Accomplishments

Emanuel “Chris” Welch has served as a State Representative in the Illinois General Assembly since January 2013. On January 13, 2021, Chris became the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives – becoming the first Black lawmaker to hold such position.

Speaker Welch is focused on moving Illinois forward by:

Defending the Right to Choose

Speaker Welch has led the effort to make Illinois a 100% pro-choice state. As a sponsor of the Reproductive Health Act, Welch ensured women in Illinois will always have the right to choose – no matter what the Supreme Court does. And as Speaker, Welch worked to repeal the last anti-choice law on the books that could have denied access to necessary care.

Delivering for our Schools

Speaker Welch believes every child deserves a world class education. He served for 12 years on the Proviso Township High School Board and led the effort to establish the nationally recognized Proviso Math and Science Academy. As our state representative, he has worked to deliver more than $1 billion in new funding for classroom education, reduce class sizes, and raise teacher pay.

Building an Economy that Works for Us All

Speaker Welch is investing in vocational education and expanding access to skilled trades training and apprenticeship opportunities to prepare the next generation for high-wage jobs. He is working to rebuild our infrastructure and delivering new resources for roads, bridges, parks, and playgrounds in our local communities.

Fighting for Safer, Stronger Communities

Speaker Welch is fighting for a “smart on crime” approach to keeping our communities safe by attacking the root causes of violence and providing the resources police need right now to solve crimes.

Welch supported historic reforms to our criminal justice system that will make our system fairer for all – including steps to rebuild relationships between police and their communities and to empower judges to make pre-trial custody decisions based on public safety considerations rather than a defendants’ wealth.

Welch delivered more than $200 million in new funding for police and community-based violence prevention, and worked to provide new resources police need to solve crimes like highway shootings, carjackings, home burglaries, and gang-related crimes. He passed legislation creating and fund a new gang crime witness protection program to help break the silence, solve crimes, and protect those who come forward.

Leading a Smart Approach to Gun Safety

Speaker Welch knows that making our communities safer means getting weapons of war off our streets. He passed a new law cracking down on untraceable “ghost guns” and worked to strengthen red flag laws to get guns out of the wrong hands. Standing with gun safety advocates, Welch is working to ban military-style assault weapons, extended magazines, and dangerous modifications that make semi-automatic weapons operate like fully automatic machine guns.

Combating Inflation and Cutting Costs

Speaker Welch knows the toll rising costs and volatile global markets have taken on local families. He helped pass the Illinois Family Relief Plan, providing nearly $2 billion in cost reductions for families by eliminating the grocery tax, freezing gas taxes, and delivering direct property tax relief and income tax relief.

Welch also worked to help working families keep more of their money by delivering a historic expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit and moving toward a tax system that rewards work, not wealth.

Working for Real Property Tax Relief

Speaker Welch is fighting for property tax relief and reform. He worked to provide direct property tax relief for homeowners, and passed legislation incentivizing local governments to hold the line on unnecessary tax increases.

Rebuilding Illinois’ Fiscal House

Speaker Welch has led the effort for fiscally and socially responsible budgets that eliminated the state’s backlog of unpaid bills and saved for the future, while making critical investments in health care, education, and infrastructure – and earning six credit rating upgrades.

Legislative Awards

Speaker Welch has been named the Legislator of the year for two consecutive years by the Chicago Teachers Union and this year he was named Legislator of the year by Leading Age Illinois, an advocacy group for seniors and the elderly.

Awards

Speaker Welch has received numerous awards during his term in the Illinois General Assembly. Welch has been recognized for his work on education, immigration, and for his work toward helping working families in Illinois.  Speaker Welch has received the following awards: 

100% Environmental Voting Record Award

• Illinois Environmental Council (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024)

LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR

• Illinois Association of Park Districts (2019)

Most Distinguished Man in Illinois

• Continuing Academic Training Children and Youth Services (2018)

Friend of Education (Recognizes support & commitment to public education)

• Illinois Education Association-NEA (2018)

State Representative of the Year

• National Association of Social Workers-IL Chapter (2018)

Environmental Leadership Award

• Illinois Environment Council (2017)

Recognition for support of public education, labor unions, and working families

• West Suburban Teachers Union (2017)

Legislative Leadership Award

• Home Care Association of America –Illinois Chapter (2017)

Legislative Champion (for work on HB3611)

• Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (2017)

Certificate of Appreciation for endless support to the Village of Eternal Light

• Maywood, Ill Police (2016)

Certificate of appreciation for dedication and support in law enforcement efforts

• West Suburban Chief Association (2016)

Unity Change Maker Award

• West Suburban Action Project (2016)

Legislator of the Year Award

• Illinois Association of School Social Workers (2016)

Honor for legislative advocacy on homeless and housing service funding

• Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (2016)

Kwame Mack Humanitarian Award: Legislator of the Year

• The Answer Inc. (2016)

Honorary Host Committee Member

• A Safe Haven (2016)

Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Schools of the State of Illinois

• Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (2016)

Zeke Giorgi Award - Outstanding IL Labor Legislator

• Illinois AFL-CIO (2016)

Bold Leadership Award

• The Monroe Foundation (2015)

Legislator of the Year

• LeadingAge Illinois (2015)

Appreciation for Support and Dedication to the Summit of Hope

• Illinois Department of Corrections (2013)

Compassionate Service Award

• Outside the Walls Academy (2013)

Progressive Community Service Award

• Progressive Life-Giving Word Cathedral (2013)

Congratulations on being a compassionate Christian

• Vision of Restoration (2012)

Thanks for contributing for the future of students from school dists. 209, 89, and 91

• Community Champions (2012)

Image Award for Outstanding Service in the Community

• PLCCA, Inc. (2011)

Image Award

• PLCCA, Inc. (2006)

Community Leader of the Year

• The Broadview Chamber of Commerce

Partners in Quality Award

• LeadingAge Illinois

Recognition of support in promoting the health and awell-being of the youth through soccer

• Copa Refrescos de Mexico (Melrose Park)

Appreciation for Timeless Service and dedication to Illinois teacher education

• Illinois Association of Colleges & Teacher Education

Legislative Accomplishment in support of Teacher Preparation

• IACTE

Outstanding commitment as an elected Official

Hustle up the Hancock presented

• Illinois Respiratory Health Association