Welch Convenes Working Groups to Lead on Reproductive Rights, Healthcare Access, Transit, Gun Safety, and Education Issues
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch is empowering colleagues to lead important conversations on reproductive rights, gun safety, education, healthcare access, and other critical matters facing the state by announcing reconstituted and reconfigured House Democratic working groups for the new legislative session.
“The conversations that take place in our Democratic working groups have built consensus on some of the most challenging issues facing our state, and produced real results for people in Illinois,” Welch said. “The members of these groups helped enact the nation’s strongest ban on assault weapons, delivered comprehensive protections for reproductive healthcare patients and providers, expanded access to lifechanging medical treatments and therapies, and removed barriers to help get teachers into the classroom. None of this would have been possible without conversation and compromise. The work of these groups is ongoing and evolving, so as we begin a new legislative session, we again look to these groups—consisting of policy experts, lifelong advocates, and new voices—to lead these conversations within our Caucus.”
Welch’s initial slate of working groups reconvenes groups assembled over the past three years, with the addition of several new chairs and members. Welch has tapped Rep. Laura Faver-Dias—a former CPS teacher and lifelong advocate for public schools—to serve as the new chair of the Teacher Shortage Working Group. Welch also selected Rep. Anna Moeller—chair of the House Human Services Committee—to serve as the new leader of the Medicaid Working Group.
Rep. Amy ‘Murri’ Briel will serve as a new member of the Firearms Working Group, while Rep. Mike Crawford will join the Teacher Shortage Working Group.
Welch will also continue the work of the Dobbs & Reproductive Health Working Group under the leadership of Rep. Kelly Cassidy. The group has led the state’s response to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson case since the decision was handed down in 2022. Reps. Mary Beth Canty, Kimberly Du Buclet, Jehan Gordon-Booth, Gregg Johnson, and Yolonda Morris join the group as it continues this work.
The Public Transit Working Group and Firearm Safety Working Group will also continue their efforts.
Members of the working groups are:
Medicaid Working Group
Anna Moeller – Chair
Dagmara ‘Dee’ Avelar
Terra Costa Howard
Robyn Gabel
Jehan Gordon-Booth
Lisa Hernandez
Maura Hirschauer
Lindsey LaPointe
Camille Lilly
Anna Moeller
Bob Rita
Nick Smith
Public Transit Working Group
Eva-Dina Delgado – Co-Chair
Kam Buckner – Co-Chair
Dagmara ‘Dee’ Avelar
Diane Blair-Sherlock
Mary Beth Canty
Will Davis
Mary Gill
Matt Hanson
Barbara Hernandez
Hoan Huynh
Natalie Manley
Rita Mayfield
Anna Moeller
Yolonda Morris
Marty Moylan
Teacher Shortage Working Group
Laura Faver-Dias – Chair
Katie Stuart
Harry Benton
Sharon Chung
Mike Crawford
Fred Crespo
Will Davis
Michelle Mussman
Aaron Ortiz
Sue Scherer
Firearm Safety Working Group
Bob Morgan – Chair
La Shawn Ford
Maura Hirschauer
Amy ‘Murri’ Briel
Jay Hoffman
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Nick Smith
Sonya Harper
Barbara Hernandez
Dobbs & Reproductive Health Working Group
Kelly Cassidy – Chair
Dagmara ‘Dee’ Avelar
Mary Beth Canty
Terra Costa Howard
Margaret Croke
Kimberly Du Buclet
Jehan Gordon-Booth
Lilian Jimenez
Gregg Johnson
Anna Moeller
Yolonda Morris
Kevin Olickal
Ann Williams
Additionally, Reps. Robyn Gabel, Marcus Evans, Jay Hoffman, and Ann Williams will serve as co-leads responsible for negotiating legislation related to energy policy.