Bills & Legislation

HENRIETTA LACKS DNA

Honors the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman, whose contributions to medical science have had a lasting impact though her name is not widely known. Recognizes Alfred "Lacks" Carter Jr. for his work to preserve Henrietta Lacks' legacy and for his contributions in the fight against cervical cancer. Urges support for community-based research and education programs, which are vital to educating and empowering community members so they can make informed decisions about being involved in clinical research and the research process. Urges support for clinical research to reduce health disparities, to save lives, to gain insights about the safety and effectiveness of drugs and other medical treatments, and to discover treatments for various diseases.

Marcus C. Evans, Jr.

HUMAN SERVICES-REIMBURSEMENT

Urges the State to increase reimbursement rates, state grants and contracts, and the minimum overhead allowance to meet the rising costs of providing essential human services in Illinois and supporting the workers who deliver those services.

Dagmara Avelar

BLACK FARMERS/GROWERS WEEK

Declares May 11 through May 17, 2025 as Black Farmers and Growers Week. Encourages the people of Illinois and their representatives in government to learn about the history of Black farming communities and the contributions made by African Americans to agriculture in the United States.

Sonya M. Harper

RARE DISEASE DAY

Declares March 5, 2025 as Rare Disease Day in the State of Illinois in order to raise awareness of rare diseases, support individuals and families who struggle with rare diseases, bring attention to the need for research and funding to support the discovery and development of therapies designed to treat and potentially cure rare diseases, and support the continued work of the Illinois Rare Disease Commission.

Sonya M. Harper

MEMORIAL-THOMAS J. SCHUTTE

Mourns the passing of Thomas J. "Tom" Schutte.

Kyle Moore

MEMORIAL-GERALD S. SCHNEIDER

Mourns the passing of Sergeant Gerald S. "Jerry" Schneider of the Illinois Secretary of State Police.

Wayne A. Rosenthal

MEMORIAL-GERALD SCHNEIDER

Mourns the death of Gerald Schneider of Sherman.

Patrick Sheehan

MEMORIAL-MAULANA A. WALLER SR.

Mourns the death of Maulana Ali Waller Sr. of Peoria.

Jehan Gordon-Booth

IDOC-GRAVESITE ACCESS

Urges the Illinois Department of Corrections to develop a standard policy/set of guidelines that are public for those who wish to visit gravesites of loved ones including, but not limited to, familial relations and researchers. Urges the Illinois Department of Corrections to consider ease of access to the public for this cemetery during renovations or rebuilding of IDOC facilities at this site.

Katie Stuart

AFFIRMS-EQUAL EMPLOYMENT

Affirms the steadfast commitment to equal employment opportunity and economic equity for women and all Illinoisans. Affirms the commitment to continue to prioritize construction investments that transform the State's infrastructure and its workforce. Affirms that the State's ongoing and upcoming capital and infrastructure projects will rebuild roads, buildings, and lives by providing good jobs that create economic stability through family-sustaining wages and benefits. Affirms that Illinois contractors must uphold the State's values and workers' rights, reject workplace discrimination and harassment, and be held accountable to laws, including the Illinois Responsible Bidder Code, the Prevailing Wage Act, and the Illinois Human Rights Act. Affirms that employers looking to contract with the State must adopt strong policies to protect workers from harassment and discrimination and must take action to create equal access to job opportunities and respectful, safe, and accountable work sites. Urges the use of all available tools to ensure that contractors doing business with the State are committed to creating access to high-road opportunities and respectful work sites.

Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez

MEMORIAL-ANNIE PEARL HOWARD

Mourns the passing of Annie Pearl Howard.

Nicholas K. Smith

MEMORIAL-JOSEPH P. BUFORD

Mourns the passing of Joseph Paul "Joe" Buford.

William "Will" Davis

TRANSPORTATION LEGIS.-ID/DD

States that any transportation legislative package considered by the Illinois General Assembly should include complete consideration of the needs of the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) community, including, but not limited to, accessibility, affordability, availability of transportation options, and the needs of providers who support individuals with ID/DD. Urges State agencies, regional planning organizations, and transportation providers to prioritize accessibility, stakeholder engagement, and equitable investment in transportation infrastructure to better serve individuals with ID/DD.

Sharon Chung

CONGRATS-FRANK J. CHRISTENSEN

Congratulates International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) General President Frank J. Christensen for his years of service to the building and construction trades of the United States of America and his years of service to the Chicago labor community

Brad Stephens

LITTLE PALESTINE DAY

Declares April 7, 2025 and April 7, 2026 as Little Palestine Day in the State of Illinois. Urges Illinoisans to celebrate Little Palestine Day by supporting businesses and cultural initiatives in Little Palestine and attending or hosting events showcasing the contributions of the Arab American community to the United States. Urges local schools and educational institutions to incorporate lessons about the history and contributions of the Arab American community into their curricula, promoting inclusivity and understanding.

Lisa Davis

MEMORIAL-JERRY BUTLER

Mourns the passing of soul singer-songwriter Jerry Butler of Chicago.

Camille Y. Lilly

CONGRATS-ST. JUDE BOYS

Congratulates the St. Jude Catholic School 8th grade boys basketball team on winning the 2024-2025 Class 8-1A Illinois Elementary School Association State Championship.

Ryan Spain

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS-SUPPORT

Urges the State of Illinois to promote the use of daytime running lights.

Travis Weaver

EQUAL PAY DAY

Declares March 25, 2025 as Equal Pay Day in the State of Illinois. Encourages the citizens of this State to learn about the pay gap that women experience in society and to learn about these various dates that bring attention to the pay gap that specific groups experience.

Mary Beth Canty

MEMORIAL-PHIL GOLDSTICK

Mourns the death of Phil Goldstick.

Bob Morgan

PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME MONTH

Declares May 2025 as Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month. Express support for raising awareness and educating the public about Prader-Willi Syndrome and increasing research and funding into the causes and treatments of the disease.

Nicole La Ha

PRESCRIBED BURNING MONTH

Declares April 2025 as Prescribed Burning Awareness Month. Supports the appropriate and continued use of prescribed fire in Illinois.

Nicolle Grasse

DEAF HISTORY MONTH

Declares April 2025 and April 2026 as Deaf History Month in the State of Illinois and encourages Illinoisans to become familiar with and celebrate the contributions of deaf Illinoisans to our state and nation.

Diane Blair-Sherlock

LATINA HERITAGE DAY

Declares March 15, 2025 as Latina Heritage Day.

Norma Hernandez

UNITED NATIONS DAY

Declares October 24, 2025 as United Nations Day in the State of Illinois to honor the United Nations (UN) for the positive impact it has had on the global community.

Jackie Haas

MEMORIAL-CHRISTINE LUNNINGHAM

Mourns the passing of Christine Lunningham.

Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.

CONGRATS-OLIVIA SMOLIGA

Congratulates Olivia Smoliga on her accomplishments as a two-time Olympian and on establishing In Depth Swim Academy to assist other Americans in achieving their Olympic dreams. Wishes her continued success in her future endeavors.

Tracy Katz Muhl

END GUN VIOLENCE

Honors the lives of those lost to gun violence in Illinois and Chicago. Urges government to work collaboratively to create safer communities through targeted investments, Reaffirms commitment to end gun violence.

Sonya M. Harper

MEMORIAL-AMOUR ANDREWS, PH.D.

Mourns the passing of Amour Jean Logan Andrews, Ph.D.

La Shawn K. Ford

MEMORIAL-TERRY L. WIDMAN

Mourns the death of Terry L. Widman of Jerseyville.

Amy Elik

MEMORIAL-FRED H. BRIGHT JR.

Mourns the passing of Fred H. Bright Jr., the former Mayor of the Village of East Alton.

Amy Elik

MEMORIAL-REP. RONALD WAIT

Mourns the passing of Illinois State Rep. Ronald A. "Ron" Wait. Recognizes his life, community service, and long legislative service.

Joe C. Sosnowski

MEMORIAL-SAMUEL W. NOLEN

Mourns the death of Samuel W. "Sam" Nolen of Springfield.

Tony M. McCombie

MEMORIAL-CLARENCE THOMAS

Mourns the death of Clarence Thomas.

Emanuel "Chris" Welch

CONGRATS-OLGA DE LA ROSA

Congratulates Olga De La Rosa on her retirement from Chicago's Saucedo Scholastic Academy Elementary School.

Edgar González, Jr.

MEMORIAL-JERRY BUTLER

Mourns the death of Jerry "Iceman" Butler, a towering figure in American music, a trailblazing public servant, and a cherished son of Illinois.

Kam Buckner

MEMORIAL-AUDREY BARRETT

Mourns the death of Audrey Barrett.

Kam Buckner

CONGRATS-VFW POST 1337

Congratulates Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1337 of Mount Prospect on its 100th anniversary.

Dan Swanson

RECOGNIZES-VIETNAMESE FLAG

Recognizes the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam as the official symbol of the Vietnamese American community in the State of Illinois and the United States. Recognizes the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam as a symbol of hope, love, and freedom for the Vietnamese American community in Illinois. Honors the contributions of Vietnamese Americans to the State over the last 50 years. Honors and recognizes the contributions of the veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in Vietnam. Encourages all citizens of Illinois to call for freedom, human rights, and democracy in Vietnam.

Hoan Huynh

CONGRATS-LARRY FORSSBERG

Congratulates Larry Forssberg on his retirement as economic development director of the Village of Westmont. Wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

Martha Deuter

CONGRATS-DYETT HS BOYS BBALL

Congratulates the Dyett High School boys basketball team, the Eagles, on winning the 2024-2025 IHSA Class 2A State Championship. Honors its members for their perseverance and excellence and the inspiration they provide to all Illinoisans.

Kam Buckner

CONGRATS-NAZARETH ACADEMY

Congratulates the Nazareth Academy football team on its Class 5A state championship.

Emanuel "Chris" Welch

RECOGNIZE-DR. JOHNNY D. JONES

Recognizes Dr. Johnny D. Jones for his outstanding service, dedication, and leadership in advancing the mission of the ASVAB CEP and enhancing the career exploration journey of countless students in Illinois. Commends the significant contributions of the ASVAB Career Exploration Program in shaping the futures of Illinois students and promoting citizenship through career readiness.

Michelle Mussman

MEMORIAL-ISP TPR. C. THOMPSEN

Mourns the passing of Illinois State Trooper Corey Steven Thompsen of rural St. Joseph.

Adam M. Niemerg

MARINE CORPS DAY/MONTH

Declares November 10, 2025 as "Marine Corps Day" and the month of November 2025 as "Marine Corps Month".

Stephanie A. Kifowit

CONGRATS-CHICAGO NHS

Congratulates Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS) on its remarkable 50 years of service and its unwavering commitment to economic inclusion and racial equity through homeownership. Commends NHS President and CEO Anthony Simpkins for his outstanding leadership in advancing the organization's mission.

La Shawn K. Ford

HOME FIRE SPRINKLER WEEK

Declares the week of May 11, 2025 through May 17, 2025 as Home Fire Sprinkler Week.

Michael J. Kelly

MEMORIAL-ROBERT P. BLAZIER

Mourns the passing of Robert P. "Bob" Blazier of Crystal Lake.

Suzanne M. Ness

SUPPORT-TAIWAN

Reaffirms the commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Illinois and Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC). Reaffirms support for the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and supports Illinois businesses referring to Taiwan, ROC, as Taiwan. Endorses Taiwan's efforts to secure the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA), and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) with the United States. Supports the further strengthening of a closer economic and trade partnership between the State of Illinois and Taiwan with multiple possible approaches, including signing an economic and trade memorandum of understanding, exploring the possibility of establishing an Illinois Office in Taiwan, and sending Illinois high-level officials to visit Taiwan. Supports Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, which impact the health, safety, and well-being of the peoples of Taiwan, the State of Illinois, the United States, and the world. Opposes any distortion or misuse of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 to attempt to deny Taiwan's aspiration to make more contributions in international societies.

William "Will" Davis

MEMORIAL-CHELSEA J. ADOLPHUS

Mourns the death of Chelsea Jamilex Adolphus.

Rita Mayfield