Illinois House Floor Debate — February 5, 2025

"The House shall be in order. Members should be in their chairs. We shall be led in prayer today by Representative Grasse. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn off all cell phones, and rise for the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance."

"The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us that as human beings, we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny, and that whatever affects one of us directly affects all of us indirectly. As we come together here today for session, let us gather in a spirit of unity, seeking wisdom beyond ourselves, knowing our words and decisions affect the lives of many others. May we choose ways to be helpful and to not cause harm. May we be guided by justice, may we be strengthened by integrity, and may we be committed to the common good. In our differences, may we find common purpose. In our debates, may we seek truth. And in our service, may we be compassionate and hope to uplift all. And may we remember the truth of our human condition, that what affects one of us individually affects all of us. We are here to be in service to others. May we do good. Amen."

"We will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance today by Representative Coffey."

Speaker Evans: "Roll Call for Attendance. Leader Gabel is recognized to report any excused absence on the Democratic side of the aisle."

"Speaker, let the record show that Representatives Costa Howard, Jones, and Scherer are excused today."

"Leader Keicher is recognized to report any excused absence on the Republican side of the aisle."

"Have all recorded themselves who wish? Have all recorded themselves who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 114 Members answering the roll call. A quorum is present. Representative Moylan, what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In honor to celebrate the birthdays of Majority Leader Robyn Gabel and Speaker Welch, there is cake in Room 300. Everyone enjoy."

"Representative Bunting."

"Please speak your point."

"The Chair recognizes Leader Mah for the purpose of an announcement."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Democrats would request a caucus meeting at 12:15 in Room 114. Thank you."

"The Democrats are going to caucus in 10 minutes in Room 114. The House shall stand in recess to the call of the Chair. Thank you. The House shall be in order. The House shall be in order. Mr. Clerk."

"Mr. Clerk, Rules Report."

"Representative Rosenthal is recognized."

"Please speak your point."

"Please rise for a moment of silence. Thank you. Seeing no further discussion, Representative Rosenthal moves for the adoption of House Resolution 97. All those in favor say 'aye'; those opposed say 'nay.' In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the resolution is adopted. Leader McCombie, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Please speak your point."

"Representative Mason, what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Point of personal privilege, Mr. Speaker."

"Please speak your point."

"Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, you may have noticed that many of us in the House and in the Senate are wearing red in honor of American Heart Association Go Red for Women Day, the American Heart Association's signature women's initiative since 2004. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women, and yet for too long women have been left out of research, testing, treatment, and funding. Clinical trials have not always adequately enrolled women or analyzed sex-specific differences in the data. As of 2020, only 38% of cardiovascular clinical research trial participants were women. Together, through the power of Go Red for Women, we can help change this. Women experience unique life stages, like pregnancy and menopause, that can increase their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases over the course of their lifetime. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., or more simply put, heart disease is the number one killer of new moms. Women are less likely to receive CPR from a bystander. Barriers include fear of legal ramifications and accusations of inappropriate touching. A 2017 study found that only 39% 10400006.docx 7  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 of women in cardiac arrest received CPR from strangers in public, compared with 45% of men, and men's odds of surviving are 23% higher than women. It's really important for us to understand the symptoms of cardiovascular disease and to understand that they differ in great variety from men and women and to learn about ways to keep our hearts healthy. The American Heart Association has many great resources at www.heart.org and also www.goredforwomen.org. Today, in Room M-1 of the Stratton Building from 10 to 2, they were training people on CPR and also the use of AEDs, and I hope that many of you had a chance to stop by. Thank you so much, and thanks for all who wore red."

Speaker Evans: "Leader West, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."

"Please speak your point."

"Today, I rise to recognize and honor the faith leaders of the Live Free Illinois statewide clergy network. If they can stand. They're stage right, and if y'all don't mind standing. They have dedicated their lives to justice, redemption, and healing. These faith leaders stand on the front lines, ensuring that those who have been formerly incarcerated are not left behind and that communities across Illinois have access to the resources and support needed to thrive. Their work transcends the walls of their congregations, reaching into neighborhoods to fight for fairness, advocate for systemic change, and uplift the most valuable amongst us. Through their leadership, they embody the moral compass of our communities, calling us all to act with compassion and 10400006.docx 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 urgency in the pursuit of justice. I want to especially acknowledge the following clergy members who have demonstrated unwavering commitment to this mission. And, preachers, if I mispronounce your name or your church, as we say in the church, charge it to my head and not my heart. So, Reverend Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, who represents Live Free Illinois, please raise your hand; Reverend Ira Acree from Greater St. John Baptist Church; Reverend Wayne Fricks, the Healing and Deliverance Kingdom Center from the great City of Rockford; Pastor Phil Jackson, Firehouse Community Arts Center from… in Chicago; Reverend Dwight Ford from Grace City Church in Rock Island; Reverend Deric Caples from Jesus Name Apostolic from Waukegan; Reverend Stephen Thurston from New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago; Reverend Marilyn Pagan-Banks, San Lucas United Church of Christ in Chicago; Reverend Marvin Prude from Second Baptist Church in Kankakee; Apostle Carl White from Victory International Ministries in Harvey; Pastor LaDarius Beal from Wallace Temple Church of God and Christ; Reverend Jessie Mack from Powerhouse Chicago; and the Pastor Rodney Walker as well. If you guys can help me give them a Springfield welcome, that would be greatly appreciated."

"Representative Keicher, what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Thank you. Record will reflect. Representative Coffey, what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Please speak your point."

"Representative Crawford, what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Point of personal privilege."

"Please speak your point."

"Once again, happy Black History Month, everyone. Today, the Black Caucus rises to speak the name of Dr. Georgiana Rose Simpson. She was born on March 31, 1865 in Washington, D.C. and was the eldest daughter of David and Catherine Simpson. She began her career in education in the public schools and later trained as a teacher at Miner Normal School, now part of the University of D.C. Her teaching career started in 1885, focusing on working with German immigrant communities. In 1907, at the age of 41, she enrolled at the University of Chicago to pursue her interest in the German language and literature, as well as French. Despite facing significant racial discrimination, including being forced to live off campus and having to take many of her courses during the summer terms due to objections from white students, Simpson persisted with her studies. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1911, Master of Arts in 1920, and a Doctor of Philosophy in German Historical Language in 1921, becoming the first African American woman to earn a PhD in these United States. Following her academic achievements, Simpson returned to Washington, D.C., where she taught at Dunbar High School before joining the faculty at Howard University as a professor. Her scholarly work includes contributions to the 10400006.docx 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 studies of German language and literature as well as African American history. Simpson maintained ties with notable figures of the time, including world-renowned and fellow scholar, Dr. Anna J. Cooper, and her work continues to be celebrated for breaking racial and gender barriers in academia. She passed away on January 27, 1944, but her legacy continues to inspire many. Today, the Illinois House Black Caucus invokes the name of Dr. Georgiana Rose Simpson as we stand in the gap to support and advocate for the highest in access, opportunity, and academic achievement for Black and all students of the State of Illinois. Thank you."

Speaker Evans: "Leader Williams, what reason do you seek recognition?" Williams, A.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can you please excuse Representative Tarver for the remainder of the day?"

"The record will reflect. Leader Keicher, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"The record will reflect. Leader Keicher is recognized."

"On the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 118. Representative Guerrero-Cuellar is recognized."

"Thank you, Speaker. I'd like to speak on House Resolution 118." 10400006.docx 11  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025

"Speak your point."

"Many of you have heard me get up here when I have to give a speech about a fallen officer, or a year and a half ago, I had to get up here and I wanted to give my regards to my legislative family for the support when my husband was going through an ordeal because of a… of a line of duty work. And it's overwhelming. As a family member, it's overwhelming. We don't know how to prepare for those days. The kids don't know how to prepare for those days. And every time we have our loved ones with us, we treat it as our last day, and that's the most painful part. So, I rise today because there's a lot of emotion, but I'm going to call you out. And I have no problem calling you out 'cause I have a right to call you out. And how dare you. President Trump, on his first day, decided that he wanted to go ahead and give some blanket pardons for his supporters on January 6 for something that took place in the Capitol. When an officer goes to work, it's not the politics. They're there to hold a line and to protect and to defend. And so, this is about honor and respect. And I mean it, honor and respect. Every time I give a speech about a police officer who has been killed in the line of duty, it is honor and respect. And that day, the President of the United States decided to tell me, my family, and the first responders' families, he doesn't care about honor, respect. He doesn't care about the ultimate sacrifice. And I have some colorful words that I'm not going to say in this chamber, but I took it personal. A thousand thirty criminals admitted to their own guilt, and you gave them a full pardon. And I'm talking about assault. I'm talking about 10400006.docx 12  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 pepper spray, bear spray, riot shields that crushed an officer, a stun gun, a choking of an officer. And you're saying, hey, I'm going to forgive you for those actions. And I'm telling your parent, your family, your kids, everybody who supports you, because all they want is for you to come home that day, that I don't care. Honor and respect, where's the honor and respect there? So, again, I take this very personal. I'm a state legislator, and I'm always here, and I will defend our first responders, and I will try to do right by them. And one thing that I focus is on mental health. And what else do they need. What is it? Is it equipment? Is it money to purchase things? Is it more training? I work with both sides of the aisle. Let's figure this out together. And there's many first responders in this chamber, and I respect the work that you do, just like you respect the work that my husband does. You knew what it was like for me the first three months he was hospitalized. I wasn't here a lot. I missed a lot of days because I was challenged as a mother, as a wife, as a state legislator, as a neighbor, everything and all of the above on that day because I got that phone call and I had to figure it out. And you all embraced me in this chamber, and I appreciated it. I did because when I received text messages and prayers, I kept saying thank you for the support because I needed it, because I didn't know how much I needed it. But for you to do that to these officers' families, to dismiss them? We run around. I'm a wife, and I have kids in sports, and I run around all over the place because I know that your days are canceled, that you have to work double shift, that you got into an arrest, that you're not going to 10400006.docx 13  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 make it home, that I might go to a wedding by myself. And for me, it's you're doing your job because you love and you respect it, and I honor you for that. That's what I'm… that's what I'm doing as a role, as a wife, as a mother. And then today, three hours ago in the City of Chicago, it's already three weeks in a row, a female officer committed suicide and took her life in less than five years on the job. What message are we telling the nation? What are we saying to the families for the ultimate sacrifice? Are we saying that your job is dismissive? Are we telling those families thank you, but not really? Are we there for the photo op? We have a police memorial here in the Capitol grounds, and you're all there, and were honoring these police officers, and we see and we hear these families give their speeches about their loved ones. And it was hard last year to hear that because I know what that phone call is like. You have to understand something about first responders and their families. We hold the line. The first… the police officers, the firefighters, the EMTs, you hold the line at work, in the districts that you have to serve, in the cities that you try to protect. You hold the line. But we as family members, we hold the line for you at home. I'm a state legislator, and here I hold the line to work with both sides of the aisle to make sure that I'm doing right by the first responders and the law enforcement. Mental health is a big, big, huge factor in this job. High stressful. But for you to give full pardon and say that those officers that we lost that day didn't mean anything. Yeah, I have a lot of colorful words for you, sir, but I'm going to call you out. And I'm the type of person… all of you know me here. I 10400006.docx 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 can do a face to face. I have no problem with that. I'm going to call you out. How dare you tell my family that that job is not important enough? How dare you tell the cities and the residents and the citizens that they protect every day, how do you dare say that… that their lives are not important enough? You gave them a full pardon the first day. Did you talk to those families? Did you say anything? What are you there for, a picture op? I don't appreciate it. Understand that ultimate sacrifice, those are the families that they're not going to have those loved ones to either walk them down the aisle, be there for graduation. Hey, let's have pizza. Let's watch Super Bowl together. Let's teach you how to fish. Let me teach you how to ride a bike. Let me hold your hand when you're crying. That's what we're telling them? I get to come back here because my husband survived. I get to do this job because he's there with the kids. If he didn't, I probably wouldn't be here because I'd have a different role because you have to change your lifestyle when they're no longer there. So, for you to give a big… a pardon, I'm going to say you didn't think that one through, right? I'll give that benefit of the doubt. You didn't think that through, and that's the most respect that I can give you. But for a pardon, I… again, these are the ultimate sacrifice, and I respect every law enforcement, and I will hold the line for you every single time. But for the president of the United States to do that and send that message to the nation, I don't respect you for that. And that's what Resolution 118 is about. How dare you give them a pardon? And I'm calling you out. And so, when I ask the Members to support this resolution, that's what 10400006.docx 15  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 it's about. Because I have a husband that I can go home to and that my kids can argue or play with. He's still there. He's still physically there. But when we're here May 1, or whenever the event's going to take place, and you're down there and you're honoring those families, their loved ones aren't here. And you all know because I've given this speech and you've seen what I've had to do in the City of Chicago. This is not about us as elected officials, and you made it about you. You said to the family that you were more important than them, and that is plain disrespectful. And the hypocrisy that you sent out that message, how dare you? And so, I ask my Members here today to support this resolution and work with me when I come to bring you legislation that's going to help and support our first responders because that's what's really about. Thank you."

"Any discussion on the resolution? Representative Johnson is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Resolution 118. We all saw it. Every one of us here probably saw it as those events unfolded on… on January 6. And I think everybody in this chamber was probably horrified with what they saw unfold. It wasn't the America we knew. It was not. Immediately afterwards, though, came a lot of revisionist history. There were some in this chamber. I saw some of the remarks in here. I did not serve in this body, but I… I saw some of the… some of the statements that condemned the violence of January 6. Some still continued the election lies, but that's a discussion for another day. The reality is it was one of the, if not the, darkest days in our history. It 10400006.docx 16  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 was disgusting, the attacks on our… on our Capitol Police. And the pardons that… that took place just a couple weeks ago should be offensive to anybody, but in particular those who serve in law enforcement. I… I do want to thank Representative Guerrero-Cuellar, her family, for what they go through. I want to thank the police officers in this chamber for what you do every day. You are our heroes. Thank you very much. May God bless you and… and may God protect you in your duties. But the fact that the president of the United States was so hellbent on issuing executive order after executive order, creating chaos… from what we hear, initially they were going to take this case by case by case, which they should have. It would have taken time, but I would think when you're going through pardons, you would… you would do that. But he didn't have time for that. So, finally, he said, you know what, let's just blanket pardon everybody. Let's just pardon the whole crew. And he made America less safe. Two of them are already gone, I believe for resisting police officers. I mean, why listen to an officer on a traffic stop if the… the president pardons you for… for breaking into the Capitol and trying to… trying to assault and ultimately kill members of this government? Why? So, then, there will probably be more, and they will be wreaking more havoc in our communities. But when I hear one side talking about how they're the party of law and order, well, you don't have to carry that high ground anymore if you're not going to speak out against this sort of action. You just don't. It's shameful, absolutely shameful that we will see these people perpetrate crime after crime after crime and the message is sent that you can do what they 10400006.docx 17  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 did. I do want to thank Governor Pritzker for ensuring, at least at this point, that none of these people will be allowed to work in state government in Illinois. You know, it… it kind of scares me. I mean, I'm kind of wondering if maybe they wouldn't have ended up as district directors in a couple district offices around here with some of things I'm hearing. It's offensive. So, I hope that everyone in this body will support this resolution, support law enforcement because they deserve it, and send a message that that kind of action can never, ever happen again, not in Illinois and not in the United States. Thank you."

"Further discussion… further discussion on the resolution? Representative Morgan is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the resolution. I want to echo some of the comments of my colleague, Representative Guerrero-Cuellar, somebody that we look to, both sides of the aisle, when we talk about ways in which we can support law enforcement, our family, our friends, our neighbors, those who are keeping us safe. And so, in a moment, we'll have an opportunity to vote on House Resolution 118, whether or not we condemn the January 6 pardons. It's yes or no. It's binary. You can vote 'yes,' and you can condemn this horrific decision. And let's just take a moment… I don't like to read resolutions or bills verbatim. It's really, really important that we talk about what this resolution says because this is what happened. 'President Trump pardoned a man convicted of repeatedly assaulting police officers with pepper spray. President Trump pardoned a man convicted of assaulting police officers with two cans of bear spray. President Trump pardoned 10400006.docx 18  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 a man convicted of using a police riot shield to "crush" a Washington D.C. police officer.' Everybody in this room saw that video. You saw it with your own eyes. You saw the way our law enforcement was attacked by these criminals. And, yes, in fact, if you're attacking a police officer with a shield, you're a criminal. 'President Trump pardoned a man convicted of using a stun gun and "plunging it" multiple times into an officer's neck.' He pardoned a man convicted of choking an officer to the ground. Again, you saw this with your own eyes. We're not making this up. We have video. We have the audio. More importantly, we have the law enforcements who had to live with their injuries, who still today are struggling with the trauma and the physical impact. But I also wanted to stand up to talk about the ways that the ripple effect of this pardon. It's not just that this was just a gross abuse of power and a message to those who are going to commit crimes against law enforcement, though it is. It's also a message to those who were wearing a variety of T- shirts that said exactly what they believed. And I bring this up because there was a young child in my district who came up me after the pardons, and he was asking me about the new decision from President Trump to pardon these individuals. And he said, 'What about that one person that was wearing that shirt that said "Camp Auschwitz"? Why is he getting a pardon?' And I could not answer that because there is no answer. There's no good reason to pardon somebody who's going to wear that sweatshirt and then attack a police officer. There's no good reason to pardon somebody who's going to take a shield and try and cut some law enforcement officer's head 10400006.docx 19  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 off. There's no reason, there is no reason, there is no reason to ever pardon someone who's going to attack a police officer. So, you have a choice. We're going to put this resolution on the board. You're going to get to vote 'yes,' or you're going to get to vote 'no.' And I'm going to suggest that if you're voting no, if you're going to defend these pardons, maybe you should take a really, really hard look in the mirror and think about the message you're sending to your community and to the State of Illinois. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."

"Leader Keicher is recognized."

"Do you have a specific amount of time? Would 15 minutes suffice?"

"Thank you. Republicans caucus for one hour in Room 118. Democrats will stand at ease. The House will stand at recess to the call of the Chair. The House shall be in order. Leader Hernandez… Lisa Hernandez is recognized." Hernandez, L.: "Yes. Speaker, I just want to make sure Representative DeLuca is excused for the day. Just informing you."

Speaker Evans: "Record will reflect. Leader Keicher is recognized." 10400006.docx 20  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025

"The record will reflect. Returning to Supplemental Calendar #1, under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 118. Representative Guerrero-Cuellar to close."

"Thank you, Speaker. Before we take this vote, I just want to say something very short. Honor and respect, and service is service. And that's what we're honoring here today. Service is service for those law enforcement officers and for their families. I encourage an 'aye' vote."

Speaker Evans: "There being no discussion, Representative Guerrero-Cuellar moves for the adoption of House Resolution 118. Members, this will be a roll call vote. All those in favor vote 'aye'; all those opposed vote 'nay.' 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 78 voting 'yes,' 0… 73 voting 'yes,' 0 voting 'no,' 0 voting 'present.' And this resolution, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared adopted. Continuing on Supplemental Calendar #1, under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 116, Leader Guzzardi. Leader Guzzardi is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present House Resolution 116. This resolution condemns the Trump administration's illegal and immoral actions of a week ago to cut vital programs that millions of our friends, family, and neighbors depend on. We were all here in this chamber last week as government agencies and providers scrambled to understand the implications of this executive order. I'm sure 10400006.docx 21  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 all of you, who have had the common decency of showing up to your job and staying in the chamber, I'm sure all of you got calls, as I did, from groups in your district, the groups that care for our seniors, the groups that provide care to people with disabilities and children with disabilities, the groups that help people put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. They were terrified. I'm sure you got these same panicked phone calls that I did, and I suspect that some of the Members who've chosen to leave us got the very same calls. They were terrified that they'd have to turn people away, that our neighbors would be left to suffer or starve or freeze. Now, you might say that those people suffering aren't in my district. Well, first of all, I would say if that's your perspective, then shame on you. The idea that someone's suffering is fine as long as they don't live in your community, that very notion is indicative of the moral corruption that has pervaded our politics. The suffering of one should be taken as the suffering of all. But second of all, I promise that whatever your district, people who depend on these programs live in your community: in Chicago, in Cook County, in the suburbs, downstate, especially my friends on the other side of the aisle, who I hope are listening, wherever they've decided to go. Those folks who represent rural Illinois, your constituents rely much more heavily on these programs and services than they do in my district. Now, of course, we know there was huge pushback to this order. Democrats and Republicans alike understood that this would cause pain and suffering. The courts ruled it blatantly illegal. Of course, it was a reminder that our president, no 10400006.docx 22  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 matter what he might think, is not a king. He cannot unilaterally cut programs enshrined in law by Congress. So, the administration backed off. They claimed to have rescinded this order, but now they're doing this even more insidiously. Now they've got Elon Musk, an unelected oligarch who no one voted for, who’s never been appointed or confirmed, who has no security clearance, no background check, and whose company, by the way, SpaceX, has over $15 billion in federal contracts, although you don't see him talking about cutting that spending. Elon Musk has now gotten his hands into every corner of our government. This private person has access to every one of our Social Security numbers, our tax information, and he's manipulating federal policy singlehandedly based on his own whims and vendettas. USAID was investigating one of Elon Musk's companies, Starlink. So, now he's destroying this entire federal agency, which will lead to countless deaths across the world from HIV, malaria, and other preventable diseases. And, again, if you think that babies dying is just fine as long as they're not in your district or your community, shame on you. And, of course, let's talk about Lutheran Social Services, an agency I know everyone in this room, and, again, even the folks who decided to leave this room, have tremendous respect for. It's a faith-based mission, but, of course, they serve everyone. They provide home care for seniors, mental health, affordable housing. But because it has the word 'Lutheran' in the name, Elon Musk has decided that it's a money laundering scheme and he wants to shut off all their federal funding. Listen, we, especially those of us who have stayed in this room to do the people's 10400006.docx 23  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 business, we will keep fighting these illegal and immoral cuts to our programs, the programs that our families depend on. I'm sure these actions will be challenged in courts. We can only hope that the legal system will uphold the rule of law. But let me say this to the people across this state who supported President Trump and the people across this country who voted for this man. I think many of you did so out of frustration, out of a sense that things cost too much, that buying a home, paying rent, filling your prescriptions, getting eggs from the market, it costs too much and we're not making enough to make ends meet. And I think you wanted a leader who'd stand up and fight to make things a little easier for regular people. Well, let me tell you what, friends, this ain't it. This is not what you thought you were getting, an unelected corporate tycoon with unchecked power stealing your personal information, cutting services to your friends, your neighbors, to millions of Illinoisans to squeeze enough money out of the federal budget so they can pass a massive tax cut for billionaires like him. That ain't it. This is not what you voted for. This is an illegal and indefensible usurpation of the powers of Congress. It's the very Project 2025 that Donald Trump swore up and down that he wouldn't enact. So, our resolution today urges Congress to check these undemocratic actions, and I believe every Member of this body should stand with me and do so. I hope our colleagues who have left will return to the floor and vote for this important resolution. And, Members, I ask for an 'aye' vote."

"Any further discussion? Representative Canty is recognized." 10400006.docx 24  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025

"To the resolution. I rise today in support of HR116 and to draw attention to the impact of the Trump administration's reckless cuts on people who need these programs the most. Across our state, parents living paycheck to paycheck, disabled Illinoisans relying on Medicaid for health care, seniors who need programs like Meals on Wheels to eat, and countless others who depend on aid programs for their very survival are alarmed and terrified at the sudden and callous overreach by the Trump administration, which has now put their very lives at risk. Seeing my colleagues across the aisle for days extol the virtues of these measures has been disappointing, to say the least. I'd ask them to consider the lives of people in their communities that will undoubtedly be harmed because that's where my thoughts go. I'm thinking about one of my constituents, who is severely autistic and requires around the clock care and whose parents struggle to afford the help that she needs. What's going to happen to her when the Medicaid checks stop coming in? I'm thinking about the victims of a fire in an apartment complex in my community last night, people, some of whom were seriously hurt, and all of whom have had their lives thrown into chaos. Are we going to leave them behind when they need us the most? I'm thinking about the countless Illinoisans who still need help taking care of their children, who leave their kids with neighbors every day just to get by. Have we abandoned the goal of universal child care? Have we stopped caring about families? I'm thinking of my own childhood when the lights sometimes went out because my parents were forced to make a difficult financial choice. Parents like my mother who, before I was 10400006.docx 25  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 born, found herself divorced and raising my older sister alone. Her family loved her, but love cannot buy cereal. My mother relied on welfare to help her get back on her feet. So, what's going to happen to parents like mine, parents across Illinois, when assistance is even more limited? I hope every day that we can find our way to compassion. I walk in every day proud of the work that, we, who are still in this chamber, do on behalf of the people of Illinois. And so, to anyone who wants to prioritize the selfish whims and thoughtless cruelty of this president, sending our hard- earned tax dollars to billionaires and big corporations over the well-being of our seniors and parents and children and those with disabilities and everyone in our state who relies on us to survive, I suggest you rethink your priorities. And I ask yourself who you represent when you walk into this Capitol and when you walk out of it every day. I encourage an 'aye' vote."

"Representative LaPointe is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the resolution. Leader Guzzardi, thank you for your leadership, and I am very proud that in the geography on the far Northwest Side of Chicago that we share, we have a location of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. And the leaders there are worried right now. They are worried. Eight days ago, I and some people in this chamber were here, and I and my friend, Bob Morgan, we called out the memo from the Office of Management and Budget, and that was the memo that injected chaos and anxiety across the state and across our country. And it injected that chaos and anxiety across every House district in this state. The memo 10400006.docx 26  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 was somehow specific, but it was also abstract at the same time. The timeline of the memo was not clear, but the scope of it was expansive. It talked about halting federal funding for, quote-unquote, 'wokeness' and 'Marxist equity.' Those are very specific words, but nothing about the memo was clear aside from the political will to cause chaos and harm. And the memo came from the highest halls of power. We know in this chamber that when you speak with a big microphone, people listen and people react. Seven days ago, we know that the memo was, quote-unquote, 'clarified,' and then it was rescinded. But the White House spokesperson said, 'Yeah, the memo's been rescinded, but the effort to rescind that federal funding still stands.' It wasn't supposed to affect Medicaid, and yet we know that providers all across the state, including Lutheran Social Services, could not access the portal. Funding was indeed stopped, because when you speak with a big microphone, people listen and people react. Folks, the reliance on federal funding of our health care, human service, and behavioral health care system cannot be overstated. Illinois and other states have built up their infrastructure around this federal funding, as we should have, and it is now all in question due to a series of memos and tweets and White House spokespeople chaotic actions. Some call it wokeness. Some call it Marxist equity. The people standing in this chamber right now, we call it health care, we call it access to mental health care, the things that all of us need to survive. Medicaid is the largest funder of behavioral health in the State of Illinois. Medicaid is the largest funder of long-term care in the State of Illinois. Medicaid is the 10400006.docx 27  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 largest funder of AIDS care in the State of Illinois. That's one in six adults, two of three nursing home residents, and one of three people with disabilities. So, when we hear words like 'Medicaid expansion population,' some people think of lines on a spreadsheet. But what it really means is up until we had Medicaid expansion here in Illinois and many other states, if you were a low-income adult and you didn't have dependents and you were under 65, there was no way for you to access health care. There was just no way. And now, we have a Medicaid expansion population of 772,000 in Illinois, and some of us are actually proud of that. Those are folks that never had access to health care, until suddenly, with the ACA, they did. That is 7,500 people in my district. That is almost 10,000 people in the districts of Representative Paul Jacobs, who represents Carbondale and also Cairo. But important to many of us, that Medicaid expansion population represents $7.3 billion a year that we in Illinois get from the federal government because the federal government matches our Medicaid expansion population at a 90% rate. So, for every health care encounter, for every Medicaid billing that one of those 775,000 people in Illinois get access to health care, Illinois gets 90% on the dollar. That is just one of hundreds of examples of how this chaos is affecting the economic security, health, and welfare of not just people in Illinois, but actually our entire state, the economic stability of Illinois. Some of us in this room are not going to stand for that. We're not going to stand for it. And so, Leader Guzzardi, thank you for bringing this resolution. We are going to continue to speak out because these are illegal actions 10400006.docx 28  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 causing chaos and insecurity of not only our health and welfare but our entire economic stability in Illinois. Thank you."

"Leader Guzzardi to close."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Members who spoke. And I'm just… I'm just disappointed that so many of our colleagues aren't here on the floor right now. We disagree about issues all the time. We vote, we argue, we debate, we have discourse. If you disagree with this resolution, if you think that cuts to these incredibly important programs are what's necessary, if you agree with the president's action, if you think that Elon Musk should be running our government, get up here and say so. Press your switch. Vote 'no' on this resolution. Stand by your president. What you're hearing today, not just in this resolution, but the one we just heard from my dear friend and colleague Representative Guerrero- Cuellar and the ones we're about to hear later today, we know where Democrats are. We know what the Democrats of the Illinois House stand for. We know what our values are, and you're going to see them on this board today. Where are our colleagues across the aisle? They're not here. They're not here to tell us where they stand on these incredibly important issues facing our country. I wish we could've had a debate on these topics today, wish we could've discussed them. I wish we could've seen people cast a vote and take a stand. And that is what you will see from House Democrats today, and that is what you will see from us through the rest of this session and for the rest of the time we're in this chamber. 10400006.docx 29  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 We are here, and we are standing up for our values. I urge an 'aye' vote."

"Seeing no further discussion, Leader Guzzardi moves for the adoption of House Resolution 116. Members, this will be a roll call vote. All those in favor vote 'aye'; all those opposed vote 'nay.' 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 73 voting 'yes,' 0 voting 'no,' 0 voting 'present.' And this resolution, having received the constitutional majority, is hereby declared adopted. Continuing down Supplemental Calendar #1, under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 119, presented by Representative Vella. Representative Vella's recognized."

"I stand before you today to address a matter of great economic consequence. One that affects not just the future of Illinois, but the livelihood of every person across this country. I'm speaking about the ill-advised, unplanned, shoddy rollout of tariffs imposed by this president, an action that will cause irreparable harm to our business community, our workers, and our citizens. These tariffs have been framed as a somewhat noble effort to protect American industries, but in reality, the… the consequences will be far different. During the first term tariffs, manufacturers in Illinois were forced to pay higher prices for raw materials. That trickled down to consumers. Prices went up everywhere. Small business owners found themselves struggling to compete as costs rose, international markets became more hostile, businesses shut down, people lost their jobs. People in my district, people 10400006.docx 30  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 in all of our districts, paid more. Belts were tightened. Illinois families were hurt. We are still dealing with the impact of that today, and these new tariffs are just as bad. They were imposed unilaterally without any kind of careful consideration or consultation. There was no talking with state and local leaders, no clear strategy at all to support those who would be hurt. No discussion with business leaders and manufacturers. No discussion with citizens. There was no clear plan to retrain workers or provide support to industries that are clearly going to face unforeseen consequences. Decision came down from on high with little regard for the real-world consequences. It was policy driven by political expediency and no thought, no thought was put in to the economic damage. They went after our top export partners, our friends, Mexico and Canada, jeopardizing multibillion dollar business relationships that support thousands of jobs all across the State of Illinois and the country. These jobs could and will quickly go away, jobs that support families. And just as a side note, Canada has been our friend and our ally since as far back as I can remember. During the Iran hostage crisis, it was their ambassador who took our hostages in and protected them. And now, we're going after Canada because we feel like it. I have heard from manufacturing in this country and in other countries. I have spoken to UAW members, small business owners. They are scared. Businesses need stability, and this tariff… these tariffs are unstable. And because of the fears of these huge, unhinged tariffs, our businesses have been forced to expend massive amounts of capital to stockpile needed supplies. That money should be going to 10400006.docx 31  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 hiring new employees, more growth, better working environments, keeping prices down. This is the cost of even a few days of tariffs. The cost to Illinois families will be just as bad. Prices for everyday items like grocery and gas will skyrocket. Utilities and goods will sharply increase. I mean, egg prices have not gone down, they have gone up. Gas prices have not gone down, they have gone up. And the cost to families in Illinois are estimated to be an additional $2600, and rapid inflation is sure to follow. These tariffs are also going after our future. Illinois isn't just a state of imports and exports. It's a hub of innovation, a state where the nexus of technology and manufacturing has the potential to drive the American economy forward through our next-generation manufacturing and quantum hub. These tariffs will act as a weight around our neck, slowing down businesses, putting communities at risk, and robbing us of our future. Illinois deserves better. The working families of Illinois deserve better. The people of America deserve better. We deserve policies that build up our workers and protect their manufacturing, that gives us a fair shot in the global marketplace. We deserve policies that don't just play politics with our economy, but that truly reflect the values of Illinois and America. We deserve a chance at a better life, a better job, and more money in our pockets. We deserve someone… and I urge this body, stand… to stand against these dangerous tariffs. Urge this administration to think, to spend some actual time thinking. Support our industries. Support our workers. Find thoughtful solutions that bring lasting prosperity, not short-term gains at the expense of 10400006.docx 32  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 our children and our state. I urge you to… I urge you to remember that there are people, real people, who are going to lose their homes, they're going lose their jobs, they're going to lose money out of their pockets. I urge you to fight these tariffs. Thank you."

Speaker Evans: "Any further discussion? Leader Gonzalez is recognized."

"Representative Briel is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the resolution. I would like to address the impact on the agricultural community of these tariffs that we are currently facing. We saw in the first Trump presidency a loss of our soybean production, a loss of our soybean sales when we put tariffs in place, which China moved their sales from the United States to emerging markets. Why is this important? This is important to me because I come from a long line of farmers. I come from a family of farmers, 200-plus years in the Illinois Valley. My grandfather immigrated here and became a farmer. He had a family and grew 10400006.docx 34  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 his small farm in LaSalle County, and that family resulted in three daughters and a son, who became my grandfather. My grandfather took over that farm, grew the farm, expanded it, and expanded our family. My mother was born to Francis 'Harmon' Brown, who was my grandfather, and he ran acres of land. He had a 12-year-old son, a 10-year-old daughter, a six-year-old daughter, and a 3-month-old daughter. He died. My grandmother almost lost our family farm. My uncle dropped out of school in eighth grade so he could keep the family afloat. That farm has continued and prospered and grown. His son has taken over that farm, who is my cousin, and his sons are ready to take the farm when the time is right. I fear, with these tariffs, we will decimate family farming. Illinois produces the most soybeans and third most corn of any state. This will be absolutely devastating. Not only will we have more corporate farmers coming in, we will destroy what we've built, my family has built, for 250 years. I urge you, as the backbone of this state, those of us who provide you food, please vote for this resolution. Thank you."

"Representative Vella to close."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These tariffs hurt our businesses. They hurt our families. They hurt our communities. They hurt our children. I urge you to support the resolution."

"Seeing no further discussion, Representative Vella moves for the adoption of House Resolution 119. Members, this will be a roll call vote. All those in favor vote 'aye'; all the opposed vote 'nay.' 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 10400006.docx 35  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 are 73 voting 'yes,' 0 voting 'no,' 0 voting 'present.' And this bill, having received the constitutional majority, is hereby declared adopted. Continuing on Supplemental Calendar #1, under Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 115, Representative Avelar."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present House Resolution 115, a resolution that underscores a critical truth: our Constitution is not a political bargaining chip, and the rights enshrined within it are not up for debate. The 14th Amendment, a pillar of our democracy, guarantees citizenship to those born in the United States. This promise has stood for nearly 160 years, ensuring that every child born on this soil is granted the same rights and protections under the law. Yet, we are witnessing an unprecedented effort to undermine this constitutional guarantee. Attempts to strip away birthright citizenship are not just an attack on immigrants, they are an attack on the very fabric of who we are as a nation. Toying with the Constitution in this way is dangerous, reckless, and beneath the dignity of our democracy. The Constitution is clear. The language of the 14th Amendment is clear. And yet, we are witnessing efforts to unravel this right for the sake of political expediency and short-term gains. We must be clear-eyed about the consequences. A president does not have the power to unilaterally decide who is or is not a citizen, nor should we allow anyone to dismantle nearly two centuries of constitutional precedent with a stroke of a pen. We must also recognize that the fearmongering and political posturing we see from some in Congress are not about solving real problems. 10400006.docx 36  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 They are distractions designed to divide us rather than united us around… around commonsense solutions. Two in three Americans across party lines are concerned that… are very concerned, actually, that instead of providing real solutions, some are using immigration as a wedge issue, playing politics instead of fixing our broken system. We see the impact of this political maneuvers in our communities. Immigrant families live under a cloud of uncertainty, fearful of being torn apart. We have employers struggle to fill critical job vacancies, constraints by policies that restrict legal pathways to work. And rather than addressing these real challenges, some in Congress would rather escalate the rhetoric and push proposals that would separate families; target Dreamers, who have known no home but this country; and create an environment of chaos rather than stability. These policies do not make our communities safer. In fact, they have the opposite effect. And as this resolution highlights, when fear is weaponized, it undermines public safety. When residents are afraid to report crimes or interact with law enforcement for fear of profiling, entire communities suffer. Public safety relies on trust, and that trust erodes when people are forced into the shadows. The Trump administration policies, as outlined on this resolution, have empowered raids that have not just targeted undocumented individuals, but have also harassed both U.S.-born and naturalized citizens, legal permanent residents, including a member of the military. That is not enforcement. That is fearmongering. That is not the rule of law. It is a fundamental betrayal of our principles. Furthermore, these attacks on immigrants are 10400006.docx 37  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 not just about civil rights. They are also… they also have severe economic consequences. This can cost Americans $1.6 trillion in new expenses and higher cost. Blocking legal pathways for immigrant workers worsens inflation, raises food and housing costs, and it leaves, as we heard before, it leaves small businesses and industries struggling to survive. But despite this economic reality, some in Congress continue to obstruct real solutions and real reform. So, at the end of the day, we must ask ourselves, what kind of nation do we want to be? Do we want to be a nation that upholds our constitutional values, protects civil rights, and seeks real solutions? Or do we want to continue down a path of fear, division, and political grandstanding at the expense of families, communities, and our economy. This resolution affirms that we stand on the side of reason, fairness, and the rule of law. It calls on our federal lawmakers to reject fear-driven policies and instead prioritize permanent solutions and reforms that include a pathway to citizenship that upholds public safety and strengthens economic security. We must not allow the Constitution to be rewritten by those who seek to use it as a tool of exclusion. We must not allow the 14th Amendment, the very foundation of citizenship and equal rights, to be manipulated for political gain. Instead, we must reaffirm our commitment to justice, fairness, and the principles that make this country strong. Thank you."

"Leader Mah is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the resolution. I think it's important to note, especially with regard to the attacks on birthright citizenship, that the case law establishing the 10400006.docx 38  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 precedent in our Constitution comes from a landmark Supreme Court case in 1898, U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark. Wong Kim Ark was born in San Francisco in 1873 and was denied reentry into the country after traveling abroad because he returned when the Chinese Exclusion Act was in effect. The Chinese Exclusion Act was a 1882 federal law that banned virtually all Chinese immigration to the United States and prohibited Chinese immigrants from becoming naturalized citizens regardless how long they resided in this country. Wong Kim Ark took his case all the way to the Supreme Court, challenging the government's refusal to recognize his citizenship. The court ultimately ruled in his favor, confirming that the 14th Amendment included language that meant his birth on American soil conferred automatic U.S. citizenship. I bring this up not just because the case is an important precedent, legal precedent, but also for telling the story of how important Asian Americans are to the diversity of this country and how Asian Americans have played a critical role in establishing the constitutional rights that are relevant to us today. The issue of birthright citizenship is meaningful to me personally as well because I was born here in the United States just three months after my parents immigrated to this country. They were not yet citizens when I was born, and it is possible that without this precedent, my own citizenship would not have been recognized. The current attack on birthright citizenship and immigrants in general is a disgrace. It goes against well-established constitutional law and is simply a racially-motivated attack on our immigrant communities. The actions of this administration circumvent 10400006.docx 39  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 the rule of law and only promote chaos, instill fear, and threaten the communities that have been integral in building the strength and economy of our country. I commend my colleague, Leader Avelar, for bringing this resolution, and I stand in firm support. I urge an 'aye' vote. Thank you."

"Representative Huynh is recognized."

"Mr. Speaker, to the resolution. I rise today in support of Leader Avelar's House Resolution 115. As a Vietnamese refugee and the first refugee elected in Illinois history, Donald Trump's decision to halt the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and his cancelation of travel plans for vetted refugees who planned flights to the United States are callous political decisions that are deeply personal to me. These new orders go beyond Trump's efforts to block asylum seekers in his first term. They are also inhumane. The flight cancelations, for one, will block 1,600 Afghani refugees, women, seniors, kids already cleared to come to the United States following the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. They are harmful to our national reputation. I want to draw a contrast between Trump's action in crisis and those of another American president who has been much in our thoughts of late, President Jimmy Carter. President Carter assumed the presidency in 1976, the year after the Vietnam War ended. That conflict ravaged Vietnam for 20 years and resulted in the deaths of over 3 million Vietnamese and over 58,000 American soldiers. Among those killed were the entire family of my father, who served in the South Vietnamese military alongside U.S. allied forces. At the end of the Vietnam War, the South Vietnamese people faced oppression and persecution 10400006.docx 40  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 from the Communist Party. Close to a million, close to a million, my father included, were captured and sent to concentration camps, where they were subject to hard labor, torture, often resulting in death. The desperate situation led to the exodus of the boat people, who fled Vietnam from the late '70s until the early 1990s. It is estimated that close to 400,000 people died in the attempt fleeing by boat looking for American freedom. As the flow of boat people intensified in 1978, President Carter ordered U.S. naval ships to pick up refugees and expedite their resettlement, sometimes at U.S. military bases. At a meeting of the G7 nations the following year, President Carter announced the United States would help increase the number of refugees admitted from 7,000 per month to 14,000 per month. He hoped other countries would follow his lead. The decision was not particularly popular. A CBS/New York Times poll from that time period suggests that only 34 percent, only 34 percent, of voters approved of that action. But President Carter appealed to America's humanitarian values, the American values that we hold dear. He said, and I quote, 'We are prepared to act with the compassion that has traditionally characterized the United States when confronted with such situations of human crisis. Thousands of human lives are at stake here. The response of Americans to the plight of refugees has always been generous. I am confident that we can count upon a generous response to the present challenge. We can and will work together to find homes and jobs for the Indochinese.' In 1980, President Carter signed the Refugee Act to address the growing needs of refugees for political 10400006.docx 41  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 asylum. This was the first comprehensive amendment to immigration laws in the United States in decades. The law raised the U.S. limit of refugees from 17,400 to 50,000 and allowed for an emergency provision to increase that number. My family was among those who resettled here after 1980 and started a new life. If this did not happen, if this did not happen, my family and I would have been killed in Vietnam. With the exception of Donald Trump, all presidents that followed President Carter have used this provision. Since 1980, more than 3 million refugees have been resettled in the United States of America, contributing greatly to our economic and civic life. We are lucky to have them. We are lucky to have them. They enrich Illinois. They pay taxes. They create jobs. They build small businesses. They are Americans. Trump's executive orders violate the Refugee Act, an act of Congress that cannot be nullified by his pen. The people it protects, including those like the South Vietnamese decades ago, who fought alongside the United States, we should not turn our back on whom we have already offered protection. These are tumultuous times, and America is in a deep crisis of unaffordability and economic inequality. Not surprisingly, refugees and immigrants are often scapegoated, but we are not the problem. Our country's history of leadership in refugee resettlement and U.S. aid should not be discarded, and we should remember our national legacy of offering hope to refugees. The 13th District, the North Side lakefront of the great City of Chicago, a diverse district that speaks more than 90 different languages, with immigrants and refugees from more than 50 countries, sent a Vietnamese refugee to 10400006.docx 42  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 Springfield to fight for a better Illinois for everyone, a more inclusive Illinois, to fight for refugees, to fight for immigrants, to fight for all Americans. And we will fight. Let me be clear: Trump's targeting of refugees and immigrants is un-American, un-American, un-American. Trump's harmful and illegal executive orders must be stopped. We will fight to continue our commitments to refugees so that America remains a symbol of goodwill and human freedom. Vote 'yes' for House Resolution 115 if you believe in American values. Thank you."

"Representative Hirschauer is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the resolution. I rise today as the proud Representative of the beautiful City of West Chicago, a community that was built around the railroad and by the hands of hardworking immigrants from many different countries, but overwhelmingly from Michoacán, Mexico. Our community is made up of people from different backgrounds, including many first- and second-generation Americans. We are home to vibrant small businesses, places where you can get the most delicious gorditas and conchas that melt in your mouth. West Chicago is a community that shows everyone can contribute when we feel safe. But today, the people in my community and in many of yours don't feel safe because of this administration, their threats, and their crass words. It is hard to leave your house for work every day when there are unmarked ICE vehicles roaming the streets of your neighborhood. It is nearly impossible to drop your children off at school with the threat of deportation looming over your head and those of the ones you love. This fear is real, and it is affecting our entire community and yours, and it's 10400006.docx 43  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 disappointing to me that I can't speak to my colleagues over there because it is affecting people in their communities as well. In West Chicago, our vibrant small businesses are hurting because people are afraid to leave their homes. Across this state in the cities and towns that these businesses support, we are going to feel that pain because immigrants fuel our economy. And I'm trying to put this in terms that my colleagues across the aisle can understand. When our small businesses are hurting, our economy is hurting, and you can bet that we will feel that pain in our property tax bills. Every single person in this room represents a community that is thriving because of the hard work of immigrants. I rise today to show the families in my community, in our community, and in their communities on that side of the aisle that there are people in this building who will always fight for them. While we can't stop the racially-motivated attacks that come from Washington, we can still speak clearly and honestly about what our communities fight for and what we will fight against. I will always fight to keep our communities safe. I will always fight to help families make ends meet. And I will always fight to keep our communities a home for everyone who wants to live peacefully. I invite you all to West Chicago to witness the traditions and customs of Mexico come alive with the Leman Middle School mariachi band and ballet folklórico. And if you can't make it to West Chicago, I urge you to look for this beauty in your own communities because it is there. And when you find that beauty, you will see that immigrants make all of our communities great. I urge an 'aye' vote on this resolution." 10400006.docx 44  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025

"Representative Norma Hernandez is recognized." Hernandez, N.: "Thank… thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the resolution. As a proud daughter of immigrants, I rise today with a deep sense of urgency and responsibility to speak on this issue and the fear that has gripped so many communities across Illinois and our country under the leadership of Donald Trump. His policies have inflicted real and measurable harm on the people that we swore to protect and represent. In my district, the 77th District, in my hometown of Melrose Park and beyond, families are literally living in fear. Parents are afraid to go to work. Children are afraid to go to schools. Small businesses, many of them family-owned for generations, are seeing revenue declines of up to 60% because customers are too afraid to leave their homes. The families that are living in fear aren't violent criminals. They are people who love their communities and contribute every single day. This is not an abstract issue. These are real people, real businesses, and real livelihoods that are being threatened by this administration every single day. Our constitutional rights are being violated before our very eyes, and we cannot take this lightly. The principles of due process, equal protection, and basic human dignity are under assault. This is not progress. This is not the… the country our ancestors have fought for. This is not the America that we should be proud of and represent. And if we really want to talk about criminals, then let's start by acknowledging the criminal who is running this country to the ground right now. The corruption, the abuses of power, the blatant disregard for the rule of law, this is what threatens the very foundation 10400006.docx 45  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 of our democracy. We cannot sit idle while our communities suffer, while our neighbors live in fear, and while our democracy erodes before our very eyes. And to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, if you are so proud of your president's actions, why can't you stand here and defend these actions? Instead, you decide to leave. Thank you, Representative Avelar, for uplifting this issue and for calling out the injustices that exist. And we must confront this head on. We owe it to our communities, to our state, and to this nation. Let's keep up with this fight because we must do what's right. Thank you."

"Leader Avelar to close."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand before you as somebody who was formerly undocumented. I think I… for those of you that know me know that I don't shy away from my story because my story is not just unique to myself, but it's the story of thousands of people who have decided to make Illinois home and who have seen their kids make Illinois home and who have seen their generations make Illinois their home. I also do this because for the past two weeks, I've been thinking about Norma Contla Galvan, a Waukegan resident who was part of a mixed-status family, who's dying wish was to self-deport to Mexico so that she could be with her mother as she passed away. So, today, I urge my colleagues to stand on the right side of history and support this resolution. We must send a clear message: America thrives when we uphold the Constitution, when we respect the dignity of all people, and when we focus on real solutions and not political distractions. Thank you." 10400006.docx 46  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025

"Seeing no further discussion, Leader Avelar moves the adoption of House Resolution 105… excuse me, 115. All those in favor vote 'aye'; all those opposed vote 'nay.' The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Representative Elik, would you like to vote? Representative Reick, would you like to vote? Representative Grant, would you like to vote? Representative Sanalitro, would you like to vote? Representative Weber, would you like to vote? Representative Ugaste, would you like to vote? Representative La Ha, would you like to vote? Representative Schweizer, would you like to vote? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 73 voting 'yes,' 0 voting 'no,' and 0 voting 'present.' And this resolution, having received the constitutional majority, is hereby declared adopted. Continuing down Supplemental Calendar #1, on the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 117, Leader Buckner."

"Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce House Resolution 117 addressing President Trump's unprecedented assault on workers' rights, civil rights, pay equality, and workplace safety in an executive order targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts in the workplace. I'll state the obvious, Mr. Speaker. I'm a Black man from the South Side of Chicago who was raised by a mother born in the Jim Crow Mississippi Delta who… who as a child saw lifeless Black bodies hanging from trees in her own community. My father grew up in a segregated Chicago, where his mother, my grandmother, spent her days making beds in a hotel where she wasn't allowed to walk through the front door because of the 10400006.docx 47  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 color of her skin. And now, I stand before you as the elected Representative of the very district where that hotel still stands today. I'm married to a first-generation American. I'm raising a Black and Latino child. I don't just understand race and racism, I have lived it, inherited it, and carried its weight the entirety of my life. And I know exactly why this rollback is extremely dangerous. But let me be clear: I'm not standing here today just because of what this means for me or Chicago or for Black Illinoisans or for people of color. I'm standing here because of what it means for all of Illinois. Every single worker, every family, and every community, red or blue, urban or rural, white, Latino, Asian, or Black will feel the consequences of this executive order. This isn't just a rollback of diversity programs. This is a direct attack on the economic security of working people in the State of Illinois. In Coles County, in East Central Illinois, Representative Miller's district, it means that a single mother in Charleston, who already makes 80 cents to a man's dollar, now has no legal ground to challenge her employer if she's being paid less for the same exact work. It means that in Effingham County, where thousands of veterans, including those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Korea, Vietnam, and still a small handful from World War II, the Greatest Generation, in Representative Niemerg's district, a veteran who was injured in the line of duty can now legally be denied a job because their disability makes them less desirable to an employer. The federal government used to have safeguards to prevent that, but not anymore. And in Fayette County, Representative Wilhour's district, this order means 10400006.docx 48  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 that a woman working in an agricultural plant in Vandalia can be paid less than her male counterparts. And if she dares have the audacity to ask why, her employer can fire her on the spot. Colleagues, these are not Democratic or Republican issues. These are worker issues. They're family issues. They are economic issues. What this executive order really means is that businesses have the green light to exploit workers and to protect the powerful at the expense of everyday people. If you are a woman in McLean County trying to provide for your children, this affects you. If you're a veteran in Marion struggling to find work after serving your country, this affects you. If you are a person with a disability in Rock Island who is just trying to compete for a fair job, this affects you. If you are a white working-class man in Saline County whose company has slashed wages and benefits, this affects you. Because when you remove protections from one group, you remove protections from all groups. I'll say it again. This isn't just a rollback of diversity programs. This is a direct attack on the economic security of working people in the State of Illinois. And the worst part, this attack has not been quiet. It's been extremely loud. It's been a loud clamor of power, cheers from the powerful, smirks from the privileged, and outright glee from those who thought and think that equality was always an inconvenience. How loud has it been? Loud enough for one of Trump's top officials to say, and I quote, 'Competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work.' Loud enough for the former president himself to blame the traffic… the tragic Washington air disaster, a crash that took the lives of innocent people, on 10400006.docx 49  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 the FAA's hiring of too many people with disabilities. That is the world that they want to create, a world where diversity is blamed for tragedy, a world where equity is seen as a weakness instead of a strength, a world where fairness is optional and privilege is permanent. And what has that loudness been met with? Silence and absence. And all the while, it's loud in the boardrooms where executives are now free to pay women less. It's loud in the hiring offices where employers can now discriminate without consequence. It's loud at the military bases and VA clinics where veterans will find fewer protections in the workplace. It's loud in the halls of government where those in power have made it clear equity is a enemy, diversity is a threat, and opportunity should be a privilege not a right. Silence and absence. Silence from those who claim to fight for the working people. Silence from those who say that they support fair wages. And silence and absence from those who represent the very counties and communities that will be hit hardest by this betrayal. Silene and absence. This isn't about identity politics. This is about paychecks. It's about fairness. It's about making sure no Illinois worker, regardless of race, gender, or background, gets pushed to the back of the line simply because the federal government refuses to enforce equal opportunity. Colleagues, I ask you, what are you going to tell the single mother who lost her right to demand fair pay? What are you going to tell the veteran who now has no recourse if he is denied a job because of a disability that he earned in the service of his country? And what are we hearing from our Republican friends who should be fighting back? Silence and absence. Because 10400006.docx 50  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 whether you live in Chicago or Decatur, Peoria or Murphysboro, Springfield or Belleville, your rights at work should not depend on who is in the White House. I urge you to support this resolution because this is about protecting all Illinoisans."

"Representative Ammons is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A point of personal privilege, please."

"Speak your point."

"Thank you. First, let me acknowledge Leader Buckner for taking on this resolution, which I believe will have a long- lasting impact and reverberate around this nation. I have to draw on the prophetic words of Dr. King. And Dr. King did a speech called 'The Other America.' And I want to read it exactly, not the entirety of the speech, but this part I think fits directly into the resolution we just heard from Leader Buckner. He said, 'The other America, as I use this title because these, and there are two literal Americas that we are experiencing. Every city in our country has this kind of dualism, this schizophrenia, split at so many points and so to… every city ends up being two cities rather than one. There are two Americas. One America is beautiful situations. In other Americas, millions of people have the milk of prosperity and the honey of equality flowing before them. This America is the habitat of millions of people who have food and material necessities for their bodies; culture and education for their minds; freedom and human dignity for their spirits. In this America, children grow up in the sunlight of opportunity. But there is another America, and this America 10400006.docx 51  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 has the daily ugliness about it that transforms hope into fatigue of despair. In this other America, thousands and thousands of people, men in particular, walk the streets in search for jobs, but they do not fill them. In the other America, millions of people are forced to live in vermin- infested, depressed housing conditions. In this America, the walls carpeted but often too difficult because of rats and roaches. Almost 40 percent of Negro families of America live in substandard housing conditions. In this other America, thousands of young people are deprived of an opportunity to get adequate education.' This is the America that the current president wants to reestablish. What we see on the attack of DEI has a chilling effect that reminds us of Dr. King's very important speech, 'The Other America.' We don't want to go back to that America, African Americans serving 244 years of free labor to this nation to build railroads, to build houses, including the one that the president is in. DEI is about opportunity. It is not about equality of outcomes. It's about just simply providing a favorable opportunity. If you are in favor of so-called colorblind legislation, which allows some people to start ahead of others, we will never get to an America that is one America instead of two. When our Republican colleagues celebrated last week, it disturbed me deeply, as our offices were inundated with phone calls about what would happen to the child care services, what would happen to their children that have disabilities. Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues thought that that was a good thing. Politicizing mass death and tragedies, denying people citizenship, blaming a crash of an airplane 10400006.docx 52  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 and killing of 67 people on DEI is tone deaf. Attacks on DEI are marching us right back to the past, a past that openly and loudly subjugated Black people, but now we want to subjugate all people. I do hope that this resolution sends the message that we in Illinois do not support Jim Crow kind of legislation. We do not support two Americas. We believe in the Declaration of Independence. We believe in our Constitution that gives all of us the right to citizenship, full and complete. Without that, we have two Americas. We appreciate you, Leader Buckner, for seeing the importance of this moment, for making sure that we do not return to a period of apartheid, economic or otherwise, in the United States and certainly not in Illinois. I urge an 'aye' vote for this resolution as well. Thank you."

"Representative Moeller is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this resolution, and I want to thank Leader Buckner for bringing it forward this evening. Tonight, we are talking about fairness. We're talking about what it means to work hard, play by the rules, and still come up short. Not because of a lack of talent, not because of a lack of effort, but because of an outdated system that still dictates that some can be paid more than others because of their sex, disability status, and race. President Trump's executive order is aimed at rolling back all of the progress that we've made in achieving a fair and more just system through diversity, equity, and inclusion. And it's truly appalling to see so many corporations and organizations feel compelled to follow suit. It's shameful that the Trump administration is weaponizing 10400006.docx 53  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 racism and sexism to root out DEI within the federal administration. To cast DEI as something dangerous that needs to be investigated and hunted down within the federal government, it's absolutely shameful. When we talk about DEI, what we're talking about is the very simple idea that everyone deserves a fair shot; that if you put in the work, you should be able to provide for your family, build a life of dignity, and know that you're being treated with respect. And yet, we see an attack on the progress that we've made, to deny undeniable historical inequities, to say that fairness in the workplace is somehow too much to ask for, that pay equity and a workplace free from discrimination is something we can just brush aside. Well, I don't accept that. I know my colleagues on this side of the aisle don't accept that, and I know the vast majority of people in this state don't accept that. Because this isn't about politics. As Leader Buckner and Representative Ammons have very eloquently stated, this is about real people's lives. It's about the single mom working overtime just to make sure her kids have what they need. It's about the Latina with years of experience who finds herself making less than the guy who was just hired. It's about the young Black girl who dreams big but still sees a world where she's told to think small. But not here, not in Illinois. While others are trying to take us backward, we're moving forward. We've strengthened our equal pay laws. We've increased transparency and made sure that a person's salary isn't determined by what they've made before but by what they deserve and what they've worked for. And we're going to keep fighting to make sure that that hard work is rewarded fairly 10400006.docx 54  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 and that no one is left behind, that opportunity is real for everyone. And let me make this clear… and it is incredibly disappointing but all not too surprising that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are not here to express how they feel about these very important turn of events that have come before our nation in the last couple weeks. But we will not allow Trump or anyone else to drag us backward. We will continue to stand… our colleagues here in this chamber who are here with us tonight will continue to stand for all workers and for fundamental fairness and justice in our state. Thank you. And thank you again, Leader Buckner, for bringing this incredibly important resolution to this chamber this evening."

"Speaker Welch is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the resolution. I rise today because it is not a time to be silent in our state or in our country. It is not a time, Mr. Speaker, to walk out on your job. It is not a time to lose the voice that people elected you to have for them in this body. It is not a time to be silent. What's been coming out of Washington, D.C. these last couple of weeks has been sad and concerning on many levels. And the people who elected you to be here would want you to be here to speak for them. Pardons to rioters who severely harmed law enforcement officials, we are here to speak up against that. Freezing legally mandated funding for state and local governments and blocking the services families need to keep a roof over their head, blocking the funding for Head Start programs to keep their doors open. We are here to speak up for those families who need those 10400006.docx 55  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 services, but there's 40 people who were elected by people in this state who walked out on those people today. They should be here speaking out against issuing tariffs on our friends and allies in Canada and Mexico that will raise the cost of everything in our districts and their districts too. But they're not here to speak up for those people. They're not here to talk about President Trump taxing working families all across this country to pay for tax cuts for his billionaire friends. They're not here to talk about a president who is doing everything except addressing our broken immigration system. They're not here to talk about him leading by fear and intimidation, causing immigrant families to stay inside and not go to school, not go to church, not visit restaurants, not visit malls. They're not here. They're not here to talk about the president attacking workers' rights and diversity, equity, and inclusion, programs that data proves work and make us all better, even people in their districts. They're not here to talk about special government employees who no one elected using Nazi salutes and accessing America's most personal and confidential information. They're not here to talk about what's coming out of Washington, D.C. What's coming out of Washington, D.C. can be summed up in one word, fascism. Fascism. Fascism. They should be here to speak out against fascism. We cannot be silent. We must rise up, speak up, speak out. We cannot walk out on the people that sent us here. We have to stay and fight. German pastor Martin Niemöller once said, 'First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out 10400006.docx 56  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew But then they came for me But there was no one there left To speak for me.' Members, this is not a time to be silent. This is not a time to walk out on your job. This is not a time to walk out on the people who sent you here. This is a time to stay, stand, and fight. We have Members who were elected to represent people on that side of the chamber who traveled to Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021 to march for Donald Trump, with Donald Trump, but today, February 5, 2025, they couldn't stay and do their jobs and speak out against fascism. But we're here, Illinois. We are here, the Democratic caucus is here. We’re united on this floor. We're here speaking up for you, Illinois. We're here speaking out for you, Illinois. Whether you're in a blue district or a red district, we're here. What Trump is doing is wrong for Illinois. What Trump is doing is wrong for America, and we are here to speak out against it. We will resist, we will fight, and we will win. Vote 'yes' and condemn this nonsense coming out of Washington." 10400006.docx 57  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025

"Leader Buckner to close."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and to all of my colleagues and to our leader, Speaker Welch, for your support of this resolution. Once again, just to close, I'm disheartened that our friends on the other side of the aisle decided to run away. They checked in, clocked in, grabbed their taxpayer- funded per diems, and peaced out, made themselves disappear, the Houdini caucus. Silence and absence. Ignoring the harsh realities of what their inaction will lead to for the people that they represent, proving that they're in a rocky situationship with democracy. Nobody in any of our districts gets paid to leave their job early, and they don't expect that of us. What they do expect is for us to fight for them, to push back against ham-handed, haphazard, nonsensical government action. And we, those of us who remain, will do exactly that. A couple of seconds this resolution is going to go up on the board, we'll get a chance to vote for the people of Illinois. I want you to look at who's fighting for you and look at who's not even showing up, not even here to stand up and fight for the things that they claim to believe in. Leader Smith, my daddy used to say, 'The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.' Silence and absence. I urge a 'yes' vote."

"Leader Buckner moves for the adoption of House Resolution 117. Members, this will be a roll call vote. All those in favor vote 'aye'; all those opposed vote 'nay.' The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Representative Elik, would you like to vote? Representative Reick, would you like to vote? Representative 10400006.docx 58  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 6th Legislative Day 2/5/2025 Grant, would you like to vote? Representative Sanalitro, would you like to vote? Representative Weber, would you like to vote? Representative Ugaste, would you like to vote? Representative La Ha, would you like to vote? Representative Schweizer, would you like to vote? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 73 voting 'yes,' 0 voting 'no,' and 0 voting 'present.' And this resolution, having received the constitutional majority, is hereby declared adopted. Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."

"Leader Gabel moves for the adoption of Agreed Resolutions. All in favor say 'aye'; 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 Gabel moves that the House stand adjourned until Thursday, February 6, at the hour of noon. All those in favor say 'aye'; those opposed say 'nay.' In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned."