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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Adult education has the power to transform the 
3national economy and local family budgets; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, There are 39 million adults who do not have a high 
5school diploma; high school dropouts cost the United States 
6$1.8 billion annually; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Adults who earn a General Educational Development 
8(GED) credential can earn the same level of weekly wages as 
9high school graduates, increasing their earning potential by 
10about $115 per week; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, If the number of dropouts among Americans at the 
12age of 20 was cut in half, the United States would gain $45 
13billion in tax revenues and lower costs for health, jail, and 
14welfare; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, In 2012, the unemployment rate for high school 
16dropouts was 12.4%, while high school graduates were at 8.3%, 
17those with some college but no degree at 7.7%, those with an 
18associate degree at 6.2%, those with a bachelor degree at 4.5%, 
19and those with master degree at 3.5%; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, The GED program gives adults a fighting chance to 
 
 
HR0986- 2 -LRB098 20828 GRL 58075 r

1go to college or get a good job with good wages; therefore, be 
2it
  
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
4NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
5we urge the GED Testing Service to not allow the price of 
6taking the GED to rise above $50; and be it further
  
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
8presented to the GED Testing Service.