Illinois House Floor Debate — February 23, 2023

"The House will 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."

"We shall be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Representative Meier." Meier – et al: "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 Gabel is recognized to report any excused absences."

"Speaker, let the record show that Representatives Ammons, Croke, Gong-Gershowitz, Harper, Hurley, and Smith are excused today."

"Leader Keicher is recognized to report any excused absences from the Republican side of the aisle."

"Have all recorded themselves as… who wish? Have all recorded themselves who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. There being 109 Members answering the roll call, a quorum is present. Mr. Clerk, Committee Reports."

"Representative Chung, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Point of personal privilege."

"Please proceed."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just wanted to say you look very nice up there on the dais, and I wanted to recognize Theresa Mah, Representative Mah, Leader Mah for being the first Asian to preside over the House chambers here today. So, we're very honored."

"Representative Davis, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I am rising today to offer the first of two black history moments today on behalf of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. Can I ask for the chamber's indulgence? Thank you, very much. Today's black history moment will be about a gentleman named Alexander Lane. Alexander Lane was born in pre-Civil War Mississippi. His mother, a slave, sent him north with a Union Army colonel, with the promise of an education. He was raised on a farm in Southern Illinois, and… and in 1876 became the first African American male student graduate at what was then called Southern Illinois Normal University. Lane became an educator, serving as the first principal of Carbondale's East Side School for Negroes, which later became Attucks School. He moved to Chicago, where he graduated from Rush Medical College in 1895 and was appointed as the Cook County assistant physician. In 1906, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, making him just the ninth African American elected to the State Legislature. He was re-elected in 1908, 10300013.docx 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 13th Legislative Day 2/23/2023 and Lane died in 19… excuse me, died on November 13, 1911 and is buried in Carbondale. Alexander Lane embodies Southern Illinois University Carbondale's tradition of serving as a diverse student population, including disadvantaged and first-generation college students. Dr. Lane's dedication to improving his own life is inspiring today… inspiring to today's students who face unique challenges. The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale seeks to honor Dr. Lane by providing a precious gift he took full advantage of, an opportunity to excel. And further, the embodiment of Dr. Lane is represented here in Springfield, even on today. The Paul… Paul Simon Public Policy Institute provides us with an intern from the Dr. Lane Internship Program. And that young lady is sitting in the gallery above me today, Miss… the 2023 Lane Intern is Kamaria Harmon, from Evanston, Illinois. Kamaria is a senior at SIUC majoring in journalism. She's an honor student who has worked in multiple departments on campus, including the TRiO program, university communications, and a writer for the Daily Egyptian newspaper. She has received numerous awards for academic and community service. So, again, Alexander Lane's presence is being felt today because today we have… and she's not the first. We've had several Lane interns here in the Illinois House. But today's… or this year's intern is Ms. Kamaria Wilson (sic-Harmon). Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Thank you, Members."

"Leader Gordon-Booth, for what reason do you seek recognition?" 10300013.docx 4  STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 13th Legislative Day 2/23/2023

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to provide the second black history moment here in the House. This individual who I will be honoring was born in 1940. He was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his… with his talent and storytelling style and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential stand- up comedians of all time. This individual who we are recognizing won a Primetime Emmy Award. He is a five-time Grammy Award winner. He received the first Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 1998. He also won the Writers Guild of America Award in 1974. This individual was listed at number one on Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him first on its list of the top 50 best stand-up comedians of all time. This individual is none other than Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor, Sr., who was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois."

"Representative Severin, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Please proceed."

"I am not nervous."

"Leader Gordon-Booth, for what reason do you seek recognition?" Gordon-Booth. "Thank you, Madam Speaker. One more moment of personal privilege, please. With us today, I have a Page for the day. Her name is Grace Matthews. Grace Matthews, like myself, like Representative Travis Weaver and Richard Pryor, all hail from Peoria, Illinois. Grace is also the baby sister of our very own appropriations staffer, Logan Owens. If we could all give Grace a warm House welcome."

"Leader Hernandez, for what reason do you seek recognition?" Hernandez, L.: "Point of personal privilege."

"Please proceed." Hernandez, L.: "By the way, you look fantastic, Madam Speaker, up there in the well. I'm asking the Body if they would give a warm welcome to a special guest that is with me today and that is my daughter, Miranda Hernandez, who is in from Washington, D.C. for the week. Please give her a warm welcome. She's just here for today."

"Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."

"Leader Gabel 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 Agreed Resolutions are adopted. And now, allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, Leader Gabel moves that the 10300013.docx 6  STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 13th Legislative Day 2/23/2023 House stand adjourned until Tuesday, February 28, at the hour of noon. All… all those in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say 'nay'. And in the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned."