TITLE: Commending the Honorable Monique D. Davis for her outstanding service as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.

SUMMARY: Commending the Honorable Monique D. Davis for her outstanding service as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Honorable Monique D. Davis retired as the representative for Illinois House District 27 on January 6, 2017, drawing to a close an outstanding career in state government that spanned nearly three decades; and WHEREAS, A native of Chicago, Monique Davis graduated from Calumet High School and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Chicago State University; she went on to teach in the city's public school system for 18 years before becoming an administrator; her engagement with politics began with her work on the campaigns of U.S. Representative Gus Savage and Chicago mayor Harold Washington, and in 1986, she was elected to represent the South Side of Chicago in the Illinois House; and WHEREAS, Over the course of her exemplary 29-year tenure as a state legislator, Representative Davis gained a reputation as a tireless advocate for education through her efforts to increase funding for schools, support local libraries, and improve the infrastructure at Chicago State University, and she led the charge in addressing the HIV crisis plaguing the African American community; she also served on the Public Utilities, Elementary and Secondary Education, Juvenile Justice Reform, and State Government Administration Committees, among many others; and WHEREAS, In 2003, Representative Davis sponsored a bill requiring insurance companies in Illinois to publish all their records from the 19th century pertaining to slaves, making a wealth of genealogical information available to African American families; that same year, she and then-State Senator Barack Obama cosponsored legislation mandating that all interrogations for homicide investigations be videotaped and that the race of all people stopped for traffic violations be recorded in order to help prevent racial profiling; and WHEREAS, Strong in her faith, Representative Davis is a member of Trinity United Church of Christ; retirement will allow her to spend more time with her treasured family, which includes her two children, Robert and Monique; and WHEREAS, Through her dedication, hard work, and commitment to public service, Representative Monique Davis has greatly benefited the people of Illinois and earned the respect and admiration of her fellow legislators, and she may indeed reflect with pride on her record of achievement as an elected official; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Monique D. Davis for her outstanding service as a member of the Illinois Legislature and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ms. Davis as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Dutton Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2144 was adopted by the House on May 25, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House