Bill Text: IL HR1386 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honors Representative Renee Kosel on her years of service to the State of Illinois.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 3)

Status: (Passed) 2014-12-03 - Resolution Adopted [HR1386 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HR1386-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are pleased to honor our friend and colleague,
Illinois State Representative Ren�e Kosel, for her years of
dedicated service to the people of the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel earned her bachelor's degree
in education from Western Illinois University; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel enjoyed a career as a school
teacher in both Chicago and New Lenox, where she gained a keen
understanding of the Illinois education system and the need for
improvement; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel and her husband, Dr. Alfred
Kosel, are long-time residents of New Lenox and have 3
children, Janine Valkema, Christopher, and Eric; she and her
husband have been blessed with 9 grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel has been an active member of
her community working towards its betterment, having served on
the Lincoln-Way Central High School Board of Education and
served on the Lincoln-Way Foundation for Educational
Excellence Board of Directors; and

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WHEREAS, Representative Kosel and her husband are members
of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Lenox, and she is a member of
the New Lenox Rotary Club; she currently serves with the
Advocate Christ Medical Center Cancer Institute Foundation
Board, the Alliance of the Illinois State Dental Society, and
the Illinois State Rifle Association; she is also a past member
of the Frankfort, Homer Township, Mokena, and New Lenox
Chambers of Commerce, and is a current member of the Mokena
Woman's Club; additionally, she serves as a member of Advocate
Christ Medical Center Governing Council, serving as Chair from
2007 to 2009 and currently serving as Vice-Chair; she also
serves as a Scholarship America Advisory Board member; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel was first elected to serve as
State Representative on November 5, 1996, taking office in
January of 1997; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel served as Assistant
Republican Leader during her tenure, bringing the voice of her
legislative district to the forefront of important issues; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel honorably represented the
people of New Lenox, Mokena, Tinley Park, Frankfort, Homer
Glen, Joliet, Lockport, and Orland Park; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel served with distinction on

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many committees, caucuses, and task forces, including Tollway
Oversight, Health Care Licenses, International Trade &
Commerce, and Executive Committees, and as Republican
Spokesperson for the Museums, Arts, & Cultural Enhancement
Committee; she was a member of the Illinois Historic
Preservation Caucus, the Local Government Caucus, the
Environmental Legislative Caucus, the Fire Prevention Caucus,
the Manufacturing Caucus, the Education Caucus, the Illinois
House Special Committee on the Illinois State Toll Highway
Authority, the Tax Relief Task Force, the Gambling Reform Task
Force, the Education Task Force, the Project Success Oversight
Committee, the Teacher Health Insurance Funding Task Force, the
Jobs Creation Task Force, the Oral Health Summit Steering
Committee, the Illinois-Liaoning (China) Sister State
Committee, the House Republican Education Working Group, and
the American Legislative Exchange Council Public Safety and
Elections Task Force; and
WHEREAS, During much of the 2000 to 2010 decade,
Representative Kosel's district was one of the fastest-growing
suburban areas in the United States, leading to major
challenges for her and her office; she rose to the occasion and
successfully met the needs of a rapidly-growing constituency;
and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel always put the wishes of her

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legislative district first by being a fierce advocate for
fiscal responsibility, consistently voting to balance the
State budget and hold the line on taxes to protect the citizens
of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel has received many awards
during her years in office, including the American Legislative
Exchange Council Legislator of the Year in 2008, the ARC of
Illinois Legislator of the Year, the Illinois Home Health Care
Council Legislator of the Year, the Advocates United Legislator
of the Year in 1999 and 2003, the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce
Legislator of the Year, the Illinois Farm Bureau's Friend of
Agriculture in 2002, 2006, and 2010, the Employment Law
Council's Job Defenders Award, the South Suburban Park &
Recreation Professional Association's Legislator of the Year
in 2002, the Illinois Association for Career and Technical
Education 2005 Friend of Career and Technical Education, and
both the Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Champion of Free
Enterprise Award and Champion of Small Business Award; and
WHEREAS, Representative Kosel has worked tirelessly for
the residents of her legislative district, sponsoring key
pieces of legislation during her tenure, including a tax rebate
for homeowners, expanding the Circuit Breaker Program, the
"Bill of Rights" for property owners, and a waiting list bill
for the disabled; and

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WHEREAS, Representative Kosel has always placed education
as her highest legislative priority; she fought for increased
funding for our local schools and sponsored initiatives to
improve school safety and reduce classroom sizes; she sponsored
legislation to reform School Superintendents' retirement plans
and was instrumental in enacting the School Construction
Program; and
WHEREAS, During her 18 years in the Illinois House of
Representatives, Representative Kosel served as the Chief
Sponsor and Co-Sponsor on countless bills that have improved
the lives of those living within her legislative district and
the State of Illinois; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we honor our friend and colleague Illinois State Representative
Ren�e Kosel for her years of dedicated service to the people of
this great State and wish her great success and happiness in
her future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Representative Kosel and her family as a symbol of
our esteem, respect, and gratitude.