Welch Marks Five Historic Years as Speaker of the Illinois House
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is recognizing five years of leadership in the House this week, and the transformational changes delivered in that time. Since assuming leadership on January 13, 2020, Welch has dedicated his tenure to advancing an agenda focused on economic opportunity, healthcare expansion, education reform, and fairness for all Illinois residents.
“In five years, we’ve moved Illinois in a fundamentally better direction than what we’re seeing in Washington by prioritizing common sense, and the common good,” Welch said. “In this moment unlike any other, people across Illinois have looked to the state to take charge of what we can control. And we’ve spoken clearly: Our rights are inalienable—not subject to the whim of politicians. Affordability is a promise—not a hoax. Our budgets will responsibly meet the needs of students, seniors, and working families—not recklessly cut taxes for billionaires. And our future is ours to shape together—not something dictated to us by a would-be strongman. There’s more work to be done, and I’m so proud to make that work my priority every day.”
In the first five years of Welch’s Speakership, House Democrats have led on a number of key issues, including:
Fiscally and socially responsible budgets that have strengthened Illinois’ commitments to education, healthcare, and opportunity—while also building the strongest rainy day fund Illinois has seen in decades and restoring Illinois to A-level credit.
Major affordability measures to take charge of what Illinois can control and provide some relief for working people—even as Trump’s tariffs raise the prices of everyday purchases. This includes a new child tax credit, cutting the state’s grocery, and eliminating over $1 billion in old medical debt for tens of thousands of Illinois families.
Reforms to make health insurance better and more affordable by creating new oversight of premium increases, ending step therapy and pre-clearance gimmicks big insurance companies use to deny care, and cracking down on the big pharma middlemen who drive up the cost of lifesaving prescriptions.
Landmark reforms and investments to save public transit and create a system that more effectively and responsibly delivers affordable bus and train options for communities across the state.
Major green energy production and affordability packages which move Illinois to a 100% clean energy future, create thousands of high-tech jobs, and are already providing relief for consumers with a new carbon mitigation credit appearing on customers’ bills this month.
Landmark protections for reproductive rights, countering the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down Roe v. Wade with immediate protections for patients and providers.
New protections against Trump’s lawless raids, strengthening safety at hospitals, courthouses, daycare centers, and schools—and giving people the power to sue agents who violate their rights.
The nation’s strongest ban on assault weapons and military-style modifications, new safe storage requirements, and expanded red flag laws to get guns out of the wrong hands.
A brighter economic future reflected in Illinois rising to the top 15 of CNBC’s rankings of the best states for businesses, leading Site Selector Magazine’s rankings for workforce development, and doubling private-sector investment.
