In The Press
For more news from Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, please visit the Illinois House Democratic Caucus website.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Earlier this month, the Illinois Education Association (IEA) honored House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch with the IEA “Friend of Education” award for his commitment to public education.
*Note: Photo is courtesy of IEA in 2023
SPRINGFIELD Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch announced Thursday the Teacher Shortage Working Group, designed to address the issue of vacancies in Illinois schools and exploring ways to recruit and retain qualified educators.
SPRINGFIELD Ill. – The Illinois House of Representatives passed legislation last week implementing an elected school board for Chicago Public Schools after years of negotiations and advocate input. As a product of an elected school board, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch applauded the bill’s passage and all those who worked to get it done.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation (ILBCF) is offering another year of educational scholarship opportunities to high school seniors and undergraduate students who are planning to continue their education at two or four-year institutions in the Fall of 2024.
CHICAGO, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch was recently honored with the 2024 A. Phillip Randolph “Gentle Warrior Award,” a prestigious award reserved for those who are champions for people of color and the most vulnerable. Speaker Welch was celebrated alongside Civil Rights icon, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., last week at a gala and fundraiser for the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Governor JB Pritzker delivered his sixth budget address to a joint session in the Illinois House of Representatives. Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch presided over the ceremony, while the governor focused on investments in education, health care, and permanently cutting the state’s grocery tax.
ROSEMONT, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch hosted his third annual leadership retreat for assistant leaders, deputy leaders, and whips of the House Democratic Caucus this week.
CHICAGO – As part of Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)’s efforts to improve efficiency of operations, the Department announced that the Bellwood Regional Office has relocated as of today from 4212 W. St. Charles Road in Bellwood to the Westbrook Corporate Center in Westchester. The new office will be known as the Westchester Regional Office.
ELMWOOD PARK, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch helped celebrate the Maywood-Proviso Rotary Club’s 100th year anniversary as their keynote speaker last week. During the ceremony, the organization honored him with the Paul Harris Fellow recognition. This honor is given to those who demonstrate a commitment to the goals and purposes of the Rotary Foundation, which include advancing a world understanding, goodwill, and peace.
WESTCHESTER, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch presented Eddie Mae “Mother” Stegall with House Resolution 551 this week, to honor her decades of devotion and service to Miracle Revival Cathedral.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, has convened a “New Arrivals Working Group” to be led by state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview.
CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $5 million in available grant funding through the Back to Business (B2B) Local Chambers program. Following state recovery programming for businesses totaling $1.5 billion, the latest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-funded opportunity is designed to provide additional support for local chambers of commerce that experienced negative economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
WESTCHESTER, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch will honor Martin Luther King’s fight for social and economic justice in Montgomery, Alabama this weekend, joining labor leaders at a panel discussion on “Democracy’s Front Lines: Power in Our Nation’s State Legislatures.” Speaker Welch will highlight Illinois’ diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, as well as the state’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights.
WESTCHESTER, Ill. – As the holiday season comes to a close, House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch is reflecting on another successful year in the state legislature.
HILLSIDE, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch worked to make the holiday season brighter for families in need by bringing together community members and elected officials to deliver gifts to children at his annual ‘Christmas in Proviso’ celebration last weekend.
BELLWOOD, Ill. – This week, the Village of Bellwood celebrated the grand opening of a senior housing apartment community. The project, completed by Evergreen Real Estate Group, will provide independent living options for low-income seniors.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is encouraging all children in Illinois to sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality, and age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, regardless of the family’s income.
WESTCHESTER, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch joined Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias on Tuesday to announce the opening of a “Senior Only” walk in DMV facility in Westchester.
WESTCHESTER, Ill. – As we gather to reflect on our many blessings this holiday season, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch wants to wish everyone a very happy and restful Thanksgiving.
Berkeley, Ill. – Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera and Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) Executive Director Chris Meister this week issued nearly $7.2 million in no interest or low interest loans to emergency responders across the state. The Village of Berkeley is one of the 19 communities eligible to apply for these loans, which are made available through the Fire Truck Revolving Loan Program. Additionally, six communities are eligible to receive funding for new ambulances through the Ambulance Revolving Loan Program.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois House of Representatives passed the bipartisan “Representation for All Plan” on Wednesday laying out the boundaries for Chicago’s new Elected Representative School Board, moving one step closer to allowing Chicago voters the chance to decide who will run the city’s public schools.
FOREST PARK, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch connected hundreds of local residents with state resources, free vaccinations, and local community service providers at his 11th annual Senior and Veteran Resource Fair this past weekend in Forest Park.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch passed legislation Wednesday allowing state legislative employees in the House and Senate the right to join a union and bargain collectively for the first time in Illinois’ history.
BERKELEY, Ill. – Recently Governor JB Pritzker announced $2.1 million in grants to develop and improve 13 local bike path projects throughout Illinois. The Berkeley Park Bike Path is one of the grant recipients.
ROSEMONT, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch hosted his second annual leadership retreat for assistant leaders, deputy leaders, and whips of the House Democratic Caucus.
WASHINGTON – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch met with U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) on Wednesday to discuss Illinois’ humanitarian response to the arrival of more than 15,000 migrants. During their meeting, they spoke about the need for the Biden Administration to offer critical support to Illinois as it responds to migrants arriving in the state.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On Wednesday, House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch introduced legislation that would make Illinois one of the first states in the nation to allow legislative staff in the House and Senate to bargain collectively for wages, hours, and more.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch is encouraging jobseekers interested in working in state government to learn about careers opportunities with his office at virtual and in-person career fairs being held on Thursday, Sept. 21.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch is encouraging jobseekers interested in working in state government to learn about careers opportunities with his office at virtual and in-person career fairs being held on Thursday, Sept. 21.
CHICAGO, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and members of his leadership team will travel to Israel and Palestine from Aug. 31 until Sept. 9. The delegation will be led by the Jewish United Fund (JUF) and make stops at some of the most impactful religious and historic sites in the region.