The selection process for the 38th District scholarship application has been completed.  2008 Legislative Scholarship Winners:

1) Rebekah Torres - Rich Central H.S. - U of I-Chicago
2) Ahmed Shalabi - Rich South H.S. - U of I-Champaign Urbana (Alpha Phi Alpha)
3) Stephen Watson - U of I Medical School - U of I Medical School
4) Chanelle Robinzine - Homewood-Flossmoor H.S. - Illinois State Univ.
5) Javaite Wilson - Marian Catholic H.S. - U of I-Champaign Urbana
6) Tracey Faulkner - Rich East H.S. - Eastern Illinois Univ.
7) Lesliefaye Gogins - Prairie State College - U of I-Springfield
8) Laura Myers - Rich Central H.S. - U of I-Champaign Urbana

Environmental Working Group Presentation  (March 10, 2008)

State Representatives Al Riley & Elaine Nekritz hosted an  

Environmental Working Group Presentation at Prairie State College on March 3, 2008.     The presentation, 10 Americans - 287 chemicals was produced by Ken Cook.  Mr. Cook is President of the Washington DC based Environmental Working Group (EWG). The EWG has identified chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption, reproductive problems, and immune disorders in the blood of 10 Americans. 

RTA "Dooms Day" avoided (February 1, 2008)

The RTA “Dooms Day” was avoided when the mass transit bill became law on January 18th.

The Southland Caucus collaborated on the mass transit bill to ensure the language of the bill was reflective to the needs to the entire RTA region. Representatives William Davis, David Miller, Bob Rita, and George Scully along with myself worked diligently on these issues. Representative Robert Molaro also provided strong support to our efforts. Below is a brief outline of legislation successfully negotiated in the mass transit bill.

• PACE grant to the South Suburban region: PACE and the RTA will cooperate in the development, funding, and operation of programs to enhance access to job markets for residents in south suburban Cook County. The RTA will allocate to PACE, no less than $7.5 million for the costs of such programs.

• Suburban Community Mobility Grant: The Suburban Community Mobility Fund will make grants to PACE for the purpose of operating transit services, other than traditional fixed-route services, that enhance suburban mobility, including, but not limited to, demand-responsive transit services, ride sharing, van pooling, service coordination, centralized dispatching and call taking, reverse commuting, service restructuring, and bus rapid transit.

• Governance: I was instrumental in developing regional representation on the Metra Board by expanding the Suburban Cook appointments based upon geographical boundaries.

• Citizens Advisory Boards: Worked to strengthen the language affecting the Citizens Advisory Board to increase the opportunity to bring diversity to these boards.

• Minority & Women Business Programs: Worked to ensure the RTA and the service boards adopt programs to promote diversity in employment and contracting.

Breast Cancer Forum (November 30, 2007)

On November 10th, my office in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Chicago Public Health Department conducted a morning breast cancer forum at Prairie State College. Vital information was presented on screening, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. I highlighted two legislative measures aimed at prevention of ovarian and breast cancer. Public Act 95-0096 amends the Community Health Center Expansion Act by including ovarian cancer screenings within the definition of preventive health services to be offered by community health centers. Public Act 95-0431 requires insurance companies to provide coverage for mammograms for women over 40 years of age. This act also requires coverage for a comprehensive ultrasound screening for women at risk for breast cancer. Guest speakers included:

• Richard Warnecke, PhD (Director, Program for Cancer Control and Population Science, UIC Cancer Center at Chicago)
• Thomas Britt, MD (National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer (Chicago Chapter); and
• Mary Holmes—Johnson, RN, BSN (Office of Women’s Health, Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, IDPH)

Regional Budget Hearing (September 25, 2007)

A Regional Budget Hearing analyzing the Governor's veto of local projects and other budgetary line items was held at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. Thank you to the roughly 125 people who attended to testify about the negative impact of these cuts on the Southland Region. I chaired this hearing which was co-sponsored by fellow representatives David Miller, Will Davis and George Scully. Approximately 40 organizations came to testify which included hospitals, health care agencies, school districts, colleges and universities and community based organizations. The hearing lasted about 4 and 1/2 hours and included a slide presentation by the House Democratic Staff on the more substantive financial aspects of the budget cuts.

September 16, 2007

Mass Transit Legislative Timeline:

The mass transit bill was negotiated. The South Suburbs were hardly considered in the drafting of the language.

In May 2007, a subcommittee created with bi-partisan support established in the Mass Transit parent committee. The subcommittee is meant to address regional equity issues in mass transit services affecting the region, with a focus on the Chicago Southland.

On June 16, 2007, we conducted our first subject matter hearing in Matteson. Representatives from the RTA, CTA, PACE, Metra and IDOT were in attendance to discuss transportation issues facing the Chicago Southland. There was an extensive discussion regarding current planning activities at the Service Boards which is meant to expand transit services in the region. CMAP discussed the importance of linking transportation with economic development.

Moving forward from the June 16th hearing, I began to work on the mass transit bill with the Southland Caucus in collaboration on major issues facing this region. We worked extensively with Representative Julie Hamos and the RTA. Among the issues addressed were: developing regional representation on the Metra Board, ensuring viability in the Suburban Community Mobility Fund, provide additional monies to PACE, and strengthening diversity representation on the citizens service boards.

On July 18, 2007, the merits of the transit bill were presented in a morning legislative meeting with the RTA and Representative Julie Hamos. After multiple meetings with the Southland Caucus regarding our needs, the Caucus negotiated with the sponsor and the RTA to ensure that the Southland does not get left behind. We were strident in our efforts in ensuring our region had a voice.