President Biden Signs Proclamation Establishing Emmett Till National Monument
WASHINGTON – On what would have been Emmett Till’s 82nd birthday, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation designating a national monument to honor him and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Till was 14 years old in 1955, when he was abducted, tortured, and murdered after being accused of whistling at a white woman while visiting relatives in Mississippi. Till’s mother chose to have an open casket at her son’s funeral, forcing America to confront the violent racism of the Jim Crow south. The child’s brutal lynching became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.
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Illinois Supreme Court Upholds SAFE-T Act
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – This week the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the state law ending cash bail, known as the SAFE-T Act. The law will take effect on Sept. 18, giving local governments two months to prepare for the changes.
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Speaker Welch Joining Trade Mission to the United Kingdom
CHICAGO, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch will join Governor JB Pritzker along with leaders in business and education from across Illinois on a trade mission to the United Kingdom on July 16. The delegation of leaders will meet with their counterparts in London to discuss strengthening economic cooperation between Illinois and the United Kingdom. Programming throughout the mission will focus on manufacturing, clean energy and technology, quantum, higher education collaboration, and other key industries.
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Mark Your Calendars: Speaker Welch to Host 11th Annual Back to School Health Fair in July
HILLSIDE, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is hosting his 11th annual Back to School Health Fair this month. The event will be held on Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Proviso West High School in Hillside. School and sports physicals will be available and free to the public. The first 200 families will receive their own free school supply kits with essential items for the upcoming school year.
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Illinois Authorizes New State-Based Marketplace for Health Insurance, Rate Review (Copy)
CHICAGO, Ill. – This week, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a new state-based marketplace for Illinois, which gives state agencies additional tools to create a more consumer-focused health insurance exchange and better identify traditionally uninsured communities. Additionally, the governor also signed legislation that will protect health care consumers from unfair rate hikes.
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Speaker Welch Receives Champion Legislator for Health Equity Award
CHICAGO, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch received the Champion Legislator for Health Equity award at Equal Hope’s Celebrating Life Gala earlier this month, crediting his commitment to health equity and eradication of structural racism across Illinois.
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Speaker Welch Announces New Leadership Positions for Reps. Manley, Lilly
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch announced Tuesday that Rep. Natalie Manley and Rep. Camille Y. Lilly will begin new roles in House leadership.
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Speaker Welch to Host Annual District Job Fair
FOREST PARK, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is set to host his annual job fair on Saturday, June 10th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at Proviso Math and Science Academy on Roosevelt Road in Forest Park. It is free and open to the public.
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Illinois Passes Fifth Straight Balanced Budget
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois lawmakers last week sent Governor JB Pritzker a balanced budget that prioritizes financial stability and makes investments in early childhood and higher education, public safety, behavioral and mental health services, and more.
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Legislative Leaders, Governor Pritzker Announce FY24 Budget Agreement
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch joined Governor JB Pritzker and Senate President Don Harmon on Wednesday to announce an agreement on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget. The agreed budget prioritizes fiscal responsibility while making transformative investments in early childhood and higher education, public safety, workforce development, behavioral and mental health services, and more.
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New Tax Credits Announced for Illinoisans
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the launch of the Blue Collar Jobs Act Tax Credit (BCJA) application. BCJA is a bipartisan initiative designed to support economic development and expansion by providing tax credits to companies that make investments in Illinois.
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Welch Applauds Healthcare Heroes, Codifies Health Delivery Innovations as COVID Orders End
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Westchester, joined healthcare heroes and state leaders to recognize the end of the state and federal COVID emergency declarations, while also continuing effective reforms initiated under the pandemic orders to streamline and expand delivery of care.
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Illinois Cracks Down on Prescription Drug Price Gouging
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Big pharmaceutical corporations jacking up the costs of generic prescription drugs could face serious financial penalties following legislation by state Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, which just passed the State House of Representatives.
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Another Federal Judge Denies Request to Block Illinois’ Assault Weapons Ban
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On Tuesday, a federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois denied another attempt to block the state’s assault weapons ban while the law faces legal challenges. Earlier this month, the federal appeals court in Chicago also issued the same ruling and said the law was “constitutionally sound.”
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Welch, Harmon Applaud Mayor-Elect Johnson’s Commitment to Collaborative Leadership (Copy)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, welcomed Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson to the State Capitol Wednesday, beginning a conversation on economic development, public safety, and moving Illinois and the City of Chicago forward together.
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Speaker Welch Makes Stops in Hillside and Melrose Park During Legislative Spring Break
HILLSIDE, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch visited Hillside Middle School this week to speak with students about the legislative process, the job of Speaker of the House, and how he became the first Black person to hold that title.
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Speaker Welch to Host Annual Community Shred Day
BELLWOOD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is hosting his annual community shred day on Saturday, April 15th from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Bellwood Village Hall. The event is free to the public and shredding will be accepted until the shred trucks reach capacity.
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Illinois Announces $175 Million in Back to Business Grants for Restaurants, Hotels, and Creative Arts Industry
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – This week, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced $175 million in Back to Business Grants available for sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically, restaurants, hotels, and creative arts organizations.
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Illinois Becomes Third State in the Nation to Guarantee Paid Leave
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – This week, Governor JB Pritzker signed SB208 into law, which makes Illinois the third state in the nation to mandate paid time off to be used for any reason. This legislation provides employees up to 40 hours of paid leave during a 12-month period. Thanks to this new law, roughly 1.5 million workers will begin earning paid time off beginning in 2024.
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Illinois House Elects First Female Chief Doorkeeper in State History
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois House of Representatives elected Nicole Hill to become the chamber’s first female chief doorkeeper in the state’s history. Hill, a Springfield resident, was selected from a pool of more than 80 applicants and comes to the House with an impressive resume.
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