[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATING THE 191ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

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                       HON. DEBORAH L. HALVORSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2009

  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize a great day 
in American history. On December 3, 1818 Illinois joined the United 
States of America. This month marks the 191st anniversary of this 
event. I join over 12 million Illinoisans in celebrating our great 
state's inclusion in the Union.
  For nearly two centuries, Illinois has occupied an important position 
within our country. From Illinois, great, transformative leaders have 
risen to national prominence. In 1830, our 16th President, Abraham 
Lincoln, moved to Illinois where he practiced law in Springfield and 
served in our state legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives 
before winning the presidency in 1860. It was in Illinois where Lincoln 
and foe, Senator Stephen Douglas, debated the issue of slavery, the 
first of which was in Ottawa. Lincoln proclaimed that, ``A house 
divided against itself cannot stand.'' It was Illinois that answered 
Lincoln's call by being the first state to ratify the Thirteenth 
Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery. Today, we are proud 
to have another Illinoisan following Lincoln's legacy in the White 
House, our 44th President Barack Obama, with whom I served in 
Springfield and who served our great state in the U.S. Senate.
  Illinois is home to a wide array of historic sites testifying to its 
important role in our nation's history. From Chicago's Museum of 
Science and Industry, a physical remnant of the 1893 World's Fair, to 
the Cahokia Mounds, a pre-Columbian settlement in the southern part of 
the state, Illinois bears many of our nation's historical riches.
  In addition, Illinois serves as one of the leaders in our nation's 
economy. Illinois is at the forefront of agriculture. It is the number 
two producer of corn, number one producer of soybeans in the United 
States, and a major producer of pork. Illinois is one of our nation's 
leading transportation hubs, which contribute greatly to our local 
economy. My district is home to the largest intermodal in the country, 
which provides thousands of local jobs. Many large corporations call 
Illinois home, such as State Farm Insurance of Bloomington, which is a 
major employer in Illinois' 11th Congressional District. Many motion 
pictures have been filmed in Illinois including the classic film Blues 
Brothers.
  Within Illinois, communities from large urban cities to small rural 
villages come together to form the fabric of the fifth most populous 
state in the nation. In my own 11th District, I am proud to serve 
communities ranging from Peotone, in the near Chicago, to smaller 
communities, such as Streator and Princeton. In my district and across 
the state, farmers and urban professionals, teachers and firefighters 
all compose the diverse body of Americans known as Illinoisans. I am 
proud to join them today in celebrating our great state.

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