Welch Highlights Illinois’ Progress at National Speakers Conference, Brings Home the Gavel Ahead 2027 Meeting in Chicago
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.
“The issues before us in Illinois are not unique to our state, because people across the country are dealing with the cost of unnecessary tariffs, war, and extreme cuts that often feel so far beyond our control. But when states take charge of what we can control, we can work toward the relief people need right now,” Welch said. “That’s our priority in Illinois. I value the opportunity to share those ideas with my fellow Speakers on both sides of the aisle, and to hear about their approaches to these same challenges. That collaboration is how we’re going to continue to move Illinois forward.”
The National Speakers Conference brought together State House and Assembly Speakers from across the country for a bipartisan exchange of ideas. In remarks before the conference, Welch outlined how political differences are small in comparison to the common goals that motivate us—our ‘why.’ That idea has driven Illinois’ success under Welch’s leadership.
This past spring, Welch and colleagues have put affordability front and center in Illinois. While Trump’s tariffs and extreme cuts make it more difficult for families to make ends meet, Welch has called on Illinois to take charge of what it can control to reduce the cost of living until new leaders in Washington can curb Trump’s corrupt agenda. The result has been new measures to crack down on hidden fees at the store, hold landlords accountable for additional costs that make housing unaffordable, wipe out more than $1 billion in old medical bills for families and seniors, and stop AI-powered price-gouging schemes.
Strong fiscal management and responsible budgeting under Welch’s leadership have also earned the state 12 credit rating upgrades, restoring Illinois to A-level credit while also making smart investments in education, healthcare, food security, and other resources that Washington is trying to slash.
Welch concluded the conference by receiving the honorary gavel passed between Speakers who host the annual meeting. The next conference in 2027 will be held in Chicago, and Welch used his remarks to invite his colleagues to take in Illinois’ landmarks, cultural sites, and world-class cuisine.
“In Illinois, we’ve shown how people with different perspectives, backgrounds, and beliefs can come together to pursue the common good,” Welch said. “Our state will be a perfect backdrop for leaders from across the country to continue the work of forming a more perfect union together.”
