H.R. No. 2144
R E S O L U T I O N
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