2024 -- H 8125

========

LC003619

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE

LEGISLATURES ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2025

     Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kazarian,
Chippendale, Abney, Edwards, Azzinaro, Ackerman, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: April 02, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) was created by state

legislators and legislative staff in 1975 and has evolved during the past half-century to become

the premier organization solely dedicated to serving state and territorial legislators and legislative

staff; and

     WHEREAS, The NCSL was created from the merger of three organizations that served

or represented state legislatures and that shared the belief that legislative service is one of

democracy’s worthiest pursuits; and

     WHEREAS, Currently, Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy serves as the 52nd

President of the NCSL, marking the first time in history that a Rhode Island legislator has held

such an esteemed high rank within the organization. He has been active with the organization for

decades and previously served on the Executive Committee, the NCSL Foundation, and was the

former co-chair of the Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee

and the NCSL Executive Task Force on Insurance; and

     WHEREAS, As a bipartisan organization, every state legislator and staffer is a member

of NCSL which has three core functions: to advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity

of state legislatures; to foster interstate communication and cooperation; and to ensure states a

strong, cohesive voice in the federal system; and

     WHEREAS, NCSL assists in facilitating state legislatures exchange of ideas by providing

critical research and information, and encourages a rigorous review of complex issues

confronting our communities, states, and nation, and strives to strengthen the bonds between

America’s state legislatures and the international community; and

     WHEREAS, NCSL continuously tracks policy across more than 1,400 issue areas in the

states and territories, identifies trends and unique policy approaches, and publishes nonpartisan

web resources that include policy reports and searchable databases, to name but a few of its

invaluable functions; and

     WHEREAS, Our nation’s state legislatures are America’s laboratories of democracy and

have continually shown that they are the bodies to tackle emerging challenges, with people from

very different backgrounds, representing very different communities, coming together to find

common ground, and the efforts of NCSL are an invaluable resource in helping to accomplish this

goal; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

recognizes and commends the National Conference of State Legislatures for their superb

leadership and commitment to the legislative institution and readily joins with States across our

great Nation in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its founding; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

========

LC003619

========

LC003619 - Page 2 of 2