Bill Text: IL HR0343 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges the Governor to establish and appoint members to a Commission on the Status of Women to address economic and health care related issues impacting women in the State.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 8-3)

Status: (Passed) 2009-05-30 - Resolution Adopted 116-001-000 [HR0343 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HR0343-Introduced.html

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HR0343 LRB096 12599 RLJ 25960 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, During the last several decades, women have made
tremendous progress in Illinois and the United States toward
gaining economic and social equality; and
WHEREAS, Women enjoy several safeguards against
discrimination, a high level of economic security, and
substantial protections against violence and exploitation; and
WHEREAS, Despite this significant progress, the State must
continue to ensure that women enjoy opportunities for equality,
health care, safety, economic security, and career
development; and
WHEREAS, Women continue to earn less wages than men; women
are less likely to own a business and more likely to live in
poverty than men; gender based economic disparities abound
regionally in Illinois, and, even more profoundly, race and
ethnicity continue to shape women's economic opportunities;
and
WHEREAS, Women constitute a growing segment in our nation's
economy; businesses owned and managed primarily by women
contribute approximately $2.46 billion to the nation's economy
and employ more than 19 million Americans; and

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WHEREAS, In 2006, the last year of available data, Illinois
women-owned businesses numbered 285,000, representing 29.7
percent of the State's businesses; and
WHEREAS, Educational achievement is foundational to
economic opportunity for women and provides women with access
to good-paying and technology based jobs in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, The State needs to (1) be proactive in educating
the next generation of women in the fields of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics, (2) create
incentives for all Illinois citizens to obtain a postsecondary
education, and (3) increase workforce development
opportunities, particularly for women who are underrepresented
in the higher education population; and
WHEREAS, Women's health issues need to be prioritized to
help prevent, diagnose, and treat illnesses commonly suffered
by women including heart disease, ovarian cancer, cervical
cancer, breast cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and
WHEREAS, Nationwide heart disease is the number one cause
of fatality in women; one in five females has some form of
heart or blood vessel disease; approximately 42,540 Illinois

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citizens, about half of whom are women, will die of
cardiovascular disease; and 38 percent of women die within a
year after having a heart attack, as compared to 25 percent of
men; and
WHEREAS, Illinois is at the forefront of preventative
health care for women, but gender specific research and
technological efforts should be escalated to make certain our
progress continues; and
WHEREAS, In 2004, the Governor's Commission of the Status
of Women, created by an Executive Order in 1999, was abolished
in favor of the creation of the Governor's Office of Women's
Affairs; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Women's Affairs has been effective
in disseminating information on State agency programs,
advocating for legislation affecting women and their families,
and serving as an information center on government services,
private services, and resources available to women; however, a
strategic planning process should be set up in the State on
behalf of women and their families; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
urge Governor Pat Quinn to establish and appoint members to a

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Commission on the Status of Women in order to continue progress
on issues impacting women in the State of Illinois; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Governor urge the Commission to focus
its efforts on helping women attain economic independence,
lifelong equality, health care, safety, and career development
opportunities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the Governor of the State of Illinois.