"The hour of 1:00 having arrived, the House will be in order. The Members will be in their seats. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn off all cell phones and pagers, and rise for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. We shall be led in prayer today by Reverend Steve Willis, who is the pastor at First Baptist Church in Newton. Reverend Willis is the guest of Representative Reis."
"Let us pray. Almighty God, I pray that You will direct the efforts of this group of individuals who have been chosen from our populace to represent us and make decisions in our stead. Help them to remember their accountability to You and to others as they go about their endeavors. I am grateful for their willingness to be here to tirelessly devote themselves to the task of working for the betterment of our lives. Help them to act confidently in spite of criticism, courageously in spite of their fears, and creatively in spite of the safety of the status quo. I am grateful for their selflessness, their dedication, their intellect, and their discernment. Guide their discussions, superintend in the process that they follow to bring about needed change, guard their hearts and their minds, and bless their lives. In Your name. Amen."
"And Representative McAuliffe, will you lead us in the Pledge."
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." 09500238.doc 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008
Speaker Hannig: "Roll Call for Attendance. Representative Lang."
"Thank you. Democrats excused today, Mr. Speaker, are Rich Bradley, Representatives Joyce and Washington."
"And Representative Bost."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let the record reflect that Representative Kosel, Schock, and Watson are excused today on the Republican side of the aisle."
"Mr. Clerk, take the record. There are 111 Members answering the Roll Call, a quorum is present. Representative Black, for what reason do you rise?"
"Mr. Speaker, a point of personal privilege, if I might."
"State your point."
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I know that you'll want to join me in congratulating Speaker Madigan on becoming a grandfather yesterday. And I trust that his daughter, Lisa, and his new granddaughter are both doing fine. So, congratulations to Speaker Madigan, who I will only call grandfather if he says it's all right and it was quite a St. Patrick's Day president… present for Speaker Madigan. Congratulations, Mr. Speaker."
"Representative Bellock."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I'd ask all the Members of the House of Representatives to look up into the balcony and give a warm welcome to Jeana and Wally from my district and all the members from the Multiple Sclerosis Society from all over the state, who came down to advocate this week for their issues. They're up in the balcony." 09500238.doc 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008
Speaker Hannig: "Welcome to Springfield. Representative Jakobsson, for what reason do you rise?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on a point of personal privilege."
"State your point."
"I would like to join the House… I would like to have the Members of the House join me in welcoming Rick Williams and the Judah Christian School junior class… the junior civics class. They've come here to see how we do things. They're to my right, over there. Give them a warm welcome, please."
"Representative Ryg, for what reason do you rise?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"State you point."
"Thank you. I'd like to ask my colleagues in the General Assembly also to welcome the members of the Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois. They're also here on their advocacy day and want to remind us that March is Hemophilia Awareness Month. Last year they were here to help us reestablish the Hemophilia Advisory Review Board. We appreciate their advocacy efforts and they have asked me to extend an invitation to all Members to rely on them as experts who are willing to share their stories and help us move our health care agenda forward in the State of Illinois. We welcome them to the State Capitol."
"Welcome to Springfield. Mr. Clerk, read the Committee Reports." 09500238.doc 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008
"Committee Reports. Representative Fritchey, Chairperson from the Committee on Judiciary I-Civil Law, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 12, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4507, House Bill 4869, House Bill 5888, House Bill 5126, House Bill 5157, House Bill 5513, House Bill 5519; 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 838, House Bill 4543, House Bill 5037, House Bill 5070, House Bill 5121, House Bill 5188, House Bill 5189, House Bill 5489, House Bill 5503, House Bill 5578, House Bill 5599, House Bill 5980; 'recommends be adopted as amended' is House Joint Resolution 91. Representative Hoffman, Chairperson from the Committee on Transportation & Motor Vehicles, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 12, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 5108. Representative Scully, Chairperson from the Committee on Electric Utility Oversight, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 12, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 5576. Representative D'Amico, Chairperson from the Committee on Drivers Education & Safety, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 12, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4861; 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4221. Representative Flowers, 09500238.doc 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 Chairperson from the Committee on Health Care Availability & Access, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4303, House Bill 4449, House Bill 4602, House Bill 4620, House Bill 4634, House Bill 4699, House Bill 4943, House Bill 5193, and House Bill 5865; 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 953, and House Bill 5497. Representative Colvin, Chairperson from the Committee on Consumer Protection, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4743; 'do pass Standard Debate' is House Bill 5750; 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4635, House Bill 4769, House Bill 5311, and House Bill 5314. Representative Berrios, Chairperson from the Committee on Bio-Technology, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4881. Representative Nekritz, Chairperson from the Committee on Elections & Campaign Reform, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Standard Debate' is House Bill 5263; 'do pass Short Debate' is Senate Bill 439, House Bill 5074, and House Bill 5278. Representative Moffitt, Chairperson from the Committee on Fire Protection, to which the following 09500238.doc 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4675, House Bill 4678; 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4645; 'recommends be adopted as amended' is House Resolution 1059. Representative Mautino, Chairperson from the Committee on Insurance, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4647, House Bill 4824, House Bill 4836, House Bill 4940, House Bill 4941, House Bill 5102, House Bill 5124, House Bill 5286, House Bill 5595, House Bill 5670. Representative Soto, Chairperson from the Committee on Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 1874, House Bill 5350, House Bill 5764. Representative May, Chairperson from the Committee on Environmental Health, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4310, House Bill 5348, and House Bill 5773. Representative Hoffman, Chairperson from the Committee on Transportation & Motor Vehicles, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the following back with the same recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' House Joint 09500238.doc 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 Resolution 108; 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4694, House Bill 5494, House Bill 5907; 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 5536, and House Bill 5912. Representative Collins, Chairperson from the Committee on Public Utilities, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 5086, and House Bill 5664. Representative Reitz, Chairperson from the Committee on Agriculture & Conservation, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 11, 2008, reported the following back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' House Bill 4251, House Bill 5860, House Bill 5940, and House Bill 5978; 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 5205; 'recommends be adopted' is House Joint Resolution 90. Referred to the House Committee on Rules, is House Resolution 1080, offered by Representive May. Representative Smith, Chairperson from the Committee on Elementary & Secondary Education, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on March 12, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4229, House Bill 4252, House Bill 4771, House Bill 5669, House Bill 5732, House Bill 5914, House Bill 5970; 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 1054, House Bill 4266, House Bill 4437, House Bill 4442, House Bill 4537, House Bill 4642, House Bill 4900, House Bill 4913, House Bill 5038, House Bill 5077, House Bill 5325, House Bill 09500238.doc 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 5399, and House Bill 5621; 'recommends be adopted' House Resolution 994; 'recommends be adopted as amended' is House Joint Resolution 76."
"Representative Will Davis, for what reason do you rise?" Davis, W.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"State your point." Davis, W.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen of the chamber, I'd like for you to stand with me or applaud and welcome representatives from the south suburbs that are standing right above my left shoulder here who are visiting today with Action for Children in their lobbying efforts. Please give them a great round of applause. Thank you."
"Representative Stephens, for what reason do you rise?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I could have the attention of the Body. On behalf of Representative Cross, Minority Leader Cross, we want to announce that Michelle in Tom's office back here is putting together a care package for Representative Jim Watson and with that in mind we're asking each Member if you want to send a note or a letter to Jim, we can put it in this care package, but I think maybe we should expand it a little bit. One of the things that Jim is doing is working with the local officials that are putting together their government, as we speak. And in that vein he comes into contact with a lot of civilians. There are children there that need everything from books to write in, crayons for the younger children, a sporting 09500238.doc 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 item. Maybe you want to send a soccer ball along. We could manage that. We'll squeeze the air out of it and Jim can pump it up with his hot air when he gets over there. If you want to send Jim a CD or a DVD, a book, a magazine, but why don’t we try to expand this so that he can reach out to the villagers that he's working with on a daily basis and give the kids a break over there. So, if you'll see Michelle in Tom's office, this is being led by Leader Cross, and he's going to take care of all the postage, so let's take advantage of it."
"If we could have your attention for just a few moments. We have a special guest that we're going to have speak to the House. Representative Monique Davis is going to introduce her. Representative Davis." Davis, M.: "Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In honor of the culmination of African-American History Month, in honor of women… the beginning of Women's Month, we want to introduce Vernice Armour. She has been featured on Oprah Winfrey, CNN, Tavis Smiley, National Public Radio, and many other places. Her story she will tell herself. She is Captain Vernice Armour. Welcome her."
"Thank you very much. Standing here in this historic building right now for Women's History month means so much. Number one, being a native of Chicago, Illinois. Number two, being a woman in this awesome country and standing on so many shoulders like, Representative Davis, Representative Howard, Dr. Carol Adams, that are responsible for me being able to visit you here today, it makes me proud because I didn't do this by myself. I 09500238.doc 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 didn't get here by myself and I'm not going anywhere by myself. So teamwork is absolutely the fabric that you embody here in this building, working together as a team every day. So, thanks for even allowing me to come in here and share these words with you. As Dr. Adams was bringing me in she showed me the rail. The rail outside where the lobbyists are. Now, a few months ago I was speaking to a young girl, she was about nine (9) years old, and this is in Washington, D.C. We were at my aunt's house, and I always ask the young ones, what do they want to do when they grow up? But I always follow it up with a question, well, how do you get there? I didn't even get there with this one. I said, 'what do you want to do when you grow up?' She says, with that look in her eye and she folds her arms, 'I want to be a lobbyist.' I said, 'A lobbyist? What does a lobbyist do?' And looking at me as if I should know, which I should, but I really wanted to know does she know. She said, 'Well, you go downtown and you talk to people.' The key here, how did she even know about being a lobbyist? Her father. Her father was a lobbyist. So, right there at that salient moment, role models, mentors, and leaders are so, so very important. When I was four (4) years old in Chicago, Illinois, I wanted to be a police officer who rode a horse downtown, the mounted patrol. Now I did go on to become that police officer and I rode a Harley downtown, so you could say it's a steel horse, right? But while I was in college, I joined the Army ROTC rifle team and became involved in Army ROTC. In the summer of 1994 on a hot summer day, I saw a black female in a 09500238.doc 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 flight suit and I said, wow, that is awesome. That is… why didn't I think of that? Now she planted a very strong seed. Now I went on to become a police officer and ride that motorcycle but I never forgot the image of that woman in that flight suit. I don't know her name, I don't know who she was, I don't know where she is to this day, but she is the reason I'm standing here in front of you right now. And I call it the tangibility of the possibility. She could touch me, she could talk to me. I could touch her, I could talk to her. She made it real. It wasn't on TV, it wasn't in a book, it was real for me. And again, that's the importance of what I do now. People ask me, why did I get out of the Marine Corps? You were such a role model; you were the first this and first that. And I said, yes, I could have stayed in and I could have aspired to, you know, go up the ranks, as you say, but I felt that would have been almost the most selfish act to do it for me when I can be out here touching lives every day and making it real for those students that the group above us is lobbying for. For those students I saw standing out there at the rail that are here in the State's Capitol trying to effect change. Leadership is the fabric, teamwork is the fabric, and just the fact that it's Women's History Month and I'm able to be a part, just a little part of our nation and world's history, is an amazing blessing. I believe that we all have a passion. We were talking about passion up here a little earlier. We all have a passion. It's something we came to this earth with us. Deep down inside it's itching to get out. If we don't do it, we don't all the 09500238.doc 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 way feel complete. We have to do it. How do we share our passion with others? Because I believe that was the gift that you were sent to this earth with. How do we share it with everyone in this room, everyone on this planet? And I believe that's the purpose in the passion. And after that you have to take the positive steps to get there. I'm standing on some mighty shoulders. Some mighty shoulders helped me get to where I am today. My… I have to prepare my shoulders for the next generation, but more than that I have to show the next generation how to prepare their shoulders for the next generation, so the next generation can prepare their shoulders for the next generation. It just keeps going around and it's awesome. It's leaving a legacy. And it's all about the family, the village, the team and you're the team that is making our state function. About the war in Iraq, I get a lot of questions on this, 'How do you feel about the war? How do you feel about Iraq? How do you feel about our President, he sent you over there?' I said, you know what, when I was over there in Iraq I wasn't thinking about policies that were made over here or the decisions that are made over here. I'm thinking about those men and women who are on the ground risking their lives every day for me, my mom and dad, my family, everyone in this room. If we stopped in the middle of a mission to think about what decision is being made on the Hill, that's the precise moment when lives are at stake. I would just like to share one mission with you. We were in a cemetery. We were at the end of our on- station time and we got the call, 'Viper, we need you in 09500238.doc 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 the north of the cemetery. We have Marines and soldiers pinned down and they don’t have any ammunition to shoot back with.' We got to the north of the cemetery as fast as we could, contacted the Marines on the ground. They said, 'Viper, we're in the middle of the cemetery, no ammunition, pinned down. We don't even have any green smoke to mark our position with. Let us know when you see our mirror flash.' Viper's contact, 'Viper, do you see that road in front of us running east to west? Follow it to the west.' Viper's contact. 'Viper, when you see the road running north and south, follow it to the south.' Viper's contact. 'Viper, you're going to come to a building with a tower coming out of it with a blue dome at the top. Call when you're contact that building. Break right. Break right.' Right then I called a break right 'cause small arms fire were now shooting at us trying to take us out of the sky. We circled back around, popped up, acquired the target. I looked down at my sight unit waiting to get in range our very last missile, I pull the trigger. Nothing happened. I re-sighted in, made sure everything was set up; I pulled the trigger one more time, one last time, because we'd be out of range and have to pull off. One point five (1.5) seconds later missile came off the rail, impacted the target. Jason in the back seat followed up with all twenty- six (26) rockets. We pulled off to the right, I covered with guns, a Huey behind us covered everybody. We got back to base, we went in. I said, the Marines and soldiers, what happened? They said, 'Ma'am, they were able to carry on with the mission. The target was destroyed.' Now fast 09500238.doc 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 forward six (6) months later. I'm back at Camp Pendleton in the hospital just for a routine check up and I'm doing what I love to do, it's my passion, talking. I said, 'Hey Marine, how you doing? What's going on?' 'Well ma'am, I'm just here for some physical therapy.' 'Physical therapy? What happened?' 'Well ma'am, I have some shrapnel in my left leg, IED on a convoy.' I was like, 'Oh, wow. When were you deployed?' He said, 'Iraq, eleventh MU.' I said, 'Wait a minute. I was in Iraq. I was on the eleventh MU, I was your Cobra Air Support. He was like, 'Aw Ma'am, we were in the cemetery, we were pinned down, we called in for Cobra Air Support. A Cobra came in, shot a missile, destroyed the target…' And at this point I'm thinking, oh wow, sounds like that same mission. Paired it up. Same mission, same day, same missile. I was the pilot that shot the missile. And we are whooping, hollering, yelling and we are not in the psych ward, yet. And then he just stopped and he stood there and he looked at me. He said, 'Ma'am, you saved my life. We're a team. Oorah. Thank you. And I don't say that to impress you, but I say that to impress upon you that what you're doing here is making a difference. The lives that we're fighting for is making a difference. The youth that we're fighting for is making a difference. I'm not on the battlefield in Iraq, I'm on a different battlefield now, and I think it's even more important. It's our future. So, thank you. It is leadership. It is teamwork. And we're looking for that positive society. What's your passion? What's the purpose 09500238.doc 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 in it? What are the positive steps that you have to take, 'cause we're leaving a legacy. Thank you."
"Before you depart, we have a Resolution we'd like to read and adopt here as part of our House records. So, Mr. Clerk, would you read the Resolution."
Clerk Mahoney: "House Joint Resolution 115, offered by Representative Monique Davis. WHEREAS, State Representative Monique D. Davis and the members of the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate are pleased to welcome Vernice Armour as she speaks in honor of Women's History Month; and WHEREAS, She was born in Chicago in 1973 and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee; in 1991, she graduated from John Overton High School for Creative and Performing Arts, where she was very active in the music program, class Vice President, and a member of Mu Alpha Theta (the mathematics honor society) and The National Honor Society; and WHEREAS, Vernice marched in the military boot steps of both her dad, Clarence Jackson, a former Marine, who married Vernice's mother, Authurine, and her father, Gaston C. Armour Jr. of Chicago, a retired major in the U.S. Army Reserves; in 1993, the future combat pilot enlisted in the Army Reserves and a few months later joined the Army ROTC program while enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU); during an Army ROTC career day, the seed of becoming a pilot was planted when Vernice saw the image of a young black female in an Army flight suit; "Now why didn't I think of that," was her first thought; from this 09500238.doc 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 experience, Vernice knows the power of an "image" and a positive role model; and WHEREAS, In June of 1996, after a brief stint as a Nashville Sheriff's Department Correction Officer, Vernice took additional time off from college to accept an invitation to the Nashville Police Academy and graduated as a police officer in December 1996; Vernice was the second woman and first African American woman on the Nashville Police Department's motorcycle squad; and WHEREAS, She graduated from MTSU in December of 1997 with her B.S. in Physical Education: Emphasis in Exercise Science; in 1998 Vernice was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on December 12, 1998 and on her way to flight school; and WHEREAS, When Vernice earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot ranked No. 1 out her class of 12 and of the last 200 to graduate from flight school; as the top graduate, she made the Naval Air Station's prestigious Commodore's List, received the Academic Achievement Award, and subsequently made history as the Marine Corps first African-American female pilot; and WHEREAS, After flight school, Vernice was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, California, and honed her skills piloting the famed AH-1 W Super Cobra; she was named Camp Pendleton's 2001 Female Athlete of the Year, two-time titleholder in Camp Pendleton's annual Strongest Warrior Competition, and was a running back for the San Diego Sunfire women's professional football team; and 09500238.doc 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008 WHEREAS, One of the few and the proud, during the start of the war in March 2003, United States Marine Corps captain Armour was one of 1,500 female Marines in the Persian Gulf fighting to dismantle the regime of Saddam Hussein in Operation Iraqi Freedom; during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Vernice flew above the deserts of Iraq in her missile-equipped attack helicopter, engaging the enemy and scouting the roads from her cockpit, making sure they were safe for her fellow Marines and soldiers on the ground; she has completed 2 combat tours of duty in the Gulf; and WHEREAS, With her departure out of the Marine Corps in June 2007, Vernice continues to pursue her passions as an author, professional speaker, and trainer; addressing professional organizations, businesses, and schools, she emphasizes leadership, pursuing your passion in life, education, and taking positive steps to reach goals; 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 we congratulate Vernice Armour for her many accomplishments and thank her for speaking to the Illinois House of Representatives; and be it further RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Vernice Armour as a symbol of our respect and esteem."
"Representative Monique Davis." Davis, M.: "I move that we… we adopt, or we accept, or pass House Joint Resolution 115 and also ask that all Members of this Body be added to the Resolution, Mr. Speaker." 09500238.doc 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008
Speaker Hannig: "I have all Members added, Representative. Representative Black, do you have some remarks?"
"Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I just want thank Captain Armour for her service. I attended a reception not long ago at the Chanute Aerospace Museum that's located in my district at a reception for the Tuskegee Airmen. And some of the original members of the Tuskegee Airmen were there. Obviously, they are well into their eighties. And I will know that we have indeed made progress in this country as we certainly have represented here today by Captain Armour, but I know we'll really have made progress when we no longer have to say the adjectives: female pilot or African-American pilot. We'll be free just to say a United States Marine Corp pilot. Captain, thank you very much for your service."
"Representative Monique Davis moves for the adoption of the Resolution. All in favor say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is adopted. Clerk, read the Agreed Resolutions."
Clerk Bolin: "Agreed Resolutions. House Resolution 1079, offered by Representative Watson. House Resolution 1081, offered by Representative John Bradley. House Resolution 1083, offered by Representative Berrios."
"Representative Currie moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. All in favor say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. The Agreed Resolutions are adopted. Clerk, would you read the committee schedule for the afternoon." 09500238.doc 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 238th Legislative Day 3/12/2008
"The following committees will meet immediately upon adjournment: The Executive Committee, which had previously been recessed, will meet at 1:45 in Room 118, the Local Government Committee will meet at 1:45 in Room 114, the State Government Committee will meet in Room D-1, Stratton, Registration & Regulation Committee in C-1, Stratton, Tollway Oversight in Room 122B, and the Judiciary I-Civil Law Committee, which had previously been recessed, will meet at 1:45 in Room 115. At 2:00 the Human Services Committee, which had previously been recessed, will meet in Room 115 and at 2:00 the Labor Committee will meet in Room 118. At 3:00 the following committees will meet: Gaming, Housing & Urban Development, and International Trade & Commerce. At 4:00 the Disability Services Committee will meet in Room C-1. At 4:30 the following committees will meet: Appropriations-General Services in Room 118, Juvenile Justice Reform in Room 115, and Higher Education in Room 122-B. At 5:00 two (2) committees will meet: the Appropriation-Public Safety Committee in Room 114, also at 5:00 the Environmental & Energy Committee in Room D-1."
"Are there any announcements? Then allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, Representative Currie moves that the House stand adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, March 13, at the hour of 2 p.m. All in favor say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. The Motion is adopted and the House stands adjourned." 09500238.doc 19