HILLSIDE, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and peaceful holiday season.
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Washington, D.C. – This week House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch joined Biden administration policy experts to discuss and collaborate on legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Items for discussion included reproductive health, common-sense gun reform, paid family leave, and lifting up America's working families.
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Springfield, Ill. – This week, Governor JB Pritzker signed HB1095, a trailer bill that clarifies and strengthens the landmark SAFE-T Act, which was originally passed in 2021. This series of amendments clarifies the detention net, expands the processes for transitioning to cashless bail on January 1st, and specifies definitions of willful flight and dangerousness, and more.
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Springfield, Ill. – This week, Governor JB Pritzker and lawmakers announced a bipartisan agreement to pay off the remaining $1.36 billion unemployment insurance loan balance and replenish the fund for any future emergencies. This historic agreement saves taxpayers an estimated $20 million in interest costs that would be due next September and preserves hundreds of millions of dollars in future federal tax credits for Illinois employers.
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Springfield, Ill. – Lawmakers returned to Springfield this week for the fall veto session and will return November 29th to finish up work for the 102nd General Assembly. Agenda items include making clarifications to the SAFE-T Act to ensure proper implementation and new member orientation.
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Springfield, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch is hosting the second annual job fair at the Illinois State Capitol on Friday, November 18th from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. in Room 114.
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Springfield, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting free virtual workshops as part of its continuing Building Blocks of Success series for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms interested in strengthening their skills, growing their business, and bidding on state projects. New and existing DBEs, as well as firms interested in becoming certified in the program, are invited.
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Forest Park, Ill. – Roughly 250 seniors and veterans attended Speaker Emanual “Chris” Welch’s 10th Annual Resource Fair in Forest Park this past weekend.
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Forest Park, Ill. – Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is once again hosting a resource fair for senior citizens and veterans in the community on Saturday, October 22nd from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
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Westchester, Ill. – Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart is a vocal proponent of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity- Today Act (SAFE-T Act) because the law makes Illinois' criminal justice system fairer, more equitable, and keeps communities safer.
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Westchester, Ill. – Republican officials and their allies have resorted to using right-wing political mailers disguised as newspapers intended to mislead Illinoisans and spread falsehoods about the historical criminal justice reform law, called the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act (SAFE-T Act).
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CARBONDALE, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch will become the first Speaker to visit Southern Illinois University in nearly 20 years during a visit to the school's Carbondale campus this week. Welch will speak with public policy students and meet with University leadership.
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Westchester, Ill. – In recent weeks residents throughout specific areas in the Chicagoland region have received mailers disguised as newspapers under titles such as “DuPage Policy Journal,” “Will County Gazette,” and “Chicago City Wire.” The right-wing political mailers are the newest trick by Republican officials and their allies to spread falsehoods and myths about a historical criminal justice reform law, called the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act (SAFE-T Act).
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Westchester, Ill. – Income and property tax rebates are now being sent to roughly six million qualified taxpayers in Illinois. These rebates are a part of the Illinois Family Relief Plan, which also cut the grocery tax, froze the gas tax, and implemented a school supply tax holiday in addition to these direct payments.
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Westchester, Ill. – The City of Chicago welcomed migrants bused from Texas to Chicago last week. In collaboration with local, state, federal and community partners, the city ensured these migrants had access to shelter, food, and other resources.
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Westchester, Ill. – Organizations across Illinois have the opportunity to apply for an additional $100 million in grants to fund anti-violence prevention programs for their communities. This funding, which is part of the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) passed by the legislature this year, will support nonprofit organizations and local governments in 16 municipal areas outside of the City of Chicago.
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Westchester, Ill. – Students and teachers are headed back to school for a new and exciting academic year. As a father of two young children himself, House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch offers well wishes and encouragement for those who are back in the classroom.
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Springfield, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch traveled to the Illinois State Fair this week to enjoy some of this year’s offerings, which include horse racing, livestock shows, the Village of Cultures, and of course plenty of delicious fair food.
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Champaign, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch joined former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and the 2022 Class of Edgar Fellows on Wednesday to deliver remarks about his historic rise to the speakership and offer advice on how to be an inclusive, effective leader.
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Hillside, Ill. – The 10-day sales tax holiday to help families and teachers prepare for the upcoming academic year begins Friday, August 5 and lasts until Sunday, August 14.
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