SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Upon the historic confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus released the following statement:

“Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is one of the most impressive, qualified and fair-minded Supreme Court justices ever confirmed. Her dedication to economic justice, civil rights, reproductive health care access and other pressing issues exhibits her extensive expertise and commitment to justice under the law. As the first Black woman Supreme Court justice, Justice Jackson will defend the rights of all Americans, regardless of race or background, and work towards a more just system for generations to come.

We are excited to see how Justice Jackson uses her integrity, upstanding character and expert legal knowledge to positively impact our country and inspire the next generation of Black leaders. We stand with Justice Jackson in our dedication to public service and justice, and celebrate this monumental day in our history.

By nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden has delivered on his promise of nominating the nation’s first Black woman Supreme Court justice with an established record of judicial fairness and a commitment to equal justice for all.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —State Rep. Kam Buckner released the following statement after new bills reforming Government Ethics and Clean Energy passed out of the General Assembly as the Illinois House of Representatives wrapped up its Session on Thursday.

Climate and Equitable Jobs Act:

“Today in Springfield, we came together to do what we were elected to do; create a path toward a brighter future for Illinois. The passing of this Energy package will promote the use of new innovations to get us to zero carbon emission by 2045 and help combat climate change. These key reforms will preserve the environment, create the jobs of the future, and promote fair equitable resourcing for the people and communities across Illinois.”

“I want to applaud my colleague state Rep. Marcus Evans for spearheading the final compromise that led to the passing of this landmark legislation. His efforts to ensure that even as we balanced a wide range of priorities, we remained focused on the task at hand. Rep. Evans, like myself, has worked tirelessly to create a truly equitable Illinois where your quality of life is not determined by your zip code and this plan to make us carbon free will preserve life for those most impacted by pollution.”

Ethics Package:

“The passage of the Ethics bill will help restore the line of trust between our government and the people of Illinois to whom we took an oath to represent with honor and dignity. Our constituents should never have to be wary of elected officials using their positions and influence to push their own self-benefiting agendas. Each and every day public officials and state government workers spend employed should be used to work for the best interest of people and the passing of Senate Bill 539 will help ensure that is the case.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Members of Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) are offering support for the state’s Learning Renewal Guide, a set of recommendations to help local schools address learning loss by students due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Over the past year, Illinois students and families have faced unprecedented educational disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” ILBC Joint Caucus Chair state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, said. “We owe it to students to ensure they receive a high quality education and that they are able make up for learning loss caused by the pandemic.”

“Black people have suffered from systemic racism for far too long, so I am proud that I led the effort to change Illinois’ educational system for our Black students,” Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, D-Maywood, said. “The law we passed required the state’s P-20 Council to make recommendations on how to address the impact of COVID-19, resulting in this guide. It will help our state’s schools and universities make the best use of the more than $7 billion they’re receiving in federal aid. This funding is especially important for schools in disproportionately affected Black communities.”

“Equity in education is a key pillar of the Black Caucus agenda to address systemic racism in Illinois, but our measures go so much further to address the wide-ranging needs of students and teachers, especially needs that have been amplified by the pandemic,” state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, said. “That’s why it’s so encouraging to see a diverse group of stakeholders develop clear recommendations to address learning models, student mental health and extracurricular experiences, among other topics, in order to provide the best education for each student.”

“I’m glad to see that Illinois schools are receiving increased federal support that will be used to invest in our students and teachers, particularly as our students and teachers have navigated such a difficult environment over the past year,” state Rep. Will Davis, D-Homewood, said. “Federal funds, in tandem with the Learning Renewal Guide, will help address learning loss and put students back on track to have stronger futures.”

“This past year has been one of the most difficult periods for education in our state’s history, and with COVID-19 forcing closures and wreaking havoc on state finances, many schools have had to worry about how they’ll be able to operate moving forward,” Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, said. “That’s why today’s announcement is so important. It lets schools know that there is a future. It shows students that they haven’t been forgotten. Ensuring that our schools are well-funded should always be a priority, and this is especially true in the aftermath of a year-long global pandemic that has caused so many schools across Illinois to struggle.”

“The Black Caucus agenda advances not only communities of color, but the entire state of Illinois,” state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, Chairperson of the Illinois House Black Caucus, said. “These guidelines, combined with federal support, provide a roadmap to recovery for students and teachers that will help ensure that Illinois students are not left behind as we work to build back from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Learning Renewal Guide was developed by the P-20 Council, a group established by the legislature to foster collaboration among local schools, families, educational institutions, state agencies and other stakeholders in the education community. The P-20 Council works to align education and workforce development programs so that children can have a path from preschool to high school to college or career education. Several initiatives announced in the Learning Renewal Guide arise from and align with the Black Caucus’ Education and Workforce Equity Act, also known as Public Act 101-0654, which charged the P-20 Council with developing recommendations for:

• the evaluation of hybrid and remote learning models
• addressing student mental health with trauma-informed policies
• offering student enrichment programs, including internship and apprenticeship in addition to extracurricular activities and tutoring programs
• reviewing data to understand academic, behavioral, and social needs, particularly as these areas relate to pandemic disrupted learning

The Learning Renewal Guide helps give guidance to schools at the elementary, secondary, and higher education level to help make the best use of federal aid from the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan. As part of the Biden administration’s response to the pandemic, Illinois schools will receive more than $5 billion for supporting pre-kindergarten through 12th grade schools and institutions of higher education will receive $1.3 billion.

CHICAGO – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, recently met with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Mayor Lori Lightfoot at a retreat for House members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC).

“In my role as House chairperson for the ILBC, I was proud to welcome Lt. Gov. Stratton and Mayor Lori Lightfoot to the ILBC House members retreat to speak about their priorities and how we can all work together to build a stronger Illinois by fighting for a fair tax system that puts the middle class first, a growing economy that creates high-wage jobs and lower health care costs,” Lilly said. “Both Lt. Gov. Stratton and Mayor Lightfoot are history makers, each serving as the first Black women in their respective positions, which is a testament not only to each of them as individuals, but to the people of Illinois who elected them.”

Lilly serves as the chairperson for the 22 members of the Illinois House of Representatives within the ILBC. The ILBC was founded in the 1960s to promote equitable representation of African Americans in government and the progression of the African American community in Illinois through business enterprise and job creation, criminal justice reform, education and health care.

CHICAGO – State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, joined members of the Black Caucus, City of Chicago Treasurer Kurt Summers and statewide business leaders to voice their support for Welch’s proposal to ensure greater representation of African Americans and women on corporate boards in Illinois at a press conference today.

“Corporate boards have traditionally heavily underrepresented African Americans and women,” Welch said. “This legislation will create a more inclusive and diverse environment on corporate boards and will help ensure that all voices are part of decisions being made that impact our state’s economy.”

Welch’s proposal, House Bill 3394, requires corporations based in Illinois to have at least one African American and one female member on their boards by 2020. There are already numerous Illinois-based corporations that are currently compliant with the measure’s racial and gender diversity requirements, including McDonalds, United, Boeing, John Deere and Caterpillar. Welch’s proposal calls on other corporations in Illinois to follow the example set by these businesses in prioritizing diversity in the boardroom.

“The board of the companies on which I serve already have substantial gender and ethnic diversity,” said John Rowe, Chairman Emeritus of Exelon Corporation, member of Northern Trust and Suncoke Energy boards and co-chair of the American Business Immigration Coalition. “It is simply necessary for the times. It is also right.”

Sam Scott, a member of the Motorola and Abbott Labs boards in Illinois added, “With the country becoming more diverse and corporations serving a multitude of different customers, the idea of boards being made up of different expertise and diverse thinking is extremely important for the overall corporate environment.” Scott also is co-chair of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition. 

House Bill 3394 recently passed the House and is currently awaiting further action in the Senate.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, is working to make college more affordable by highlighting a scholarship opportunity for undergraduate students offered through the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation.

“As the cost of college continues to rise, students often have a difficult time financing their education,” Lilly said. “The goal of this scholarship is to help students invest in themselves since acquiring a college degree is one of the best investments any person can make for their future.”

Lilly is a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation (ILBCF), a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance and develop the interests of African Americans in Illinois. The ILBCF scholarship is open to students seeking an undergraduate degree who are Illinois residents and who are attending or have been accepted to an accredited institution of higher learning including community colleges, public and private colleges and universities, and certified vocational training programs. Applications are available at ilbcf.org and must be submitted by May 9, 2019.

“I’m glad that the ILBCF offers this scholarship for students who might otherwise find it difficult to obtain a college degree,” Lilly said. “I am determined to make higher education more affordable so that any person, regardless of their financial means, has the chance to build the skills necessary to possess gainful, fulfilling employment in the modern economy.”