PRINTER'S NO. 1746

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RESOLUTION Session of No. 384 2015

INTRODUCED BY DEAN, BIZZARRO, DONATUCCI, KINSEY, LONGIETTI, WARD, O'BRIEN, DRISCOLL, DAVIS, C. PARKER, KILLION, BAKER, KIM, GOODMAN, DeLUCA, THOMAS, READSHAW, REED, P. COSTA, VEREB, ROZZI, SCHLOSSBERG, McNEILL, KIRKLAND, MILLARD, BROWNLEE, BARRAR, FRANKEL, SIMS, KAVULICH, BARBIN, HENNESSEY, ROEBUCK, DAY, EVERETT, FARINA, FLYNN, SNYDER, YOUNGBLOOD, J. HARRIS, CONKLIN, P. DALEY, WATSON, MILNE, GALLOWAY, BOYLE, KOTIK, DiGIROLAMO, McCARTER, CALTAGIRONE, QUINN, D. PARKER, FREEMAN, COHEN, STAATS, MARSHALL, KLUNK, MURT, GIBBONS, STURLA, SABATINA, BENNINGHOFF, KORTZ, JOZWIAK, D. COSTA, GINGRICH, MAHONEY AND MAJOR, JUNE 9, 2015

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 9, 2015

A RESOLUTION

1 Expressing condolences upon the passing of Beau Biden, eldest 2 son of Vice President Joe Biden, an officer in the Army Judge 3 Advocate General's Corps, and honoring his life and service 4 to his country. 5 WHEREAS, Joseph Robinette "Beau" Biden III passed away on 6 Saturday, May 30, 2015, due to brain cancer at the age of 46; 7 and 8 WHEREAS, Beau Biden was a former two-term Attorney General 9 for the state of Delaware and leaves behind a legacy of 10 compassion and advocacy for children. While in office, Biden 11 established a child predator task force, fought against bullying 12 and created a family division to help children, in addition to 13 clamping down on child sex crimes perpetrators. Vice President 14 Biden said that his son Beau "fought for the powerless and made 1 it his mission to protect children from abuse"; and 2 WHEREAS, A major in the Delaware Army National Guard, Beau 3 Biden was deployed to Iraq for a year in 2008, serving as a 4 Judge Advocate officer with the 261st Signal Brigade; and 5 WHEREAS, President Obama memorialized Beau saying, "Like his 6 dad, Beau was a good, big-hearted, devoutly Catholic and deeply 7 faithful man, who made a difference in the lives of all he 8 touched – and he lives on in their hearts. But for all that Beau 9 Biden achieved, nothing made him prouder; nothing made him 10 happier; nothing claimed a fuller focus of his love and devotion 11 than his family. Just like his dad." Quoting the poet Yeats, the 12 President said, "Beau Biden believed the best of us all. For 13 him, and for his family, we swing our lanterns higher"; and 14 WHEREAS, The Vice President issued his final official 15 statement on the passing of his eldest son stating, "His 16 absolute honor made him a role model for our family. Beau 17 embodied my father's saying that a parent knows success when his 18 child turns out better than he did"; therefore be it 19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 20 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania mourn the loss of Beau Biden and 21 express condolences to his father, Vice President Joe Biden, his 22 stepmother, Dr. Jill Biden, his wife, Hallie Biden, his 23 children, Hunter and Natalie Biden, and his siblings Hunter and 24 Ashley Biden; and be it further 25 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 26 the Biden family as an expression of condolence for their loss 27 and as a token of appreciation for Beau Biden who, in the words 28 of his family was "quite simply the finest man any of us have 29 ever known."

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