A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

To request the Department of Transportation name the portion of Interstate 77 from United States Highway 1 to Interstate Highway 20 in Richland County "President Barack H. Obama Highway" and erect appropriate signs or markers along this portion of highway containing these words.

 

Whereas, former President Barack H. Obama made history on November 4, 2008, when he won 52.9 percent of the popular vote to become the first person of African American descent elected as president of the United States; and

 

Whereas, the former senator from the State of Illinois took the oath of office on January 20, 2009, becoming the nation's 44th president, inheriting a global economic recession, two ongoing foreign wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the lowest-ever international favorability rating for the United States; and

 

Whereas, under President Obama's leadership, Congress passed the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act to spur economic growth, rescuing America from the Great Recession and cutting the unemployment rate by more than half during his administration. Housing and credit markets were put on life support, with a market-based plan to buy U.S. banks' toxic assets. The government made loans to the auto industry, and he signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to avert another financial crisis; and

 

Whereas, President Obama kept his promise to provide reasonably priced healthcare for Americans by signing the Affordable Care Act, that prohibited the denial of coverage based on preexisting conditions, and allowed children under age 26 years old to be insured under parental plans; and

 

Whereas, the war in Iraq was ended, the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan started, and the landmark Iran Nuclear Deal all are benchmarks of the Obama Administration. He also signed into law the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, making it a federal crime to assault a person based on sexual or gender identification, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to combat pay discrimination against women; and

 

Whereas, in recognition of his administration's early work, "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," the Nobel Committee in Norway awarded President Obama the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize; and

 

Whereas, as he did in 2008, during his campaign for a second presidential term, President Obama focused on grassroots initiatives, winning the November 6, 2012, general election by capturing more than sixty percent of the Electoral College. In his second inaugural address, Obama called the nation to action on such issues as climate change, healthcare, the federal deficit, and marriage equality; and

 

Whereas, Barack H. Obama found strength for the accomplishments of his duties in the strong support of his family, former first lady Michelle Obama, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha; and

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly feel it is fitting and proper to honor former President Barack H. Obama for the grace and dignity he brought to the White House, for his strong leadership on the domestic front, and his willingness to support and maintain strong ties with America's allies on the international front. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

 

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Department of Transportation name the portion of Interstate 77 from United States Highway 1 to Interstate Highway 20 in Richland County "President Barack H. Obama Highway" and erect appropriate signs or markers along this portion of highway containing these words.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.

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