“Greg Harris embodies public service and throughout his fifteen year career, he has been a passionate advocate for what’s fair and just. His command of a wide range of public policy issues, particularly Medicaid and our state budget, has been such a vital asset to the entire state. Greg led the way to deliver marriage equality, protected social service programs during the budget impasse and helped lower medical costs for everyday families. As a values-oriented leader and as the first openly gay majority leader, Greg has given a voice to so many who have continuously felt left out of state government. I am grateful for Leader Harris’s support as I’ve navigated my first year as Speaker. I look forward to his continued guidance throughout the 102nd General Assembly, but I will forever be blessed to call him a friend.”

“With the Senate’s passage of this comprehensive energy proposal, the Illinois legislature has positioned our state as a national leader for clean energy policies,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “I was elected to lead the House chamber eight months ago today, and I’m so proud to see all of the hard work we’ve put into this bill finally come to fruition. I look forward to seeing Governor JB Pritzker sign it into law so we can put Illinois on the path to a greener future, while also prioritizing jobs, a diversified energy sector and much-needed utility ethics reforms.”

Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch is pleased to announce the appointment of Justice Marcus Salone to serve on the Legislative Ethics Commission’s search committee.

“Justice Salone is a man of integrity who brings with him a resume filled with accomplishments and experience in our legal system,” said Speaker Welch. “Between his credentialed background and consistent commitment to professional ethics, I am confident Justice Salone is uniquely qualified to vet applicants for our next Legislative Inspector General. He understands the weight of this appointment and will ensure we fill the position with someone who will hold elected officials to the highest of ethical standards and work diligently to restore trust in Springfield.”

Justice Salone currently serves on the Cook County Board of Ethics and is a retired Presiding Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, and 3^rd Division. Prior to that, Justice Salone served 10 years as a Chicago Police Officer before he began his legal career as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney. He has also served as an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County and a Judge in the Criminal Division of the Circuit Court.

 “I humbly accept and am incredibly honored to be chosen as Speaker Welch’s nomination for the Legislative Ethics Commission search committee,” Salone said. “The importance of the role of Legislator Inspector General is not lost on me and I am committed to ensuring we fill this position with a qualified candidate who holds sacrosanct transparency, integrity and the rule of law.”

During his time as a Judge in the Criminal Division of the Circuit Court from 1993 until March 2011, Justice Salone presided over criminal matters ranging from felony theft to death penalty cases.  On March 8, 2011 the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Justice Salone to the Illinois Appellate Court.

Civically, Justice Salone has served on a number of boards as a director, including: the Cook County Board of Ethics, The John Marshall Law School Alumni Board of Directors, the John Howard Association and the Ancona School. He has also participated in the Chicago Public School’s “Principal For A Day” program since its inception and is a mentor in the “We Care” mentoring program coordinated by the Chicago Police Department, in conjunction with the Chicago Public Schools. Recipient of numerous honors and accolades, Justice Salone received the 2018 Presidential Award from the National Bar Association.

The youngest of seven children, Justice Salone was born into Chicago Housing Authority public housing and raised on Chicago’s Westside until going away to college. He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1974. Justice Salone’s formal education was interrupted by a stint in the United States Army, which included a tour in the Republic of Viet Nam. In 1978, Justice Salone enrolled at The John Marshall Law School and passed the Illinois State Bar examination in 1981. Two years later, he and his wife, Valée, formed The Law Offices of Salone and Salone.

Background Information on the LIG Search Committee:
The search committee is staffed by appointments from all four legislative leaders and conducts the search for qualified candidates for the position of the Legislative Inspector General. The committee appointments must be a retired judge or a former prosecutor in the state of Illinois. Once LIG applicants are identified, the search committee will conduct the first round of interviews and must choose up to three candidates to present to the bipartisan Ethics Committee. 

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“For the first time in decades, Illinois has received not one, but two bond rating upgrades. I am incredibly proud of our state’s responsible financial choices that continue to improve our fiscal standing, as well as put hardworking Illinoisans and their families first. These are the types of positive changes you see when government leadership is truly working for the people they represent.”

“This improved outlook is yet another example of what our state is capable of with strong leadership and responsible economic policy decisions. All three rating agencies have upgraded Illinois’ outlook which is proof we can support families, invest in underserved communities, and be fiscally prudent at the same time. I am incredibly grateful to our House Budgeteer Greg Harris for all of his hard work, as well as the bipartisan budget working groups, for making the fiscal health of our state a top priority.”

“I am happy to announce that I have appointed Representative LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, as Majority Conference Chairperson,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “Today I accepted the resignation from Leader Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, from this position. I am grateful for the work she has done and will continue to do for the people of Illinois. I am eager to see the progress Leader Greenwood will make as she grows into this leadership role and the continued success of our Democratic Caucus here in the statehouse.”

SPRINGFIELD, IL – In the wake of nearly 200 mass shootings so far this year, State Representative Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) passed HB 1092 out of the Illinois House.

While we continue to deal with COVID-19, we have to address the more chronic pandemic of gun violence that continues to kill innocent Americans every day. A mass shooting in Evanston killed five people in January of 2021. Since then, we have seen more mass shootings in Atlanta, Boulder, and most recently in Indianapolis, Kenosha, and Colorado Springs. 

In 2018, the Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) Act passed with bipartisan support and it went to effect in January of 2019. Designed to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a significant risk to themselves or others, this law has been vastly underutilized due to a lack of awareness and inconsistent implementation.

House Bill 1092 strengthens our existing FRO law in order to prevent the next mass shooting, hate crime, or gun suicide in Illinois. When a FRO is granted, this bill will ensure firearms—and now ammunition—are removed in a timely manner. This bill will also include yearly training for law enforcement on the use of the FRO and create an education campaign for the general public through the Department of Public Health. 

“I became a legislator to fight gun violence,” says Representative Stoneback. “HB 1092 is an opportunity to prevent further tragedies like the ones we have seen across the nation. No family should have to bury their child, spouse, or loved one due to preventable gun violence.”

“From the bottom of my heart, I applaud Representative Stoneback’s diligent leadership on this bill,” said Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “By improving public awareness of firearm restraining orders and bolstering police training, this bill will bring about specific, tangible reforms that can save lives and protect people from falling victim to gun violence.”

HB 1092 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To start off the 101st General Assembly next month, state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, is seeking his constituent’s input on new and creative legislative ideas to sponsor.

“There is a lot to tackle in the upcoming session, and I want to make sure my residents have a chance to tell me what’s on their minds,” said Welch. “Community input is vital to democracy, and it is important that I make myself accessible to my constituents to listen to their thoughts on how to make Illinois better.”

Welch is asking area residents to draft creative ideas for new legislation that could become law. Residents are encouraged to either create and submit their plans to Welch, or meet with him to discuss their ideas in person. Welch believes that constituent-driven legislation is one way to keep people involved in the lawmaking process, and may invite residents to travel to Springfield to testify on behalf of their idea with him. There is no limit to the number of ideas that can be submitted.

“Sometimes a seemingly complex problem has a very simple solution, that’s why I want to include ordinary people in the legislative process,” said Welch. “This is their democracy, and I will always fight to protect that.”

HILLSIDE, Ill. – State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, is highlighting a new law that protects consumers from data breaches and identity theft by making it easier for fraud victims to obtain a credit freeze.

“Some 5 million Illinoisans found their personal information compromised following the massive security breach at Equifax last summer, leaving them vulnerable to potential identify theft,” Welch said. “Consumers shouldn’t have to pay the very company that allowed their data to be hacked in order to take a critical step to protect themselves from further damage.”

Welch sponsored House Bill 4095 which makes it easier for consumers to request a credit freeze by allowing them to submit a request by email and telephone. Currently requests are accepted in writing through certified mail. Welch’s new law also prohibits corporations like Equifax from charging consumers for this service. A credit freeze puts a notice on a consumer’s credit report and effectively prevents anyone from opening new lines of credit in the consumer’s name. A credit freeze is generally recommended as a precautionary measure for anyone who suspects their personal information is compromised.

“Unfortunately, data breaches and security hacks happen every day, most of the time through no fault of the consumer,” said Welch. “We need to keep pursuing policies that put the needs of consumers before the large corporations we trust to keep our information safe.”

HILLSIDE, Ill. – Following attempts to push Gov. Bruce Rauner to nominate Maywood, Bellwood and Broadview as new locations for private investment and future job growth, state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, is highlighting the potential success to come to the area.

“Opportunity Zone status gives my communities additional resources and tools to help attract business, create good-paying jobs and incentivize people to move and invest here,” said Welch. “This is a big win for the residents of Maywood and the surrounding area.”

The Opportunity Zone program is available for traditionally low-income and economically districts communities to incentivize private investment to create jobs. Across America, governors were asked to submit a list of communities eligible for opportunity zone status, and Welch pushed Bruce Rauner to work with him to provide job-creating tools to communities in the district.

“The residents of Maywood and I are grateful for Rep. Welch’s effort to push Governor Rauner to allow our village to draw in more entrepreneurs and wealth to our community,” said Maywood Mayor Edwenna Perkins. “With the Opportunity Zone status, this will help revitalize our families, streets and neighborhoods.”