In The Press

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Rep. Norma Hernandez brought people together for a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in Melrose Park, recognizing the importance of culture and unity while Welch and Hernandez also work to protect communities and families from Washington’s extreme attacks.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch discussed efforts to rebuild Illinois’ fiscal house and cut the cost of living with State House leaders from across the country at the National Speakers Conference last week in South Carolina. Addressing the nationwide conference, Welch also brought the gavel home to Illinois in advance of the 2027 conference, which will be held in Chicago.

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch joined community members, non-profit service providers, and local businesses for a resource fair at Proviso East High School last weekend, connecting local families and seniors with services aimed at improving health, expanding opportunity, and making every day more affordable.

PHILADELPHIA—House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and African-American State House Speakers from across the country gathered in Philadelphia on Thursday, recognizing the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence for a first-of-a-kind conversation on the state of our nation from the perspective of state leaders and champions for equity and justice.

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch helped hundreds of local jobseekers meet with potential employers and get a leg up in the search for new and higher paying jobs at his annual job fair last weekend.

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch welcomed a full house of Black entrepreneurs at his recent Black Business Empowerment Expo, connecting both seasoned job creators and aspiring start-up leaders with state economic development resources, networking opportunities, and advice from experts in business growth.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new law championed by House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch aims to end the abusive and disruptive presence of Donald Trump’s deportation agents in Broadview by prohibiting immigration detention centers in neighborhoods where everyone should feel safe.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch joined state leaders to honor the life and work of former Governor Jim Edgar this week at a ceremony naming the forthcoming executive office building on the Capitol grounds in recognition of Edgar’s career spent bringing people together. 

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – Drivers and homeowners will be protected from double-digit insurance increases under a new affordability law backed by Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats, empowering watchdogs to hold big insurance companies accountable.

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and community partners helped local families prepare for a new school year and save money at his 14th Annual Back-to-School Health Fair, distributing free backpacks loaded with supplies, connecting students with health screenings, and providing a day of family fun.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats are honoring the life and legacy of Emmett Till with a new law creating an annual commemoration for the young Chicago boy whose brutal 1955 murder became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Artificial intelligence models will be subject to the country’s strongest transparency and accountability guidelines, thanks to a new law passed by Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch led Illinois’ part of a nationally synchronized reading of the Declaration of Independence at the State Capitol Wednesday, recognizing the 250th anniversary of the document’s first public reading on July 8, 1776.

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – As the United States prepares for a historic July 4 marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats are recognizing ways in which Illinois continues to deliver on the promises of our founding and chart a better path in our state.

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – Major affordability measures cracking down on hidden junk fees and price gouging schemes are now law thanks to the work of Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats.

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is recognizing Juneteenth at a series of community events and by highlighting the work that House Democrats are doing to advance freedom, justice, and equity.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats are holding big tech companies accountable, putting measures on the governor’s desk to strengthen oversight and accountability for rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) models, and cracking down on the addictive algorithms that keep kids glued to their phones.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats concluded the spring legislative session this week delivering major affordability reforms and a fiscally and socially responsible state budget that invests in the critical services like healthcare and nutrition assistance.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch welcomed U.S. Senator Dick Durbin to a joint session of the House and Senate Wednesday, celebrating a career spent fighting for healthcare access, for new Americans, and for a justice system that works for everyone.

CHICAGO – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch joined local and national leaders to discuss the fight to protect voting rights at a panel discussion organized by the Rainbow Push Coalition last weekend, emphasizing the obligation now before leaders at every level to stand up for justice, equality, and democracy.

CHICAGO – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch saluted Chicago State University graduates Thursday in a keynote speech at the school’s commencement ceremony. Welch applauded the commitment of graduates—including many completed degrees while working or caring for family, and some who became the first in their family to graduate college.

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch discussed House Democrats’ affordability agenda with community members in Westchester and Zion last week, holding town hall meetings to highlight significant measures to crack down on junk fees, deliver property tax relief, cap insurance costs, and cut home utility bills while also listening to the needs of local residents.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Large economic development projects will create jobs and promote community investment while also delivering direct property tax relief for working people under a major “megaproject” bill passed by Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats are standing up to Washington’s attacks on voting rights by advancing a state constitutional amendment ensuring every person’s voice is heard—guaranteeing these rights in Illinois ahead of an anticipated Supreme Court ruling gutting the federal Voting Rights Act.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats are cutting costs for seniors and vulnerable residents with a new bill expanding a vehicle sticker discount for older adults and individuals with disabilities.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats passed new legislation empowering young people to become voters this week, inspired by the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats are fighting to crack down on junk fees that cost consumers an estimated $3,000 every year, by advancing a new measure that holds businesses accountable for charges added on top of advertised purchase prices.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is continuing his fight against the abusive and disruptive presence of Donald Trump’s deportation agents in Broadview, advancing a new bill to prohibit immigration detention centers in neighborhoods where everyone should feel safe. 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats are fighting to lower home and auto insurance costs by passing a new bill that ensures Illinois customers are not paying to pad the profits of big corporations or cover corporate losses in high-risk states like Florida or Texas.

CHICAGO – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and state Rep. Lilian Jimenez brought together small business owners, service providers, and civic organizations to discuss the challenges employers and communities are facing due to Donald Trump’s unconstitutional raids. The roundtable discussion at Rincon Family Services was part of Welch’s statewide listening tour, which has included stops in the city of Chicago, downstate, and throughout the suburbs.