SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, issued the following statement upon the General Assembly’s adjournment this week:

“This spring legislative session has been entirely unprecedented. Early this year, my colleagues in the House joined ranks to bring an end to the decades-long leadership of the former Speaker by uniting to elect Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch as Speaker of the House for the 102^nd General Assembly. The time for new leadership and a new perspective is paving the way for an honest and open exchange of ideas in Springfield.

“Members of the General Assembly on both sides of the aisle have risen to the occasion and acted in good faith to adapt to remote committee hearings, which is unlike anything we have been accustomed to in the past. We have agreed on many issues facing Illinoisans far and wide by passing countless proposals which are creating jobs, putting Illinoisans back to work, and getting our economy back on track. We have also agreed to disagree at times, but we all share a fundamental willingness and desire to move Illinois forward for those who call it home.

“Our state’s budget lives within its means and is reflective of the challenging moment we are in. Honest and bipartisan negotiations have been held to identify budgetary efficiencies and cost savings, while ensuring essential services are maintained to care for the vulnerable, fund our schools, and reduce the tax burden on working Illinoisans trying their level best to rebound from the pandemic.

“I look forward to working in good faith with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle as we continue to enact meaningful and lasting reforms which are in the collective interest of Illinoisans across the state.”

NORTHLAKE, Ill. – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, designed to streamline reopening requirements for Westlake Hospital was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday.

“I applaud Gov. Pritzker for recognizing the health care disparities that were laid bare by Westlake Hospital’s 2019 closure, which left many people without access to critical treatment and care,” Willis said. “I am honored to have led the effort that will enable Westlake Hospital to reopen as efficiently and effectively as possible so that it can resume treating those most in need.”

Signed by Gov. Pritzker Tuesday, Willis’ Senate Bill 168 lays the groundwork for reopening Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park, which closed in 2019. The new law establishes a streamlined process for reviving a closed hospital, including that parties seeking to reopen a hospital commit to spending at least $20 million on improving hospital infrastructure. Once Westlake Hospital reopens its doors under new ownership, it is projected that 500 to 600 health care jobs will be created.

“The devastating blow COVID has had on countless Illinois communities only reaffirms our commitment to revitalizing and further expanding access to health care,” Willis said. “Reopening Westlake Hospital will move us one step closer to making good on that goal.”

NORTHLAKE, Ill. – State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, is working to make local voices heard in Illinois’ redistricting process by bringing a public hearing of the House Redistricting Committee to the Cook and DuPage area on Friday, April 2.

The hearings will be held virtually, with the north DuPage County hearing beginning at 10 a.m. and the west Cook County hearing starting at 2 p.m.

“It is our primary responsibility as members of the General Assembly to ensure that every redistricting hearing is held in an open and transparent manner for those seeking to engage in this important once-in-a-decade process,” said Willis. “The results of Illinois’ redistricting will determine the geographical boundaries of legislative and congressional districts for the next ten years. That is why I’m encouraging as much input as possible from individuals and organizations with varying backgrounds and interests so that their voices and perspectives can be heard.”

The hearing is part of Willis’ commitment to an open and participatory redistricting process and is one of 23 scheduled hearings across the state where legislators will receive input from groups and individuals. Members of the public are welcome to share their thoughts on demographic trends they see in their areas, communities of interest, and other information about the region that should inform the process of creating new legislative districts.

Individuals or groups interested in testifying should contact RedistrictingCommittee@hds.ilga.gov. Please include the date and region of the hearing you wish to attend, and a brief description of the testimony you wish to share.

Those interested in viewing can stream the hearings at https://ilga.gov/houseaudvid.asp

Written testimony can also be shared directly with the Redistricting Committee at any time by emailing RedistrictingCommittee@hds.ilga.gov.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – After two months of scrupulous competition alongside other innovative and leading Illinois manufacturers, state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, is congratulating Termico Technologies and its production of the Self-Regulating Traffic Heater as the winner of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s “Makers Madness” contest for “The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.”

“Illinois has long been a national contender for its robust manufacturing sector which employs countless residents with good paying jobs,” Willis said. “The leading innovations, developments and contributions of Illinois manufacturing continues to forge a global footprint due to the quality and reputation of manufacturers like Termico Technologies in our very own backyard.”

Located in Elk Grove Village, Termico Technologies is the manufacturer of the Self-Regulating Traffic Signal Heater which utilizes conductive particles to supply heat to traffic lights, ensuring their reliability and visibility to motorists traveling in winter weather. The Self-Regulating Traffic Signal Heater emerged victorious over 311 individual products nominated from across Illinois, with a total of 300,000 votes cast for all products in the competition.  

“The Self-Regulating Traffic Signal Heater is an outstanding example of the innovation and ingenuity of our state’s manufacturing sector and has rightfully earned the title of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois. This unique energy efficient product from Termico Technologies impacts our lives every day by making sure the people and goods that travel on our roadways get where they’re going safely and efficiently,” said Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “Manufacturing has always played a vital role in Illinois, especially during the pandemic when manufacturers ramped up production to produce supplies needed to combat the virus. The men and women on factory floors across the state deserve our recognition and appreciation and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is proud to advocate on their behalf each and every day.”

“I want to publicly recognize and congratulate Termico Technologies for leading the charge with their innovative technology, which is enabling our transportation infrastructure to operate efficiently and effectively,” said Willis. “I am continually inspired by manufacturers in Illinois and it is a high honor to represent Termico Technologies in the General Assembly.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, issued the following statement after Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget address on Wednesday:

“In his budget address today, Gov. Pritzker laid the groundwork for a budget which recognizes the unprecedented challenges we face. As members of the General Assembly, we are tasked with taking the administration’s budget proposal as a starting point in the process of crafting a balanced budget – particularly one that controls spending, lives within our means and meets our most pressing needs.

“I stand ready and willing to work with Gov. Pritzker and our federal partners to ensure immediate federal assistance is provided to those hit hardest by COVID. It is critically important that we prioritize widespread vaccine distribution and availability, introduce safe school reopening plans, and continue to provide access to testing and treatment.

“The need for Congress to act swiftly to help us meet these existing and persistent challenges is more important now than ever. I am committed to getting to work to deliver a carefully crafted budget that recognizes the moment we are in.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, issued the following statement upon the General Assembly’s adjournment this week:

“First and foremost, I want to thank all of our frontline workers for their tireless efforts. Nurses, doctors, first responders and many other essential workers are doing a tremendous job to meet this unprecedented challenge. We are forever grateful to all these men and women for putting themselves at risk to save lives and keep our communities safe and healthy. 

“Our goal during this special session was to address the state’s most urgent needs amid the pandemic. We focused our efforts on ensuring that essential services remain operational, recognizing the need to provide additional resources to people in our communities significantly impacted by this crisis.

“Although more remains to be done, we made tough decisions to pass a balanced budget that includes $719 million in new funding for public health and full funding for unemployment. We also increased protections for workers affected by the virus, expanded access to tele-health and mental health resources, and took steps to support property taxpayers and help schools adapt to remote e-learning. Looking forward, I am committed to using every available resource within state government to help us move forward in the fight against COVID-19.”

NORTHLAKE, Ill. – To thank the nurses, first responders and other essential workers fighting the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) health pandemic, state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, is highlighting National Nurses Week.

“Our nurses have been serving on the frontlines working to save lives even before the coronavirus began,” Willis said. “Their essential skills as medical professionals are literally making the difference between life and death, and for that we are beyond grateful to the selfless sacrifices they are making for us all.”

Willis is highlighting National Nurses Week to show her support for nurses and other health care workers during the COVID-19 health crisis, and is urging residents to abide by the governor’s extended stay at home order. The extended stay at home order lasts until May 30, requires residents to wear face coverings in public places where maintaining social distancing guidelines of six feet is difficult, like grocery stores, and calls on residents to continue staying home as much as possible.

“During this unprecedented and challenging time, we recognize nurses on National Nurses Week with a newfound appreciation and gratitude,” Willis said. “These stand-out women and men truly define what it means to be essential, and we simply cannot thank them enough for all they are doing to fight COVID-19.” 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s recent threats that he will withhold COVID-19 related economic relief from states that do not comply with his extreme anti-immigrant agenda:

“It is unconscionable that the president would exploit a public health crisis to play demagogic political games with the lives of working families and seniors who are physically and financially suffering during this pandemic. His threats to withhold needed economic aid to states that are welcoming to immigrants is simply another chapter is his amoral playbook, written to distract from his failures by cloaking them in his racist, xenophobic rhetoric.

“We strongly condemn the president’s villainous attempts to turn us against our immigrant families, friends and neighbors by extorting us in our time of need. The Latino Caucus will not allow our immigrant communities to be left behind and any attempts made to alienate them will fail because immigrants are sewn into the fiber of our communities.”

NORTHLAKE, Ill. – As the General Assembly continues to address the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, announced her appointment to several newly established legislative working groups.

“The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed nearly every aspect of our lives in historically unprecedented and troubling ways. I want to assure the public that the General Assembly is pressing forward to solve these challenging problems remotely,” Willis said. “I now serve on four key working groups which are identifying legislative priorities that must be promptly addressed upon our return to Springfield.”

Willis has been appointed as Co-Chair of the Local Government and Corrections and Justice working groups, as well as serving on Access to Health Care and Labor and Unemployment Insurance working groups. These groups are intended to function similar to House committees, however they do not effectively pass legislation. Instead, they have been tasked with identifying solutions and legislative remedies to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I recognize the challenges that we are facing due to this pandemic are devastating and overwhelming,” Willis said. “Our state government is doing everything within its power to halt the spread of COVID-19, and we are determined to reopen the economy and get people back to work as soon as we possibly can.”

For more information or additional resources, please contact Rep. Willis’ district office at (708) 562-6970 or email repwillis77@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that he will suspend immigration into the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

“We are deeply concerned that during a global pandemic that requires thoughtful and consistent leadership, the president swings back and forth between dismissing the gravity of the situation to continuously finding someone to unfairly blame for the toll it is taking on our economy and families. Rather than heed the recommendations of medical and public health experts, he is once again inserting his anti-immigrant, xenophobic, fearmongering rhetoric into the conversation to distract from his mishandling of the crisis and for tens of thousands of lives lost.

“During this pandemic, the labor of many professions with high immigrant demographics, such as janitorial staff, grocery store workers and farmworkers, has been deemed essential- but to us they have always been essential. Countless continue to go to work each day during this pandemic to provide for their families and to serve all of us. This demonstrates not only their commitment to their families but also highlights their contributions to our communities as critical to our collective livelihoods. Without them, we would not have food to eat, shelves stocked and clean hospital rooms, along with the numerous immigrants that are serving as first responders, doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, x-ray techs, and the list goes on. They should all be treated accordingly.

“We are appalled that even during this unprecedented crisis that necessitates unity and empathy, the president continues to attack our immigrant families and neighbors instead of giving them the respect they deserve. The Latino Caucus will continue to stand and fight with the immigrant community to ensure that they have a seat at the table as we navigate these uncertain times.”