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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION


2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to mark Black History Month by 
4congratulating Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch 
5for his continued service as the leader of the chamber and for 
6his historic election as the first Black lawmaker to hold this 
7position in the state's 200-plus-year history; and

8    WHEREAS, Speaker Welch was re-elected as Speaker of the 
9House in both 2023 and 2025, continuing his leadership in 
10shaping Illinois' legislative agenda; and

11    WHEREAS, Speaker Welch has been an advocate for diversity 
12and inclusion; he championed legislation requiring 
13Illinois-based corporations to disclose the racial and gender 
14composition of their boards and led a comprehensive study on 
15improving representation of women and minorities in leadership 
16roles; and

17    WHEREAS, Speaker Welch's commitment to workers' rights is 
18deeply personal; growing up in the Chicago suburbs, he saw 
19firsthand how his father's union job was lost when it moved to 
20a right-to-work state; this experience fueled his efforts as 
21an elected official to defend collective bargaining rights, 
22ultimately leading to the adoption of the Workers' Rights 
 
 
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1Amendment in the Illinois State Constitution; and

2    WHEREAS, Education has also been a key priority for 
3Speaker Welch; before serving in the legislature, he spent 12 
4years on the Proviso Township High School Board of Education, 
5including a decade as board chair; under his leadership, the 
6district established the Proviso Math and Science Academy, 
7which is now one of Illinois' top selective enrollment public 
8schools serving communities of color and has been recognized 
9by U.S. News & World Report for its excellence; and

10    WHEREAS, Speaker Welch continues to lead with a vision of 
11expanding opportunity, strengthening workers' rights, and 
12fostering a more inclusive and equitable Illinois; therefore, 
13be it

14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
15HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
16we celebrate the chapter of Black History written here in this 
17House by recognizing the historic speakership of Emanuel 
18"Chris" Welch; and be it further

19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to Speaker Welch as a symbol of our esteem and 
21respect.