Bills & Legislation

MEMORIAL-JAMES GOSHORN

Mourns the passing of James "Jim" Goshorn of Gurnee, formerly of Grove City, Pennsylvania.

Joyce MasonDemocrat

RECOGNIZES-CATERPILLAR INC.

Recognizes Caterpillar Inc. on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. Commends the company for its remarkable achievements, enduring legacy, and continued contributions to the economy, society, and the global community.

Jehan Gordon-BoothDemocrat

CONGRATS-KEVIN J. COLEMAN

Congratulates Kevin J. Coleman on the occasion of his retirement as Village President of the Village of Hennepin. Thanks him for his more than 32 years of service to his community. Wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

Jay HoffmanDemocrat

SIGMA/ZETA DAY

Declares April 30, 2025 as Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta Day in the State of Illinois. Commends the efforts of the members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. for their commitment to community service and recognizes their collective contributions to making their communities a better place to live, work, and play.

Michael CrawfordDemocrat

FIRST ROBOTICS DAY

Declares the third Friday in March 2025 and March 2026 as FIRST Robotics Day in the State of Illinois. Recognizes the continuing importance of the National Science Foundation's math and science education programs and encourages local school districts and other educational agencies to fund afterschool robotics programs. Encourages schools and educators to observe the day with appropriate activities that teach students about robotics and engage them about the study of mathematics and science.

Stephanie A. KifowitDemocrat

FALL OF SAIGON

Honors the contributions of Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans to the United States and their values of upholding human rights, freedom, and democracy and recognizes the sacrifices made in order to support these values, including losses of family, home, and life. Honors the courage, dignity, strength, and resilience of Vietnamese refugees who were forced to flee their home to escape persecution and rebuild their lives and recognizes the need to build empathy and understanding for the plight of refugees. Urges all Illinoisans to take time to learn about the history and contributions of Vietnamese and Vietnamese American people to Illinois and the United States.

Hoan HuynhDemocrat

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.Democrat

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 AvelarDemocrat

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. HarperDemocrat

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. HarperDemocrat

MEMORIAL-THOMAS J. SCHUTTE

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

Kyle MooreRepublican

MEMORIAL-GERALD S. SCHNEIDER

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

Wayne A. RosenthalRepublican

MEMORIAL-GERALD SCHNEIDER

Mourns the death of Gerald Schneider of Sherman.

Patrick SheehanRepublican

MEMORIAL-MAULANA A. WALLER SR.

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

Jehan Gordon-BoothDemocrat

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 StuartDemocrat

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" HernandezDemocrat

MEMORIAL-ANNIE PEARL HOWARD

Mourns the passing of Annie Pearl Howard.

Nicholas K. SmithDemocrat

MEMORIAL-JOSEPH P. BUFORD

Mourns the passing of Joseph Paul "Joe" Buford.

William "Will" DavisDemocrat

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 ChungDemocrat

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 StephensRepublican

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 DavisDemocrat

MEMORIAL-JERRY BUTLER

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

Camille Y. LillyDemocrat

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 SpainRepublican

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS-SUPPORT

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

Travis WeaverRepublican

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 CantyDemocrat

MEMORIAL-PHIL GOLDSTICK

Mourns the death of Phil Goldstick.

Bob MorganDemocrat

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 HaRepublican

PRESCRIBED BURNING MONTH

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

Nicolle GrasseDemocrat

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-SherlockDemocrat

LATINA HERITAGE DAY

Declares March 15, 2025 as Latina Heritage Day.

Norma HernandezDemocrat

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 HaasRepublican

MEMORIAL-CHRISTINE LUNNINGHAM

Mourns the passing of Christine Lunningham.

Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.Democrat

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 MuhlDemocrat

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. HarperDemocrat

MEMORIAL-AMOUR ANDREWS, PH.D.

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

La Shawn K. FordDemocrat

MEMORIAL-TERRY L. WIDMAN

Mourns the death of Terry L. Widman of Jerseyville.

Amy ElikRepublican

MEMORIAL-FRED H. BRIGHT JR.

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

Amy ElikRepublican

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. SosnowskiRepublican

MEMORIAL-SAMUEL W. NOLEN

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

Tony M. McCombieRepublican

MEMORIAL-CLARENCE THOMAS

Mourns the death of Clarence Thomas.

Emanuel "Chris" WelchDemocrat

CONGRATS-OLGA DE LA ROSA

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

Edgar González, Jr.Democrat

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 BucknerDemocrat

MEMORIAL-AUDREY BARRETT

Mourns the death of Audrey Barrett.

Kam BucknerDemocrat

CONGRATS-VFW POST 1337

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

Dan SwansonRepublican

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 HuynhDemocrat

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 DeuterDemocrat

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 BucknerDemocrat

CONGRATS-NAZARETH ACADEMY

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

Emanuel "Chris" WelchDemocrat

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 MussmanDemocrat

MEMORIAL-ISP TPR. C. THOMPSEN

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

Adam M. NiemergRepublican