HR0768 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0768 LRB097 20115 KXB 65494 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are proud to recognize individuals and organizations that have contributed to the welfare of the State of Illinois and its citizens and have distinguished themselves through significant personal achievement; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Linda Renee Baker has held the title of many "firsts" in Illinois government by holding key managerial positions under 3 Illinois governors; and

WHEREAS, During her career in public service, Dr. Baker held positions of increasing responsibility in a variety of State agencies; Dr. Baker served as the first African-American legislative liaison for an Illinois governor; Dr. Baker served as the assistant director of the Department of Public Aid in the mid-1990s; in 1999, Dr. Baker served as director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, opening 4 new Illinois Employment and Training Centers (IETC) during that year; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Baker has been instrumental in working collaboratively with the business community, organized labor, education, local governments, and community based organizations to revamp the State's workforce development system; Dr. Baker worked tirelessly to promote the Governor's vision of an inclusive public-private partnership for workforce development to bring together those in the State who need employees with those who prepare individuals for employment; and

WHEREAS, On January 28, 2000, Governor George H. Ryan named Dr. Baker as the new Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, where she was only the second person to head and the first woman to lead the new super agency after its creation in 1997; and

WHEREAS, As secretary of the Department of Human Services, the State's largest agency, Dr. Baker led and managed a comprehensive human services agency with about 20,000 employees and an annual budget of about $5 billion; the agency provided services in the areas of community health and prevention, mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities and vocational rehabilitation; the agency also directed and implemented the State's nationally-recognized welfare reform efforts; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Baker brought achievement in higher education to her public service, holding a bachelor's and a master's degree in gerontology and health-care administration and public administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS); In 2004, Dr. Baker earned a PhD in public administration from UIS; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Baker and her husband, G. Ronald Roby, are the parents of 2 children; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Baker continued her commitment to public service by joining the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on March 18, 2003, with a focus on expanding access to high-quality health care in partnership with the SIU School of Medicine and helping minorities and people with disabilities realize their full potential; Dr. Baker also teaches a course on leadership for SIU Carbondale; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Dr. Linda Renee Baker for her pioneering achievements in Illinois public service for African-American women; we express gratitude for her hard work and accomplishments as they continue to have a positive impact on the lives of millions of Illinoisans; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Linda Renee Baker as a symbol of our respect and esteem.