2015-2016 Bill 1359 Text of Previous Version (May 31, 2016) - South Carolina Legislature Online

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A SENATE RESOLUTION 10 11 TO HONOR AND COMMEND SENATOR JOEL LOURIE FOR 12 HIS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE TO 13 RICHLAND AND KERSHAW COUNTIES AND THE STATE 14 OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON 15 THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE SOUTH 16 CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 17 18 Whereas, after more than sixteen years of public service to the 19 State of South Carolina, Senator Joel Lourie will retire from the 20 State Senate upon completion of the 2016 legislative session; and 21 22 Whereas, Senator Lourie was first elected to the State Senate in 23 2004 to represent Richland and Kershaw Counties in Senate 24 District 22. He had previously served in the House of 25 Representatives representing District 78 from 1999 to 2004; and 26 27 Whereas, a native of Columbia, Senator Lourie is a graduate of 28 Richland Northeast High School and the University of South 29 Carolina. He is married to Becky Baum Lourie and is the father of 30 two children, Rachel and Sam; and 31 32 Whereas, Senator Lourie followed in his father’s, the late Senator 33 Isadore Lourie, footsteps when he decided to enter public service. 34 He currently serves on the Senate Finance, Banking and Insurance, 35 Medical Affairs, General, and Rules Committees; and 36 37 Whereas, during his time in the State Senate, Senator Lourie has 38 been a passionate advocate for providing healthcare services to 39 those who need them. He has received numerous awards for his 40 support of those with disabilities, autism, abused and neglected 41 children, and teens dealing with substance abuse. He received the 42 2011 Recognition Award from the March of Dimes for his

[1359] 1 1 commitment to access to health care coverage for pregnant women 2 and children in South Carolina and the 2009 Champion of Health 3 Care Award from the South Carolina Medical Association for his 4 leadership and service to the field of medicine and support of 5 quality health care for all South Carolinians. Senator Lourie fought 6 zealously for the expansion of Medicaid in South Carolina after the 7 passage of the Affordable Care Act; and 8 9 Whereas, Sen. Lourie has also been actively involved in passage of 10 legislation as it relates to drunkdriving issues. He was recognized 11 by the South Carolina Association of Prevention Professionals & 12 Advocates and the South Carolina State Child Fatality Advisory 13 Committee for his sponsorship of comprehensive legislation to 14 deal with underage drinking and repeat DUI offenders and he was 15 the 2014 and 2015 Legislator of the Year, awarded by Mothers 16 Against Drunk Driving, for his tireless efforts in supporting and 17 advancing the missions of MADD and for his work to pass 18 Emma’s Law; and 19 20 Whereas, a strong supporter of driver and car safety, Sen. Lourie 21 was instrumental in the passage of the seatbelt and DUI reform 22 laws in 2008. He received the Seat belt Championship Award of 23 2006 for his advocacy of seat belt and child safety seat usage, and 24 in 2001, earned the Alliance for SC’s Child Advocacy Leadership 25 Award for leadership on legislation requiring seatbelts for minors; 26 and 27 28 Whereas, in addition to his service in the State Senate, Sen. Lourie 29 is active in his community. He serves in various positions with the 30 Columbia Jewish Community Center, the Richland District Two 31 Reconnecting Communities and Schools Board, the Richland Two 32 Business Advisory Council, and the National Federation of the 33 Blind; and 34 35 Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are deeply 36 grateful for the years of remarkable and devoted public service and 37 friendship Sen. Lourie has bestowed on all of the members of the 38 Senate and will always remember him as he dearly referred to 39 himself as a “brother from a different mother” and never forget his 40 sportsman side, which for him means a trip to the Fresh Market. 41 Now, therefore, 42 43 Be it resolved by the Senate:

[1359] 2 1 2 That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, honor and 3 commend Senator Joel Lourie for his many years of dedicated 4 public service to Richland and Kershaw Counties and the State of 5 South Carolina and wish him much success and happiness on the 6 occasion of his retirement from the South Carolina General 7 Assembly. 8 9 Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to 10 Senator Joel Lourie. 11 XX 12

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