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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>House Bill 5000, The Children’s Low-cost Laptop Act, passed unanimously (110-0) through the Illinois House of Representatives yesterday! It now needs a strong push to move through the Senate. Please email me if you would like an information sheet on the bill - it is too large to send through the olpc-chicago listserve.</FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Huge thanks to all 9 of the bill's House Sponsors:<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Cynthia Soto (D-Chicago)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Constance A. Howard (D-Chicago)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>LaShawn K. Ford (D-Chicago)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Ruth Munson (R-Elgin)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Jack D. Franks (D-Woodstock)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Patrick J<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Verschoore (D-Rock Island)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Karen A. Yarbrough (D-Broadview)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Elizabeth Hernandez (D-Cicero)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Esther Golar (D-Chicago)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Now, to the Senate.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Consolas color=#000000 size=3>List of 59 IL State Senators: </FONT><A href="http://www.ilga.gov/senate/"><U><FONT face=Consolas color=#0000ff size=3>http://www.ilga.gov/senate/</FONT></U></A><o:p></o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Identify *your* Senator:<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A href="http://www.elections.illinois.gov/districtlocator/SelectSearchType.aspx"><U><FONT face=Consolas color=#0000ff size=3>http://www.elections.illinois.gov/districtlocator/SelectSearchType.aspx</FONT></U></A><o:p></o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Email your Senator:<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A href="http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2007/08/heres-where-to-.html"><U><FONT face=Consolas color=#0000ff size=3>http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2007/08/heres-where-to-.html</FONT></U></A><o:p></o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>***HOW YOU CAN HELP -- BELOW***<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Here's a template you can use to write State Senators. Modify it to suit your style. :) I also urge you to call their office and encourage them to sign on as co-sponsors when they have the chance.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Dear Senator _____________,<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>I believe that laptop computers can help improve, and maybe even transform, elementary school education in Illinois.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>When you have the chance to vote on the Illinois Children's Low-cost Laptop Act (House Bill 5000), I hope you will think about the kids in our community, whose future social, economic and educational opportunities will be tied to their command of technology.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>The Children's Low Cost Laptop Act calls on the Illinois State Board of Education to administer a pilot project that would allow up to 300 elementary schools in Illinois to receive grant funding for low-cost (under $400) laptops. Support for professional development (teacher training), school building readiness and laptop repair are accounted for in the bill. Elementary schools like ______________________________ in our community could benefit if this bill becomes law.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>But make no mistake. I know that laptops alone will not fix all the problems in our schools.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Consolas color=#000000 size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>The fundamentals -- reading, writing, math, history, science, art and music, too -- can all be learned and reinforced with computer technology. We must make it a priority in Illinois to produce a generation of young people who can compete with kids in other states and other parts of the globe. House Bill 5000 is a real step in this direction. Thank you for considering my letter, and for your work on behalf of the people of ________________.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>YOUR NAME<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>YOUR ADDRESS<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>YOUR PHONE NUMBER<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Consolas>YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Calibri color=#000000 size=3> </FONT></o:p></P><br /><hr />Going green? <a href='http://green.msn.com/galleries/photos/photos.aspx?gid=164&ocid=T003MSN51N1653A' target='_new'>See the top 12 foods to eat organic.</a></body>
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