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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION DECLARING JUNE 5TH AS ILLINOIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER GREG HARRIS DAY IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, Illinois State Representative and House Majority Leader Greg Harris of the 13th District has served the people of the State of Illinois since 2006; and
WHEREAS, Leader Harris was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2006 and will retire from his seat in 2023 having served for 16 years; and
WHEREAS, Leader Harris received a Bachelors Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and started his career working for social service agencies; and
WHEREAS, Leader Harris went on to serve in several Senior Management roles for the National Home Furnishings Association; and
WHEREAS, Leader Harris served the people of the 48th Ward and City of Chicago for 14 years as Chief of Staff for Alderman Mary Ann Smith; and
WHEREAS, Leader Harris was elected as State Representative of the 13th District in 2006 carrying on the legacy of his predecessor, the first openly gay person to serve in the Illinois House of Representatives, Larry McKeon; and
WHEREAS, Leader Harris, similar to his predecessor, served as openly gay and was open about being HIV-positive and fought relentlessly for the rights of LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV; and
WHEREAS, he has dedicated his career to advocating for mental health and substance abuse issues, addressing the needs of Illinois’s homeless and at-risk youth, comprehensive breast cancer services, marriage equality, trans issues, protecting people with disabilities, nursing home quality, and affordable, accessible healthcare; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, Leader Harris committed his whole self to serving as the lead sponsor and passing the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act which secured marriage equality in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, he served as the chief budgeteer for many years in the Illinois House of Representatives and was critical to passing budgets during his time in the House; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, Leader Harris was named House Majority Leader becoming the first LGTBQ+ person to serve in Illinois Legislative Leadership; and
WHEREAS, Leader Harris has been recognized with awards by countless non-profit and social service organizations and serves on the Honorary Boards of Interfaith Ministry for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Apna Ghar Domestic Violence Shelter; and
WHEREAS, Cook County and the Cook County Board of Commissioners have had the honor of working with Majority Leader Harris and he has been a reliable, committed public servant for the people of Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Leader Harris is an enthusiast of celebrating national holidays and observances and it is only fitting that he himself has now earned an honorary holiday dedicated to him and his service commemorated on his birthday; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby honor Illinois State Representative and House Majority Leader Greg Harris of the 13th District for his commitment to public service by declaring June 5th as Illinois State Representative and House Majority Leader Greg Harris Day in Cook County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution are presented to State Representative and House Majority Leader Greg Harris.
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