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1		SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate of the 103rd
3		General Assembly of the State of Illinois learned with great
4		sadness of the death of their colleague and friend, Senator
5		Scott Michael Bennett, on December 9, 2022; and
6		WHEREAS, Senator Bennett was born on July 16, 1977 to Dr.
7		Robert and Barbara Bennett in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where
8		his father was stationed in the U.S. Army; when he was an
9		infant, the family moved to Gibson City, where five
10		generations of his family have worked on their family farm; he
11		graduated from Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School in 1995
12		and then studied history at Illinois State University,
13		graduating in 1998; he then attended law school at the
14		University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduating in 2002;
15		and
16		WHEREAS, Though Senator Bennett could have pursued a
17		high-paying career in corporate law, he returned to his roots
18		and the central Illinois community he treasured, working as an
19		assistant state's attorney in Bloomington-Normal and then in
20		Champaign-Urbana; and
21		WHEREAS, Senator Bennett joined the Senate in 2015 as the
22		unanimous choice to fill the vacancy created when Michael W.

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1		Frerichs was sworn in as the Illinois State Treasurer after
2		serving the 52nd District for eight years; and
3		WHEREAS, Immediately after his appointment to the Senate,
4		Senator Bennett's first act as sitting state senator was to
5		drive to Danville to meet with Vermilion County and Danville
6		officials to discuss how they could work together to spur
7		economic development in the region; and
8		WHEREAS, As the chair of the Senate's Higher Education
9		Committee for the last two years, Senator Bennett fought to
10		provide Illinois' students with the opportunity to be
11		successful; he worked to secure resources for the University
12		of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Parkland College, Danville Area
13		Community College, and all of the State's higher education
14		facilities by advocating for additional funding for need-based
15		tuition assistance, lowering tuition costs and fees, and
16		preventing licensing boards from denying and revoking or
17		suspending individual professional licenses due to student
18		loan default in Illinois; and
19		WHEREAS, Senator Bennett's love for his family farm was
20		evident in the active role he played as the chair of the
21		Agriculture Committee for two years; he even sought a
22		commercial driver's license so he could haul grain in a
23		semi-truck to the area grain elevator from his family's

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1		centennial farm during harvest; he could be found returning
2		calls, participating in weekly team meeting calls, negotiating
3		legislation, and much more in the name of service to the
4		constituents of the 52nd District while waiting for the truck
5		to be loaded; and
6		WHEREAS, Senator Bennett's absence has left a big Scott
7		Bennett-sized hole in our hearts forever; we can honor him by
8		taking the time to find common ground, being kind to our
9		neighbors, and doing our best to leave the world a brighter and
10		more compassionate place; and
11		WHEREAS, Senator Bennett prioritized service above self
12		and deeply cared for the 52nd State Senate District; however,
13		his greatest love was for his family, his wife of 20 years,
14		Stacy, and his children, Sam and Emma, who served as his rock
15		and heart in every action he took; he would often forgo staying
16		in Springfield after long session days to go home and be with
17		his family; and
18		WHEREAS, Senator Bennett dedicated his life to public
19		service and giving back to his community, particularly
20		Champaign and Vermilion counties; and
21		WHEREAS, Senator Bennett believed in the spirit of
22		bipartisanship and providing full representation for all

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1		communities, whether they agreed with him or not, which led to
2		him spending many hours driving between the Champaign-Urbana
3		and the Danville area and throughout the 52nd Legislative
4		District; therefore, be it
5		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
6		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
7		REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate
8		Interstate 74 east of US 45 in Champaign-Urbana to the Indiana
9		border as the "Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial Highway"; and
10		be it further
11		RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
12		is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
13		State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
14		giving notice of the name "Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial
15		Highway"; and be it further
16		RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
17		presented to the family of Senator Bennett, his wife of 20
18		years, former Senator Stacy Bennett, and his children, Sam and
19		Emma, as an expression of our sincerest condolences for the
20		loss of their loved one and our dear friend.