanded Medicaid, and created the Community First Choice Option, thereby improving the lives of millions of Americans; and
WHEREAS, he has worked to eliminate disparities in education by securing over three hundred seventy-four million dollars for Predominantly Black Institutions, expanding transparency in academic outcomes, and supporting educational opportunities for youth experiencing homelessness, foster care, or disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis has advocated for economic justice by enhancing the Earned Income Tax Credit, broadening the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, and investing in economically distressed communities, while also fighting for equitable opportunities in small business contracting and workforce development; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis has persistently defended civil liberties, voting rights, and racial equity, while also courageously confronting the epidemic of gun violence, a battle that became deeply personal after the tragic loss of his grandson to gunfire, strengthening his resolve to enact meaningful firearm reform; and
WHEREAS, his distinguished career has garnered numerous accolades including over six honorary doctorate degrees, and his leadership continues to inspire generations of advocates, scholars, and public servants across Cook County and the nation; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis recently announced that he will not seek re-election at the end of his current term, concluding an era of legislative excellence and moral clarity that has served as a beacon of ethical public service;
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, BILL LOWRY, COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF THE 3rd DISTRICT, AND TONI PRECKWINKLE, PRESIDENT OF THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONER, do hereby recognize and commend Congressman Daniel Kendrick Davis for his lifetime of public service, principled leadership, and profound contributions to the residents of Cook County and the United States of America; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Congressman Danny K. Davis as a token of Cook County’s deepest appreciation and enduring respect for his extraordinary legacy. Office of Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry 3rd. District. Dated this ___ day of ______
Sincerely,
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