"The House shall be in order. Members will be in their chairs. We shall be led in prayer today by Wayne Padget, the Assistant Doorkeeper. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn off all cell phones, and rise for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance."
"Let us pray. Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the faithful servants you've brought together to fulfill your purpose. You have given us willing hearts and a desire to proclaim the name of Jesus through word and deed. We ask you to give us wisdom, patience, guidance, and peace as we plan for the future. Jesus taught us to follow you first in all things. He said, 'But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.' As we begin Session today, Lord, help us to pursue you and your will, help us to respect one another, and to work together. We give you the glory for everything that is accomplished. These things we pray, Amen."
"We'll be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Representative Lilly."
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"Roll Call for Attendance. Leader Greenwood is recognized to report any excused absences on the Democratic side of the aisle."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let the record show that, on the Democratic side, Representatives Kelly Cassidy, Jennifer 10200082.docx 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 Gong-Gershowitz, Barbara Hernandez, and Anna Moeller are excused today."
"Leader Welter is recognized to report any excused absences on the Republican side of the aisle."
"Mr. Speaker, let the record reflect that Representatives Morrison, Caulkins, Meier, and Bennett are excused for the day."
"Have all recorded themselves who wish? Have all recorded themselves who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. There being 108 Members answering the roll call, a quorum is present. Mr. Clerk."
"Introduction of Resolutions. House Resolution 717, offered by Representative Harris; and House Joint Resolution 75, offered by Representative Lilly, are referred to the Rules Committee."
"Representative Mah, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege."
"Please speak your point."
"I'd like to take a moment to recognize special guests that we have in the gallery today. My constituents, Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya and her Chief of Staff Jeylu Gutierrez, my Chief of Staff Ruben Bautista, and Representative Ortiz's district staffer Yareli Cortez, and Congressman Chuy Garcia's staffer Roberto Hernandez. Please give them a warm Springfield welcome."
"Representative Mason, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege." 10200082.docx 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022
"Please speak your point."
"Thank you. I, too, have some special guests today. As you all know, we have lots of friends from the park districts here in Springfield. And I would like to welcome my friends from the Zion Park District, who are up in the gallery."
"Representative Lewis, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege."
"Please speak your point."
"On this day, over 70 years ago, my mother-in-law was born. She immigrated here 50 years ago. I would like to wish my mother-in-law a happy birthday. Thank you."
"Representative Butler, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege, Mr. Speaker."
"Please speak your point."
"I would like to congratulate my seatmate, Representative Hamilton, who is the mother of twin boys on the SHG, Sacred Heart-Griffin basketball team, who beat East St. Louis last night. Her son, Jake, was the leading scorer with 16 points last night to have the Cyclones go to the State Tournament in Champaign this Friday. So, congratulations SHG."
"Chair recognizes Leader Gabel."
"Speaker, I move that Representatives David Friess and Ozinga be allowed to participate and cast their vote remotely."
Speaker Evans: "Leader Gabel has made the Motion that Representatives Friess and Ozinga be allowed to participate and cast their votes remotely. All those in favor say (sic- 10200082.docx 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 vote) 'aye'; all those opposed say (sic-vote) 'nay'. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 77 voting in 'favor', 18 voting 'against', and 5 voting 'present'. This Motion passes. Mr. Clerk."
"Is Representative Friess present? Is Representative Ozinga present?"
"Ozinga is present."
"Representative Ozinga is present."
"Mr. Clerk, Rules Report."
Clerk Bolin: "Committee Reports. Representative Harris, Chairperson from the Committee on Rules reports the following committee action taken on March 8, 2022: recommends be adopted, referred to the Order of Resolutions is House Resolution 717."
"Representative Hirschauer, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege, please."
"Please speak your point."
"Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I just want to acknowledge and thank everybody for wearing purple today for International Women's Day. And the women who are wearing purple here, we will meet for another group picture down at the bottom of the well after Session. Thank you."
"Representative Kifowit, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please speak your point." 10200082.docx 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022
"In joining with several of our Representatives, I have an individual that has recently joined my office to help out. Those of you that are into sports would recognize the name Howard Sudberry. He was a 25-year-old sportscaster at WBBM- Channel 2. He also worked on WGN-Channel 9, and recently he was at Arlington Park. He's to my left in the gallery, and I wish that we can give him a warm Springfield welcome. So, thank you."
"On Supplemental Calendar #1, under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 717, offered by Leader Harris."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. House Rule (sic-Resolution) 717 amends the House Rules as it applies to certain restrictions and prevention measures during the COVID public health emergency. As we all know, the COVID emergency does continue. But we also know that, during COVID, we have seen times where some of the markers of the transmission of the disease and the serious consequences of the disease have increased and they've decreased. We've seen changes in positivity rates, hospitalizations, and deaths. This change in the House Rules reflects current conditions, but it also gives us an opportunity to quickly respond to changes in future conditions should situation warrant. What the Resolution does is, it lifts the current mask requirement and other protocols, but it allows the protocols to be reinstated as needed and dictated by circumstances by the Speaker of the House after consultation with the Minority Leader. While not in the rule, I just wanted to mention that masks would remain optional. And some Members of the Body, 10200082.docx 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 because they may be themselves immunocompromised or they may be caring for a family member or loved one who is immunocompromised, may continue to wear masks and may ask us to respect some of the social distancing or mask requirements when we come communicate with them. And I would just urge folks that, even though it's not requirement, if somebody does make a request of you because of their personal situation, that we all be respectful and help our colleagues out. I'd be happy to answer any questions."
Speaker Evans: "Any discussion? Representative Butler is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A question of the Sponsor of the Resolution."
"He indicates he will yield."
"Thank you. And thank you, Leader Harris, for bringing this forward. I just have a few questions. So… and you kind of explained it, but I just wanted to make sure. So, the default position now with passage of this Resolution would be that the requirements for masking, temperature check, and distance would no longer in place. That would not be the default. The default would be we go back to the way it was before and then… is that correct?"
"Well, I would just point out that, that would certainly apply to the House Floor and the House Floor environs. There would be, potentially, capacity limits in the gallery. And our committee protocols would still, at this point in time, be remote or hybrid as capacity allows."
"Okay. What is… I read the Resolution quickly. What does it mean to have consultation with the Minority Leader?" 10200082.docx 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022
"That's the…"
"Is there a definition of consultation?"
"I believe the Speaker would go over to the Minority Leader, explain that the Speaker has observed a change in COVID metrics or recommendations of public health authorities that indicate the health and well-being of Members and staff could be at risk, and talk about instituting some of these protocols back."
"Very good. I see the Speaker on the floor. Maybe he can give us his definition of consultation. What is the… I'm just saying hi, Chris, you know. What is… is there a timing requirement to institute this? I mean, would we have knowledge beforehand before we come on the floor that we're going to act on this or any kind of knowledge beforehand?"
"I think that would be everyone's… to everyone's best interest that folks have enough knowledge and lead time to prepare for a change, especially if it would potentially impact the health and safety of the Members."
"Okay. I appreciate you bringing this forward. Obviously, we've had plenty of discussion on this over the last many months. The one thing I would say… to the Resolution. This… and I asked this question when we instituted this on the floor of the BOS Center. This is incumbent upon an Executive Order of the Governor. We are ceding our responsibility as a other… as a separate branch of government by relying upon an Executive Order of the Governor to institute anything, in my opinion. I think we, as a Body, can make those decisions on our own. And I would hope, moving forward, we don't institute in our own rules, which are constitutionally… we have the 10200082.docx 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 ability to make our own rules, we don't cede our authority as the Legislative Branch to something that the Governor does, even something as serious, obviously, as COVID. I would hope, as we go forward, we get away from doing that. So, I appreciate you bringing this forward, Leader Harris, and we'll see how this goes."
"The Chair recognizes Representative Wilhour."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Resolution here. Our state has major problems. This country has major problems. And one thing that has been abundantly clear in this Body over the last two years, and over the last three plus years that I've been here, and however long we've been watching this is, we have a real problem in this chamber, in this government dealing with real issues. Real issues that are holding people back, that are holding Illinois from being what it should be. We are blessed with everything in this state that we need to be successful, but we are constantly held down by generations of poor public policy that come out of this Body and a lack of willingness to deal… dealing with real issues. You know, like rooting out corruption. You know, we've had opportunities to do that, and we haven't done it. Maybe we'll get around to it, making sure that we put real anti-corruption safeguards in place to ensure that corrupt politicians like Michael Madigan don't use their public position to run a criminal enterprise here. That stuff… I guess not… not important here. It's a national embarrassment. Too many have neither the toughness nor the credibility to put real anti-corruption safeguards in place here. Too many elected officials have profited from this corrupt system. 10200082.docx 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 Influence peddling, bribery, bought and paid for politicians. It's all in the headlines. We just let it happen. We're real good at taking meaningless votes over the past couple weeks on mask theater, but we're either too weak or too compromised to tackle the epidemic of public corruption that has engulfed this place, that's engulfed this whole state, and has kept us from doing the work of the people. Now, the people of Illinois deserve better than this. They deserve for us to take this seriously and put in place the strongest anti-corruption safeguards in the country to ensure that corrupt politicians never take advantage of this Body, never take advantage of this system, never take advantage of this government, and never take advantage of the people that we represent again."
"Mr. Clerk. Mr. Clerk."
"Is Representative David Friess present?"
"Present."
"Representative David Friess is present."
"Our final speaker on this Resolution is Speaker Welch."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of the House, I rise today to recognize the progress that we have made as a state in this global health pandemic. I want to thank Governor Pritzker, Dr. Ezike, and every single Member of this chamber for helping us get here today. I want to thank those Members who are on the floor right now that are honoring our House Rules. We say rules are the rules, and it's important that we honor the rules. If we disagree with the rules, we should change them, go through a process to change them. I think that's what we're doing here today. And our hospitalizations 10200082.docx 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 are on a continuous decline and more Illinoisans have gotten the COVID-19 shot than anywhere in the Midwest. We should be proud of that. Even after we were able to take off our masks last summer, our citizens put them back on again during the height of the Omicron variant. We should be proud of that because vaccine shots and masks got us to this point that we're at today. That is truly a testament to the people of Illinois and how much we care for one another. As we take our vote today for this chamber, I want us to remember how far we've come. Next week will mark two years from the first Executive Order shutting things down. We've come a long way. We're opening back up. We're moving forward in a very positive direction. And we're doing it together, respecting the rules of this House. But I also want us to remember that we have colleagues in this chamber, even when we take these masks off, who are immunocompromised. We have colleagues in this chamber who will return home each and every week to ill family members who are at greater risk. We have colleagues in this chamber with young children at home who have asthma or who are too young to get vaccinated. And we must also think of all of our staff members, the heroes in this place that really keep us going. In January we almost had to shut this place down. And thanks to the heroic efforts of those in the Clerk's Office, we were able to get some work done in January. But we have to be mindful and respectful of our staff members at all times. We rely on them. We couldn't do the people's work without them. And I got to tell you, we wouldn't be here without them. And I think we all should give them a round of applause. So, as we take our vote today, I want us all to 10200082.docx 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 remember the progress we've made to get to where we are, but I also want us to remember that masks are still recommended for the health and safety of everyone in this chamber. We have a couple of weeks left until adjournment, and I really believe that every single day counts. Before I sit down, I want to thank each and every one of you. I want to thank those of you who have been comfortable enough to come see me and talk about this issue. I want to thank the Lady from Whiteside County, the Lady from Macon County, the Gentleman from Effingham. Everyone who has felt comfortable to come to the Office of the Speaker, an office that belongs to all of you. This is the people's house. We work together to get things done, and that's what we're going to do here today. Let's remove these masks together and respect those who don't want to remove them together. Let's work to make this a better state. Let's be considerate of one another, but let's go to work. Thank you all, Members of the House."
"All those in favor vote 'aye'… Leader Harris moves for the adoption of House Resolution 717. All those in favor vote 'aye'; all those opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Mr. Clerk."
"Representative David Friess."
"Yes."
Clerk Hollman: "Representative David Friess votes 'yes'. Representative Ozinga."
"Ozinga is a 'yes'."
"Representative Ozinga votes 'yes'."
"Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 104 'ayes', 1 'nay', and 0 voting 'present'. And 10200082.docx 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 this Resolution, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared adopted. Representative Walsh for an announcement."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. I rise for an announcement. For some of those that weren't here yesterday, tonight at the Wyndham from 5:30 to 7:30 is the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus Reception. We've got a lot of raffle prizes and auctions going on. So, inviting everyone to come out, enjoy a good time and support the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus. Thank you."
"Representative Delgado, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege, Mr. Speaker."
"Please speak your point."
"I'm pleased to have the privilege of highlighting another great Illinois woman today on International Women's Day. The author, Sandra Cisneros, once described her career this way, 'One press account said I was an overnight success. I think that was the longest night I've ever spent.' I know that most people in this chamber are familiar with working through long nights and waiting to see success come to fruition. Sandra Cisneros was born in Chicago to Mexican and Mexican American parents, attending Loyola for her bachelor's degree, and then the University of Iowa for her Masters of Fine Arts. She soon began what would become a lengthy career as a writer, a poet, a teacher, and a professor. Her work as an advocate in the Latino community earned her national recognition as well as her literary achievements. Cisneros 10200082.docx 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 has so many awards that it would make this moment much too long to list them all, but let me at least mention that she was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2015 by President Barack Obama. She gained international attention with the publication of her first work of fiction, The House on Mango Street. The book tells a story of a 12-year-old growing up in a diverse community in Chicago. The House on Mango Street is required reading in middle schools, high schools, and universities across the country. It has sold over 6 million copies, and since its initial publication, has been translated into 20 languages. In addition to her writing, Cisneros has fostered the careers of many aspiring and emerging writers through two nonprofits she founded, the Macondo Foundation and the Alfredo Cisneros Del Moral Foundation. Her legacy will undoubtedly be as a thoughtful and gifted writer who explored new themes and as a leader in her community who fought for the rights of Latinos. I know that her writing impacted my life in a positive way, and I was pleased to have my daughter read her work as well. I hope we can all follow her example and patiently work through long nights we're sure to have ahead and achieve success together. Happy International Women's Day."
"Representative Elik is recognized."
"I rise today also in support of International Women's Day today. A day when we celebrate the historical, cultural, and political achievements of women. So, it only seems fitting that we recognize a local woman who labored tirelessly to save and protect Illinois' fragile historical documents and made an impact worldwide. Back in 1934, the Illinois State 10200082.docx 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 Arsenal, across the street from the Capitol, burned to the ground, taking with it millions of pages of irreplaceable records about Illinois soldiers in the Civil War and World War I. The Illinois State Archivist was Margaret Cross Norton, and she was determined that a similar disaster would not threaten the accumulated records of State Government. Norton went before Legislators in 1935 to bring to their attention the need for a dedicated state archives building where paper records would be properly protected. Fire is not the only peril to which precious records are subjected, she warned Legislators. Dampness, mildew, rats, roaches, and other insects and the mere disintegration of flimsy paper and poor inks can cause irreparable damage. State records were rotting away to nothing, she warned, because they had been stuffed into attics and basements, misfiled, accidently destroyed, or just simply lost. This posed a serious threat to State Government should, for example, one of those lost papers involve a State Law which became the subject of a legal challenge. Norton involved herself in every step of the planning and design of the new archives building. Ground was broken in 1936 on a facility which would be able to protect the existing records and have ample space for generations to come. The design which Norton brought to reality was such a state-of-the-art facility that during World War II it was designated as an evacuation site for critical federal documents should Washington, D.C. be threatened with enemy attack. Margaret Cross Norton meanwhile became a nationally recognized pioneer in the field of archiving. She founded the Society of American Archivists and later served as its 10200082.docx 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 president. She was a sought-after expert by the archivists of other states who looked to duplicate what she had accomplished in Illinois. Margaret Cross Norton died in 1984 at the age of 92. The Illinois State Archives Building was named in her honor in 1995, a fitting tribute to the woman who fought so hard to safeguard so much of Illinois' history."
"Representative Luft, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please speak your point."
"Quickly. It was mentioned earlier the efforts and appreciation of staff. So, I would… which we don't do often enough. So, I would just like to mention Ciara Wagoner, who's a legislative liaison for the Department of Professional Regulation. I had a major and dire issue in my district office that Ciara stepped up and went way above and beyond all expectations and took care of that situation. Redeemed it, was very professional about it, and brought great relief to that constituent. So, I would just like to publicly thank her for that. Thank you."
"Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."
"Agreed Resolutions. House Resolution 714, offered by Representative Walker. And House Resolution 715, offered by Representative Hoffman."
"Leader Greenwood moves for the adoption of Agreed Resolutions. All those in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Agreed Resolutions are adopted. And now, allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, Leader Greenwood moves that 10200082.docx 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 82nd Legislative Day 3/8/2022 the House stand adjourned until Wednesday, March 9, at the hour noon. All those in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned." 10200082.docx 16