PLAINFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, issued the following statement Friday after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s global tariffs imposed through the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA):

“Today’s decision is great news for local families who have suffered higher costs because of these misguided, unilateral and illegal tariffs.

“Over the past year, I’ve heard from frustrated families, business owners, farmers and others across our community who have been hit hard in the wallet. These tariffs were a tax increase, causing instability, hurting jobs and recklessly damaging our state’s economy.

“It’s time to return the money that was stolen from us. The Treasury Department collected billions throughout the duration of these unlawful tariffs, and Washington needs to start issuing reimbursements immediately. They need to put working families at the front of the line.

“Today’s rebuke is an opportunity to choose a better, more responsible path forward. Let’s pursue thoughtful trade policy that encourages growth, sparks job creation and strengthens our state’s economic standing on a global level.”

For more information, please contact info@repharrybenton.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, issued the following statement Wednesday after the governor shared his budget proposal to the General Assembly:

“Today we begin the real work of developing a responsible state budget that will prioritize the issues facing families across our community.

“I’ve heard from many residents about their concerns with affordability, and of the need to invest in our schools, health care, public safety and more. They also rightfully expect the state to pursue a balanced, fiscally-conscious plan that respects taxpayers and puts us on a stronger path moving forward.

“There’s going to be more unpredictability from Washington, which is why it is critical that we are smart with what we can control here at home. This budget document is an opportunity to reinforce our values and our efforts to uplift every family.

“I’m looking forward to reviewing the governor’s plan in greater detail, and seeing how we can invest in a more affordable future.”

For more information, please contact info@repharrybenton.com.

PLAINFIELD, Ill. – Students at risk of severe allergic reactions could have greater access to needle-free epinephrine nasal sprays at their schools under a plan backed by state Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield.

“New, less painful epinephrine options are available, and we should ensure our schools have the best option available for students,” Benton said. “This is a needed update to our law that moves away from strict injector requirements, and better positions us to take advantage of modern lifesaving tools moving forward.”

The Benton-supported House Bill 4219 would adjust state law governing schools and epinephrine by changing the term “epinephrine injectors” to “epinephrine delivery systems.” This update would enable schools to procure, carry and administer epinephrine in nasal form, which is less painful for users and has a longer shelf life than auto-injector form. Annual school personnel training standards would also be updated to include techniques for administering non-injector epinephrine options.

“We want our learning environments to be as safe as possible,” Benton said. “This responsible measure reinforces our commitment to students, parents and school communities.”

For more information, please contact info@repharrybenton.com.

PLAINFIELD, Ill. – To better protect consumers, state Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, is backing a plan to address “surveillance pricing” – a practice in which online retailers leverage AI and algorithms to charge customers different prices based on their personal data.

“Companies are increasingly using dynamic pricing to create individualized prices for online shoppers,” Benton said. “There’s a lot of concerns for consumers, who may not be aware of this practice, and could be paying higher prices due to their demographics. For example, a website could recognize a user as a mother with winter approaching, and then raise prices for children’s winter coats. We’re likely to see more companies utilizing these strategies in the years ahead, so it’s time to develop fair and responsible safeguards for our state.”

Benton is supporting House Bill 4248, dubbed the Algorithmic Pricing Transparency Act, as a chief cosponsor. The proposal would require sellers to clearly disclose to consumers if the price displayed is generated using surveillance pricing. Shoppers would have the ability to opt out of surveillance pricing and instead receive a baseline price for the goods or services.

House Bill 4248 further prohibits sellers from using specific personal information for generating algorithmic pricing, such as race, religion and medical information.

“Consumers want to be treated fairly, they don’t want to have their personal information exploited without their knowledge,” Benton said. “In an increasingly data driven age, this is a needed measure that puts people first.”

For more information, please contact info@repharrybenton.com.

PLAINFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, congratulates Staff Sergeant Tomee Phetsisouk—a decorated combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which he served as an infantry squad leader—after Phetsisouk and his two daughters were awarded a mortgage-free home on Oct. 1 through non-profit Building Homes for Heroes, in association with homebuilder PulteGroup’s Built to Honor program.

“America’s combat veterans are the best of us and deserve the best we can give them,” Benton said. “I want to thank PulteGroup and Building Homes for Heroes. Their efforts on behalf of veterans like Staff Sgt. Phetsisouk and his family are exemplary, and reflect the commitment to our veterans that every American should carry in their heart. Staff Sgt. Phetsisouk: congratulations, thank you—and ‘Welcome Home.’”

Staff Sgt. Phetsisouk joined the United States Army in 2003 in Rolling Meadows, IL and deployed to Iraq twice: from Aug. 2005 to Aug. 2006 and again from Dec. 2007 to Feb. 2009. His injuries were incurred during that second deployment, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). Staff Sgt. Phetsisouk suffered severe head trauma which resulted in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) along with partial hearing loss, injuries to his back and neck and shrapnel wounds to his neck, back and arms. Today, he also continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Staff Sgt. Phetsisouk was medically retired from the Army in Nov. 2012 after serving honorably for more than nine years.

Building Homes for Heroes was founded in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001 and is nearing its goal of donating its 500 th home. It currently donates or refurbishes a home for an American veteran an average of once every 11 days.

PulteGroup’s Built to Honor program was established in 2013 and, through partner organizations, provides mortgage-free homes to disabled veterans with demonstrated financial need and who meet a short list of other criteria. They have since given more than 95 homes to veterans.

PLAINFIELD, Ill. — After a gunshot was fired at the home of state Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, D- Shorewood, on Wednesday, state Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, issued a statement calling for peace and expressing support for the senator:

“Senator Loughran Cappel and her family are in my thoughts today as they deal with this violation of their safety and peace of mind. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, and Shorewood’s law enforcement acted swiftly to restore peace and safety to the community,” Benton said.

“With tensions on the rise, and expressions of hatred and violence becoming sadly common, it’s important for all of us to focus on respect, civility and the human dignity we all share. Violence like this is never justified, and always counterproductive. It’s up to all of us to stand together and work out our problems peacefully. That’s the American way.”

Benton and Loughran Cappel jointly serve the Joliet, Plainfield, Shorewood area in Springfield.

CHICAGO — State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, honored former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White on Thursday, as luminaries and elected officials gathered to rename the state office building at 115 S. LaSalle St. in Chicago to the “Jesse White State of Illinois Building,” in celebration of his decades of service to the people of Illinois.

“Jesse White is the kind of public servant who only appears once in a generation. Since 1957, in one way or another, this man has dedicated his entire self to the people of this state and the institutions that serve them,” Benton said. “He did this as a soldier, a community pillar, an athlete, a teacher, a legislator, a county official and, finally, as our first Black Secretary of State and the longest serving—for over 24 years. We owe him more than we can recount.”

White joined the Army in 1957 and served as a paratrooper in the famous 101st Airborne Division until 1959. That year, he moved home and founded the Jesse White Tumbling Team, which has helped and redirected over 18,500 kids and remains in operation to this day. White served as a teacher and administrator for the Chicago Public Schools for over 33 years, while also playing minor league ball for the Chicago Cubs organization, serving in the Illinois General Assembly for 16 years beginning in 1974, and as Cook County Recorder of Deeds in the 1990’s before beginning his tenure as Secretary of State.

Benton introduced House Joint Resolution 48 in May 2024, calling for the renaming of the building. The renaming ceremony was held Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

“This is a fitting tribute for a person so unique in the history of our state,” Benton said when addressing the House of Representatives to introduce the resolution, with White in attendance. “I ask that you all join me in recognizing this man, who dedicated his life to our state and its people.”

The joint resolution passed both House and Senate unanimously.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, passed a compassionate and responsible budget that braces Illinois against the chaos and uncertainty caused by Washington, with targeted cuts and efficiencies that maintain core government programs and initiatives without burdening working families.

“This was an especially challenging budget year because of the situation in Washington,” Benton said. “But, despite that, I’m proud to report that we have a balanced and socially responsible budget that helps to insulate us from the effects of an irresponsible, partisan administration.”

The Benton-backed budget includes $193 million in operational cuts among other savings and efficiencies. These dollars are redirected to better support family priorities, including new investments in schools and healthcare. The forward-thinking measure also includes reserve funds that can be tapped if future decisions in Washington cause additional economic strain in Illinois.

Throughout this session, Benton championed working families and working-class communities, supporting funding for programs critical to them and opposing those that would have raised costs or resulted in unsupportable cuts. He also led the way in cutting red tape that was raising the cost of child care for military servicemembers stationed in Illinois by sending House Bill 3444—a measure to exempt Defense Department certified childcare providers on Illinois military bases from redundant state regulations—to the governor’s desk.

In addition, Benton supported generational reforms to pharmacy benefit manager regulations, a measure aimed at better addressing the burden of rising property taxes, increased wages for critical direct service and in-home care professionals, promoting safe gun storage, maintaining support for first responders and public safety, supporting after-school programs and funding community-based violence prevention.

“This was a potential crisis, but we put our heads down, worked the issues and ended up with a budget designed to help our state weather any future difficulties,” Benton said. “We did what Washington should be doing, and the result is that we’re free to continue building a brighter future for everyone in our state.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, is working to make childcare more accessible and affordable by advancing a pair of bills bringing more early childhood educators into the classroom and improving access to care for military families. 

“The rising cost of childcare is something we’ve all seen happening, and there’s been no shortage of attention given to it in the press and within our communities,” Benton said. “But this remains a stubborn issue. All that means is that we need to try different things—to drill down and look not just at the symptoms but at the possible root causes and then plan accordingly.”  

Benton advanced the following legislation out of House committees:

• House Bill 3268: Helps address the high costs of childcare by allowing daycares to hire teachers according to a tiered system, while they work to get their qualifications–similar to an apprenticeship program. This will help address the teacher shortage and prevent the closures of so many childcare facilities across the state. 
• House Bill 3444: Specifically designed to help military families with the cost of childcare by making daycares located on military bases exempt from DCFS regulation if they are certified by the U.S. Department of Defense and a qualified national accrediting agency. 

“Childcare isn’t negotiable—when you need it, you need it,” Benton said. “That’s why making it more affordable is such an important priority. This is an issue that affects most families in most communities throughout Illinois, and solving the problem of its accessibility is a goal that everyone should be able to get behind.”

Benton’s bills now move forward to be considered by the full House of Representatives. 

PLAINFIELD, Ill. — Following today’s conviction of Joseph Czuba for fatally stabbing six-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and seriously wounding his mother, Hanan Shaheen, state Representative Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, issued a statement.

“Nothing can bring back the innocent child who was so brutally ripped from his family more than a year ago–or make up for the terrible injuries suffered by his mother. But today, I’m thankful that justice has finally been done, and that it was done as swiftly as it was. My heart goes out to Wadee’s family and to those who loved him. Hate has no home in Illinois, and it’s up to all of us to continue working together for peace.”