HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

23

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

acknowledging and honoring senator toi hutchinson and william t. pound for their dedicated efforts in support of the national conference of state legislatures.

 

 

 


WHEREAS, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) was established in 1975 to serve as a single nationwide organization to support state legislatures, facilitate better relationships and dialogue between state and federal policymakers, and strengthen our country's representative democracy; and

 

     WHEREAS, the success that NCSL has enjoyed would not have been possible without the outstanding contributions of purpose-minded individuals such as SENATOR TOI HUTCHINSON and WILLIAM T. POUND who have been committed to carrying out its mission; and

 

     WHEREAS, SENATOR TOI HUTCHINSON has earned a strong reputation as a highly effective public servant representing the people of Illinois' 40th Senate District; and

 

WHEREAS, since joining the Illinois State Senate in 2009, SENATOR TOI HUTCHINSON has worked tirelessly to modernize Illinois’ antiquated tax structure, protect women and children from violence and exploitation, and support construction projects that create jobs while also maintaining Illinois’ position as an international transportation hub; and

 

WHEREAS, SENATOR TOI HUTCHINSON helped pass laws safeguarding pregnant women in the workplace from discrimination, teamed with Attorney General Lisa Madigan to make Illinois the first state in the nation to pass a law mandating the testing of all rape kits within ten days of obtaining evidence, and passed a law to increase the penalty for financially exploiting seniors and people with disabilities; and

     WHEREAS, as Chair of the Senate Revenue Committee, SENATOR TOI HUTCHINSON has also introduced legislation to close corporate tax loopholes and passed a law increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit as well as the standard tax exemption, allowing working families to keep more of their hard-earned money; and

 

     WHEREAS, as a mother of three children who attended public schools, SENATOR TOI HUTCHINSON has placed a high importance on improving public education in Illinois; she herself is a proud graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and went on to earn a law degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law; and

 

     WHEREAS, in addition to her work as an elected official, SENATOR TOI HUTCHINSON has also been an influential member of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), devoting her many talents and energy into helping NCSL fulfill its mission of advocating on behalf of state legislatures and providing state policymakers with the tools and resources to innovate and improve; and

 

     WHEREAS, renowned for her outstanding leadership skills, SENATOR TOI HUTCHINSON was elected as the new President of NCSL at the 2018 Legislative Summit; and

 

     WHEREAS, WILLIAM T. POUND has dedicated his life to making the mission and goals of NCSL a reality, having served with the organization since its founding and contributing enormously to the development of many of its innovative programs and services; and

 

     WHEREAS, having received his bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Denver, WILLIAM T. POUND completed a U.S. Department of Interior fellowship with the Special Program, Water Resources Management, University of Wisconsin, and also taught political science at the University of Colorado, University of Denver, and Colorado State University; and

WHEREAS, throughout his 43-year career at NCSL, including 31 years as its Executive Director, WILLIAM T. POUND has researched and written extensively on state legislatures, the legislative process, and fiscal and public finance issues, and has spoken to both national and international audiences on topics including state fiscal conditions, public policy issues, activities of state legislatures, and the status of America's federalist system of governance; and

 

WHEREAS, WILLIAM T. POUND has led the way in expanding the reach of NCSL, which currently plays a pivotal role in supporting and educating policymakers and staff at the state level through a comprehensive approach that includes annual meetings and training sessions, research services to address the pressing issues facing the nation, and lobbying efforts aimed at providing state legislatures a stronger voice in Washington, D.C.; and

 

     WHEREAS, after devoting over four decades of his life to NCSL, WILLIAM T. POUND has recently announced his upcoming retirement; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, that this body hereby commends and congratulates SENATOR TOI HUTCHINSON on her election as the President of NCSL and recognizes WILLIAM T. POUND for his lifetime of contributions in support of NCSL and extends to them its warmest aloha and best wishes for success in all future endeavors.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Honoring Senator Toi Hutchinson and William T. Pound