SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is excited to share the Rental Payment Program, which helps ensure the state’s most vulnerable residents have a roof over their head, will provide one-time grants to assist renters who are unable to make their payments.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced the $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program to support the continued recovery of small businesses across Illinois. The first in a series of economic recovery programs set to launch by the administration, B2B will offer small businesses access to funds that can help offset losses due to COVID-19, bring back workers, and take continued steps to rebuild amid the fallout from the pandemic. The program builds on last year’s Business Interruption Grant program, which provided $580 million to small businesses and childcare providers across the state.
Read MoreAURORA, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch applauded Governor JB Pritzker signing two significant pieces of legislation into law this week. The first, strengthens the Illinois TRUST Act, an initiative championed by Welch in 2017. This measure made Illinois the gold standard for statewide protections against deportation, and this new law expands those protections for immigrant and refugee communities.
Read MoreChicago, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and Assistant Majority Leader Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) joined advocates to celebrate Illinois being the first state in the nation to offer health care coverage to seniors regardless of their immigration status.
Read MoreCrystal Lake, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch met with President Joe Biden during his recent trip to Illinois where he discussed the “Build Back Better” agenda, specifically proposals focused on education and child care.
Read MoreHILLSIDE, Ill. – To help local students and families prepare for the upcoming school year, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, is hosting a Free Back to School Health Fair on Saturday, July 31 featuring a COVID-19 vaccination clinic, health and wellness resources, supply kits for families, and more.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch applauded the General Assembly, Governor JB Pritzker and Comptroller Susana Mendoza in their combined efforts in getting Illinois back on track to a fiscally healthy future.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Fitch Ratings announced on Wednesday they have revised the outlook on Illinois’ General Obligation bonds from negative to positive.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois continues to lead the nation when it comes to tackling structural racism as legislation declaring June 19, Juneteenth, an official state holiday was signed into law.
Read MoreCHICAGO – The House Statue and Monument Review Task Force held a hearing this week on Wednesday, June 9 where members were joined by Secretary of State Jesse White and two members from the National Civil Rights Museum. The group discussed Secretary White’s initiative to erect a new Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. statue on the Capitol grounds in Springfield.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch wrapped up his first session leading the Illinois House of Representatives. In addition to passing a balanced budget that puts the state on a path toward fiscal health, the legislature also fulfilled its constitutional duty by passing new legislative boundaries and passed a comprehensive ethics package to help restore trust back in Springfield.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois’ retail cannabis industry will be diversified under a bill passed this week by state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, that aims to correct a flawed license lottery system that has prevented minority residents from being able to open businesses.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch congratulates Assistant Majority Leader Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) in passing legislation that will ensure the state’s most vulnerable residents have a roof over their head as so many have experienced economic hardship due to the pandemic.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch joined Governor JB Pritzker this week to kick off the “Time for Me to Drive” campaign to promote the return of tourism and travel to Illinois. After more than a year of hardship since the onset of the coronavirus, it is now time to get out and safely enjoy what Illinois has to offer.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch today announced Representative Frances Ann Hurley as the new whip of the Democratic Moderate Caucus (Mod Caucus), a relatively new caucus of like-minded members who advocate for a balanced, steady approach to lawmaking.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Today marks 100 days since House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch was sworn in to serve as Illinois’ first Black Speaker of the House. In just under four months, Speaker Welch has worked tirelessly to ensure his promises to address our state’s toughest issues are being kept.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In an effort to ensure that statues and other ceremonial landmarks on state property reflect the values and morals of our state, Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch announced the creation of a new special task force to conduct a review of monuments on state property and proposals for new monuments or statues.
Read MoreFOREST PARK – Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike visited the Illinois National Guard Forest Park mass vaccination site, now providing over 3,000 vaccinations per day, to announce that an additional 150,000 new first-dose vaccine appointments will be made available at the 11 state-supported mass vaccination operations in Cook and the collar counties and area pharmacies the week of April 12, as the State opens to universal eligibility for individuals 16 and older.
Read MoreWESTCHESTER, Ill. – To help residents safely dispose of old documents, State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch is hosting a free drive-up paper shredding event at the Bellwood Village Hall, located at 3200 Washington Blvd., on Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until the shredding truck reaches capacity.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Today, Governor Pritzker signed legislation that enables Westlake Hospital in Cook County to reopen.
Speaker Welch releases the following statement:
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