SJ251: Commending John Horejsi.


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 251
Commending John Horejsi.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, March 6, 2008
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 7, 2008
 

WHEREAS, John Horejsi was honored as the 2007 Fairfax County Citizen of the Year by the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations; and

WHEREAS, John Horejsi has volunteered for years in many different organizations and in many different capacities to help improve the lives of Virginia’s welfare-dependent families, the elderly poor, the incarcerated, the homeless, the working poor, and their children; and

WHEREAS, in 1983, John Horejsi founded Social Action Linking Together (SALT), a faith-based advocacy group, to try to influence public policy at the state and local levels in a positive way for individuals and families disenfranchised by economic and social standing; and

WHEREAS, having grown into a network of over 1,000 social justice volunteers from all across Northern Virginia, SALT has had many successes over the years in helping bring about important policy changes; and

WHEREAS, as an advocacy partner, SALT was part of the lobbying effort for tax refunds for Virginia’s working poor, which led to passage of the Earned-Income Tax Credit at the state level; and

WHEREAS, due in part to SALT advocacy, the General Assembly increased both oversight funds and grant moneys to assisted living facilities and adult foster care homes so that they can provide better care for the elderly poor; and

WHEREAS, the Homeless Intervention Program (HIP), which provides emergency assistance to keep distressed families in their homes and out of homeless shelters, was created, funded, and continued in large part because of SALT leadership; and

WHEREAS, while many individuals assist in SALT’s work, John Horejsi continues to be the group’s guide and inspiration, and his leadership, advocacy, and legislative skills have proven invaluable in improving the lives of needy families and children; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate John Horejsi on being named the 2007 Fairfax County Citizen of the Year; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to John Horejsi as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration and gratitude for his unwavering commitment to improving the lives of his fellow Virginians in need.