Speaker Welch Welcomes First Guest to House of Representatives in Two Years

Springfield, IL – Two years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the House of Representatives to close its doors to members of the public, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch welcomed the first guest back to the chamber on Wednesday.

Speaker Welch invited the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Carl Heastie, to speak to the Illinois House of Representatives and spend time with the House Democratic Caucus.

“New York and Illinois have a lot of similarities and it was great to hear from Speaker Heastie about how they’re handling important issues, like COVID-19 relief and recovery,” said Speaker Welch. “I really enjoyed the opportunity to learn from Speaker Heastie and welcome him to the great state of Illinois.

Like Speaker Welch, Speaker Heastie is the first African American to lead the House Chamber in New York. He was elected to the position in 2015 and continues to lead the Assembly Democratic Majority efforts to uplift communities and promote a Families First agenda.

“Not only was it a wonderful experience to welcome guests back to our chamber for the first time since I was elected Speaker, it was great to spend time with a leader I admire and can learn from,” said Speaker Welch.

Speaker Welch will also welcome the Consul General of Ireland to the Midwestern United States, Kevin Byrne, to address the House Chamber on Thursday.