Illinois House Floor Debate — January 21, 2026

"The House shall be in order. Members should be in the 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 cellphones… prayer."

"Good morning. I'm grateful to be gathered again with everyone here today. So, in this first week back in session, we return to this chamber with a renewed sense of purpose and with the opportunity to begin again. So, let us pause and remember we are not here for ourselves, not for our titles, and not for the power of this place but for the people who placed their trust in us. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us that leadership is not about authority but about service, that anyone can be great, and not through power or position but through service. May that enduring truth guide us throughout this session. So, as we begin, let us remember those who are not in this room with us but those whose lives are shaped by what happens here, working families stretching every dollar; children just starting to imagine their futures; seniors living on fixed incomes; and our many neighbors who are seeking health care, safety, opportunity, and dignity. They are the reason this work matters for all of us. And the true measure of our service will not be found in headlines or speeches but in whether all of our people feel more secure, more supported, and more hopeful because of what we do here together. Dr. King taught us that injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere, that what we do for one of us affects all of us. When we choose fairness over fear, cooperation over division, and courage over comfort, we move closer to the beloved community he envisioned. One that 10400064.docx 1  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 is rooted in dignity, accountability, and respect for every person. So, may we govern here with integrity, listen with open hearts, and debate with honesty. And may we use this moment and this power to bend our shared future toward justice. Let it be so. Amen."

"Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting laptops, turn off all cellphones, and we'll be led in the Pledge of Allegiance today by Representative La Ha. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn off all cellphones, and rise for the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance."

"Roll Call for Attendance. Leader Morgan is recognized to report any excused absences on the Democratic side of the aisle."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let the record show that Representative Cassidy, Jones, Stava, Syed 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? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. There being 110 Members answering the 10400064.docx 2  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 roll call, a quorum is present. Representative Spain, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Please speak your point."

"Leader Windhorst, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Please speak your point."

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

"Please proceed."

"Members, please rise for a moment of silence. Thank you. Representative Swanson, what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Please speak your point."

"Representative Guerrero-Cuellar, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

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

"Please speak your point."

"I want to take this moment, my daughter is watching in Chicago. I want to wish Alexis a very happy 18th birthday. Many of you have been here to celebrate Alexis as she's come down and she looks at you as your extended GA tías and tíos. So, I want to say happy birthday and mom loves you very much."

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

"Thank… thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Democrats would request a caucus meeting at 11:45 in Room 114."

"Leader Keicher is recognized."

"Members, the Democrats will caucus in Room 114 at 11:45 a.m. today. The Republicans will caucus in Room 118 immediately after we recess. The House shall stand in recess to the call of the Chair."

"Morgan in the Chair. Mr. Clerk."

"Mr. Clerk, Rules Report."

"Under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Joint Resolution 51, offered by Leader Gabel."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a simple resolution. It just allows the House and Senate to invite the governor to come and to do his budget address. I would appreciate an 'aye' vote."

"Leader Windhorst."

"She indicates she will."

"Let me… let me ask. House Rules? Please pull this bill from the record."

"Under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 622, offered by Representative Andrade." 10400064.docx 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker, I rise today to present House… OK. Oh, there we are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I present… present House Resolution 622, which addresses a trend that should alarm us all. For the last year, and for the last six months in particular, our communities across our country have witnessed an increasing amount of violence perpetrated by ICE agents, Border Patrol agents, and others under the direction of Homeland Security, Noem, and President Donald Trump. In September of 2025, Silverio Villegas González was shot and killed by ICE in one of our very own communities, Franklin Park. Weeks later in Chicago, Marimar Martinez was shot by masked agents while on her way to church. The world witnessed the shocking violence this month when Renee Nicole Good was murdered by ICE agents in Minnesota. Days later it happened again in Oregon. It's happened in Washington, D.C., in Phoenix, in Los Angeles, in Texas, and Maryland, and towns many of us couldn't even find on a map. This resolution is personal to me. I was born here, but I am the son of immigrants. My wife is a first-generation American citizen. My kids can't even see their maternal grandmother anymore, even though she is a legal permanent resident, because she has decided not to come back to the United States of America because she does not feel safe anymore in this country. She was held in Terminal 5 for hours, although she's even 75 years old and older. She had to sit there in just a chair through agony because they were just being who they are. In some cases, killed by ICE agents have been citizens. They've been legal residents leaving… living peacefully on legal visas. And, yes, some have been immigrants. But here's 10400064.docx 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 the thing: Not a single victim was given the opportunity to prove their citizenship, prove their status as a law-abiding citizen, nor given a due process before they were shot. That's not justice, that's not America, and none of us should accept that it's right. Seemingly after each tragedy, Secretary Noem rushes to label the victim as a domestic terrorist, charges that often fall apart under even the most basic examination. And while these executions in the streets are the most alarming and public incidents, the Project On Government Oversight found that within the detention centers that the Trump administration refuses to open even to the most basic oversight. Thirty-two people died in ICE custody in 2025. So, I rise today not only as the son of immigrants and as a parent of children who could be profiled, I rise today as an American who will not stand down and watch this happen in my country. Every detention, every abuse, and every murder are the responsibility of Donald Trump and Kristi Noem. This resolution calls for an investigation into the deaths, violent acts, and cover-ups committed. And I demand that all agents, administrators, and political appointees involved be prosecuted. Most importantly, we call on Secretary Noem to immediately resign as secretary of Homeland Security. And if she refuse to resign, we urge for Congress for immediate impeachment. I respectfully ask for an 'aye' vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."

"For further discussion, Leader Windhorst is recognized."

"To the resolution." 10400064.docx 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026

"For further discussion, Leader Guzzardi is recognized."

"Speaker, to the resolution."

"To the resolution." 10400064.docx 11  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026

"I appreciate the sponsor for bringing this forward. The sponsor indicated that it's personal to him in… in a way that's different than the way that it's personal to me. But I'd like to speak first from a place of personal experience myself, which is to say that I live in and represent a community that… where… where we saw a tremendous amount of ICE activity, ICE enforcement, ICE detentions and kidnappings in our district. And if you haven't had the experience of taking your kid to the playground, your 2-year-old son to the playground, and him pointing up at the sky and saying 'helicopter' as the helicopter flies back and forth over your park, knowing that it's exciting to your kid, but that to the rest of your neighbors, it's an instrument of terror, I would urge you… and I… I hear some of my colleagues scoffing at that word, but I want you to take it seriously because for my neighbors, they are terrified. Their kids aren't going to school. Their parents aren't going to work. And these aren't just undocumented individuals. And it's certainly not just people with criminal records. And to the leader's point from earlier, our law enforcement can cooperate with federal law enforcement when there's a criminal investigation, when there's a criminal warrant. But when it's indiscriminate terrorizing of our neighbors, which is what I saw on my streets, in my neighborhood, in my park, with my kid, our law enforcement won't participate in that. And that's not keeping our community safe. The leader mentioned that we're seeing chaos in our communities, and you're right, leader. But that chaos is being caused by the federal officials who are driving up and down our streets in unmarked vehicles with no 10400064.docx 12  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 identification. They've taken the license plates off their cars. They jump out of those cars, and they grab my neighbors off my streets. That is terror. That is chaos. That is not law enforcement. That is the indiscriminate application of state violence to our neighbors, and it is tearing our communities apart at the seams. We're all worked up. We're all rightly incensed about what we see in the news in foreign countries, where foreign states and foreign dictators turn their armed officials loose on protesters, on peaceful protesters to commit indiscriminate acts of violence, to kill those protesters, to silence that dissent, to silence media reporting about what's happening in those countries. We're… we're mad about it, and we should be. And it is happening in our streets. It's happening in my district. It's happening in the state of Minnesota. They are… they have told us that they are coming back here to do this again on steroids in the future in my community. And I can tell you that citizens, legal permanent residents, undocumented people, parents, children, grandparents are terrified, and rightly so because there has been no check and no break on the violence that federal officials have unleashed in our communities. It is an unconscionable exercise of brute force, we see the videos every single day, against unarmed, peaceful protesters. It cannot be tolerated, and I am so grateful to the sponsor for introducing this resolution to push back on this outrageous behavior. And I urge an 'aye' vote."

"Leader Gabel is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative DeLuca… please excuse Representative DeLuca for the rest of the day." 10400064.docx 13  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026

"Thank you, leader. For further discussion, Leader Lisa Hernandez is recognized." Hernandez, L.: "Thank you, Speaker. To the resolution."

"To the resolution." Hernandez, L.: "I, too, want to thank the speaker for telling his story. It's hurtful. This is his mother being treated in that way. I, too, respect the fact that we're taking the initiative to speak out on behalf of all these families that are being hurt, including those that are here legally. Come on, folks. The fact that we have laws in place and oftentimes not being followed has something to be said for, and that's why we have to speak out. I live… or I represent and live in a district that has an everyday circumstance. And it happened right next door to my office, right there on video camera, where you had some workers just coming to get coffee in the corner bakery. And here, out of the corner, comes a van, ICE coming out. These folks are standing just outside of the bakery, sees… they see this moment, run into the bakery, here with ICE following… following them, crashing into the business, which is a problem here. And then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, you see out of the van come out this big camera. Come on, folks. Let's see for what it's… what it's for. These are theatrics. These are… this is a show, and people are getting hurt, and people are getting killed. We have to speak out. Where's the due process? I ask for an 'aye' vote."

"For further discussion, Representative Niemerg is recognized."

"To the resolution." 10400064.docx 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026

"For further discussion, Representative Blair- Sherlock is represented… is recognized."

"Thank you. To the resolution."

"To the resolution."

"I, too, believe that everybody should follow the law and that breaking the law is bad. And maybe there were 10400064.docx 16  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 some things that happened under Obama, but… or under Biden, but that was under Biden. That's gone. We're not talking about that. We're talking about what's happening today. And if I'm going to follow a law, what law am I going to follow? The supreme law of the land, which is the Constitution. I have watched with horror these last 10 months as the Constitution has been ripped, shredded, stomped upon, and not followed by this administration. They are not… they're racially profiling people. They have pulled over and detained police, off-duty police in Minneapolis 'cause they are Black and Brown people. They are smashing in the windows of citizens. They are telling citizens they don't care they're citizens. OK, the Constitution is still here, folks, and we still have the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure just because of how we look, or our occupation, or who we hang out with, or what language we speak, or if we have an accent. And by the way, I think people in Tennessee have an accent. So, let's get real here. This administration is not following the law. President Obama deported 3 million people, but you did not see the terror in the streets that we are seeing right now because they do not care. You know why? Because they're not going to be held accountable because the people at the top of this administration say they have full immunity. And we all know what that means since the president is very free with his pardons of people who've committed crimes. Now, the crimes shouldn't apply to them because they're billionaires and they're fraudsters and it's white-collar crime. But gosh forbid somebody steal a loaf of bread 'cause their kid is starving. I'm sorry, you don't pick and choose the laws and 10400064.docx 17  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 you don't pick and choose who is subjected to those laws. And we all have to follow the Constitution, including ICE and including the president of the United States. ICE has no jurisdiction over citizens of the United States. They are not law enforcement in the traditional sense of the word, and they need to comply with the law too. Thank you."

"Leader Keicher is recognized."

"Thank you, leader. For further discussion and the final speaker on this resolution, we have Representative Ness to speak to the resolution."

"Thank you, Speaker. To the resolution."

"To the resolution."

"So, I'm going to speak the words of a constituent who felt compelled to send me an email after an experience that happened to her, and I speak… I think it speaks to the heart of this resolution. So, this is from one of my constituents. 'For 39 years, I was fortunate to have never personally witnessed an act of pure cruelty. That sense of protection, the blessed bubble I have lived within was shattered yesterday. While out doing lawn work with my husband, I watched as ICE agents coordinated, planned, and ultimately detained a man who was simply installing windows at my neighbor's home on a Sunday afternoon. My neighbor later shared that three of the workers who happened to be inside her house pleaded for her to not open the door, while the other two workers outside were interrogated by the ICE agents, eventually arresting one of them. As someone who has always 10400064.docx 18  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 recognized her own blessings and privilege, I have never felt more unblessed, powerless, or afraid than I did yesterday. To see masked men in military uniforms pull up in front of my home and my neighbor's home and to witness them take someone away was deeply violating. My home, my property, and my sense of safety were all compromised simply by being a witness to that event. Like so many others, I have always considered my home, my property, and my spouse to be my sources of safety. But after yesterday, I find myself questioning whether that's still true. What became painfully clear is that the federal government holds the power to intrude, to act without warning, and to erode any sense of security an individual may believe they have. And what struck me even more deeply was that the response from some stand by… stand… bystanders who drove by offering thumbs up and gestures and saying "God bless you" to the ICE agents. You see incidents like this on television, but until it unfolds in your own neighborhood, right next door, you cannot truly grasp the emotions that accompany such a moment.' And I think about all of the moments that have been witnessed across our country by federal agents acting against citizens of this country. And that is what this resolution speaks to and what it stands for. It's about a process and tactics that do not define who we are as America. Please vote 'yes' for this resolution."

"Representative Andrade to close."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This resolution is for the people who got gassed, tear gassed in my community. This is for the 7-year-old student who ran away from the ICE agents while her father was ripped out of her car, and we could not 10400064.docx 19  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 find her for a while. This is for my tamale lady who can't sell tamales and make a living, who files income taxes. There's 125,000 people in the state of Illinois that fill out income taxes. These are taxpayers. These are humans, 125,000 ITIN filers in the state of Illinois. They pay taxes and are, most importantly, are human beings, and they are our neighbors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I respectfully request an 'aye' vote."

"Representative Andrade moves for the adoption of House Resolution 622. All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay.' The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 69 'ayes,' 35 'nays,' 0 voting 'present.' And this resolution, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby adopted. Under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 620, offered by Leader Buckner."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this resolution is not about politics in Washington. It is about real people in Illinois who woke up on January 1 and found out that their health care suddenly cost more through no fault of their own. Nearly half a million Illinoisans rely on the Affordable Care Act marketplace to cover their families. These are small business owners, farmers, self-employed workers, part-time employees, and people juggling work and school. For them, the ACA was not a talking point, it was peace of mind. That peace of mind existed because federal subsidies put in place in 2022 kept coverage affordable, even as families were already dealing with higher costs everywhere else. Those subsidies 10400064.docx 20  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 worked. Premiums stayed manageable and people stayed insured. And then President Trump said, and I quote, 'I'd rather not extend them at all.' And despite bipartisan support, those subsidies were allowed to expire on January 1 of this new year. Now we are seeing the consequences in real life and in real time. While the Trump tax bill is simultaneously handing out over $100 billion in tax cuts to wealthy corporations, working families are being forced to bear the burden of these decisions, picking up the tab through insurance cost spikes and cuts to vital programs and a reduction in access to their health care. Families on the marketplace are seeing premiums double. Deductibles are rising by as much as $10,000 per person. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates this will take an average of… this will cost an average of $927 more a year out of the pockets of working Illinois families. And it's even worse in rural and downstate Illinois. In the 16th Congressional District, in Peoria, Bloomington, Normal, Rockford, and small towns across DeKalb, Boone, and LaSalle counties, families are paying more than $1400 extra a year. Those higher premiums and deductibles are squeezing household budgets. In the 15th District, in Champaign and Charleston and Effingham and Danville and Mattoon and across Coles, Edgar, and Vermilion counties, bills have risen more than $1500 because subsidies have expired. And in Marion, Mount Vernon, Collinsville, Cahokia, and across Madison and St. Clair counties in the 12th District premiums and out-of- pocket costs are climbing to the tune of $2,000 a year. So, people instead are deciding to delay their own care. Let's be clear about who this hurts. It hurts the grain farmer in 10400064.docx 21  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 Western Illinois who buys insurance on the marketplace because he does not have an employer plan. Same family, same coverage, hundreds of more a month. It hurts the public- school teacher downstate who does not qualify for Medicaid and does not get affordable coverage at work. She stayed insured because subsidies made it possible. And now, she is paying more and delaying care. It hurts the retired police officer in a small town who is too young for Medicare and living on a fixed income. He served his community, He planned responsibly, and now his health care costs are eating into his retirement. These are not edge cases. These are our neighbors. These are our constituents. Up to 140,000 Illinoisans may lose coverage entirely because they simply cannot afford it anymore, on top of hundreds of thousands more facing Medicaid cuts. And all of this is happening while the Trump tax bill delivers, once again, $100 billion in tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and for corporations. Colleagues, this resolution is simple and it is necessary. It calls on Congress to immediately reinstate the 2022 health care subsidies and end this affordability crisis. Health care should not depend on your zip code, your job status, or whether Washington decides you are expendable. Illinois is saying today that we stand with working families, that we stand with rural communities and anyone who just wants to see a doctor without risking financial ruin. That is the choice before us. And that's why this resolution deserves our support."

Speaker Morgan: "For further discussion, Leader Keicher is recognized." 10400064.docx 22  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026

"To the resolution."

"For further discussion, Representative Moeller is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Resolution 620, and I thank Leader Buckner for bringing this resolution to the floor. In response to the… the previous speaker, who I have a lot of respect for but significantly disagree with on some of these fundamental concepts, I think it's important that we remember the health care landscape that existed in Illinois and indeed throughout the country before the ACA passed. Before the Affordable Care Act, more Illinois residents lacked any form of health insurance. And we remember that before the ACA, you could be denied access to health insurance because of preexisting conditions, and certainly if you didn't get employer-sponsored health insurance, the cost of premium made it virtually impossible for so many families to access health care coverage. And since the ACA was passed, we've seen numerous attempts by Republicans in Congress to overturn the ACA, all with the promise that it would be replaced with a better plan. And that plan has never materialized. We've never seen an alternative that would provide the level of coverage that the ACA provides to people throughout this country who couldn't 10400064.docx 26  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 afford access to health care before the ACA. And, in fact, we just saw during the 2024 presidential campaign, President Trump was asked, you know, what is your plan for health care, since… since he's been on record opposing the ACA, along with congressional Republicans. And he said back during the campaign that he had concepts of a plan that he, like others in his party, have never come back to explain, present, or provide an alternative. And now, we're seeing not only just no alternatives that would provide access to health care provided by the… the Republican Party and by President Trump, we're actually seeing dramatic cuts in subsidies to the program that has allowed nearly 90% of Illinoisans to have access to health insurance since the ACA was passed. And as Leader Buckner eloquently outlined in his introduction, the… the assault on health care, the… the rollback in subsidies is going to immediately drive up health care costs for all families across our state, whether you access health care through private health insurance that's provided by an employer, whether you are enrolled in the marketplace. And certainly, we know that we are going to see dramatic cuts in Medicaid funding that's going to throw hundreds of thousands of people off of health care here in Illinois. And again, these are not just numbers on a page. This is not just… these aren't just statistics. These are people who will not be able to access chemotherapy when facing a cancer diagnosis. These are pregnant mothers who will not be able to access prenatal care. These… this… these are… the consequences are for people who have diabetes being unable to access care for their chronic illness or insulin to treat their… their diabetes. 10400064.docx 27  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 We're going to see people become sicker and poorer because what… because of the actions and the inactions of Trump and the Republican Party in Congress. And what's really disturbing, as what happened in the lead up to passage of HR1 this past summer, which cut trillions of… billions of dollars out of our Medicaid program, where we're going to lose $51 billion in Medicaid funding here in Illinois over the next 10 years, we heard nothing from the Republican Party speaking out and standing up for people in our state who rely on this program to access care. And again, with this rollback in subsidies, the cut in subsidies, and the changes to the ACA, we hear nothing. And, in fact, we hear defense of these cuts. So, it's… I… I think it's really important that we stand up and defend the access to health care that has seen nearly 90% of Illinoisans being able to… to visit a doctor and get care for… for their chronic health issues and for women and children to be able to see a doctor. We need to… we need to stand up and speak out against what's happening in Washington. It's unfortunate that we can't rely on our partners on the other side of the aisle to do that. But the costs are so immense. The moral imperative is incredible. And we need to ensure that whether Washington is turning their backs on our… on people in Illinois and their health care, we here will stand to defend the basic dignity of every person who calls the state home and reject these cuts. So, thank you, Leader Buckner, again for bringing this resolution to the floor. I urge an 'aye' vote."

Speaker Morgan: "For further discussion, Leader Ugaste is recognized." 10400064.docx 28  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026

"To the resolution."

"For further discussion, Representative Morris is recognized."

"Thank you, Speaker. I rise in support of House Resolution 620. I… I have been a certified nursing assistant for 26 years. I have held hands at the bedside. I have seen fear in patients' eyes when they ask, will this be covered? I have watched people wait too long to get care because they were… they were afraid of the cost and access, and I have seen the damage that waiting do. Access to health care isn't a talking point for me. It's the difference between pain and relief, 10400064.docx 31  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 between dignity and despair, between life and loss. What's happening in Washington right now has real consequences on the floor, in the rooms, and in the lives of people we care for every day. When access is threatened, it's not numbers that suffer, it's people. I care for patients in their most vulnerable moments. They deserve compassion, stability, and the care to count on. After 26 years, I can tell you this clearly: Health care save lives and protecting access to it is not optional. It is a moral responsibility. And I urge an 'aye' vote."

"Our final speaker on this is Leader Spain is recognized."

"To the resolution."

"Leader Buckner to close."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to all of our colleagues who spoke on this today. I'll just close by saying that 'no' is the easiest word in the English language. However, 'no' doesn't build anything, it doesn't fix anything, and it damn sure doesn't heal anything. But it does carry hard consequences, consequences for the people that we represent every single day. And so, while this is, quote- 10400064.docx 33  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 unquote, 'just a resolution,' we have an opportunity to be resolute in what we believe in and where our priorities are. I urge a 'yes' vote."

"Leader Buckner moves for the adoption of House Resolution 620. All in favor vote 'aye'; all 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 70 'ayes,' 34 'nays,' 0 voting 'present.' And this resolution, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared… is hereby adopted. Under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 621, offered by Representative Jiménez." Jiménez: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to present HR621. Whereas, on January 6, 2026, Donald Trump's Department of Health and Human Services announced a unilateral suspension of 10 billion in child care, citing allegations of wrongdoing in Minnesota to freeze funds for Illinois and other states. Trump's latest funding freeze follows already familiar patterns, unilaterally halting congressionally mandated funding with no authorization, selectively attacking specific states for political retribution, and in this case, collective punishment. For those of you, like myself, who are working parents, you may understand how important child care is. Child care is what allows many working families to work. It's what allows me to be here in this moment. When my 7- year-old, now 7-year-old was in child care, I knew that I could entrust his health and safety to my local child care provider. Alongside other people in my community, he learned and grew in his child care center, which was like a second 10400064.docx 34  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 home to him. But it is important to note that those child care centers are businesses. Some of them are nonprofits, some of them are businesses, and they are an integral part of our community. And that child care center where my son goes, many working families depend on child care subsidies, on supports. Because, unfortunately, too many jobs do not pay enough for someone in Illinois to be able to pay their rent, pay their child care, and afford groceries. Trump is choosing to make working parents' greatest expenses even less affordable. We already know child care is the most daunting cost, with the average cost of day care outpacing the average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in Illinois. And the saddest part is that while child care is being stripped from our families, 100,000 families in Illinois being targeted, 100,000. And again, with the ripple effect, making sure that a child care center, like the one my son attended, if they don't have those supports for working families, what happens? Families like myself who are paying out of pocket no longer have a place to go. So, this is attack… an attack on working families and small businesses. And the saddest part is that these repeated attempts to freeze funds for working people and modest-income families are now juxtaposed as we see this federal government, this president pushing a 700 billion taxpayer-funded acquisition of Greenland and cutting more and more taxes for billionaires and in a vanity project, creating a ballroom and renaming of Kennedy Center. These vanity projects juxtapose with the cuts, the vicious cuts to child care are disgusting. What we want to see is an Illinois where families can send their kids to child care, can have the 10400064.docx 35  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 education that they so truly deserve. And this is alongside other after school cuts, other education cuts. So, this is an attack on our working families. And the use of what's happening in Minnesota is also, frankly, very disappointing and tragic. Utilizing one situation in another state to collectively punish 10 states, including the state of Illinois and your children and my children, is completely unacceptable. And I ask for an adoption of HR621."

"For further discussion, Representative Deering on the resolution."

"To the resolution."

"For further discussion, Representative Mason is recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Representative, for bringing this resolution forward. You all know I'm a mom and I'm a chair… I'm the chair of the House Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education Committee, and I know firsthand that early childhood education and child care are not a luxury. It's essential economic infrastructure for families across Illinois. In Illinois alone, the roughly $1 billion in child care funding that Trump is trying to take away from us would put child care at risk for more than 100,000 families just trying to go to work, just trying to go to school, just trying to build a stable life. I've spent the last two years visiting and working with child care providers and families from all over the state, talking about their 10400064.docx 37  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 needs. And I know how devastating this will be if he is successful. This is about our children's futures. Early childhood education plays a critical role in brain development and strongly influences a child's future learning, behavior, and overall well-being. In fact, our statistics show that it affects the whole trajectory of their life going forward. During those first five years, the brain develops more rapidly than at any other time, forming the foundation for cognitive, emotional, and social skills that last a lifetime. And we know this in Illinois. We know this because we have created a standalone early childhood agency, and that is being built right now, and people from across the country are looking at the work that we are doing. And our bipartisan committee has been on board with this. We've worked together to make this happen. This is also about our economy. Having safe, stable child care allows parents to go to work, contribute to our economy, and bring income to their families. And it allows our business owners to have that stable workforce that they need so desperately. Let me be clear: These cuts are not about efficiency, accountability, or fraud. Trump has tried to say that the freeze is about fraud, but both the data and the courts have confirmed that there is no substantiated evidence that would justify cutting these vital supports. The Trump administration is trying to score political points by targeting states like Illinois. And in doing so, they are putting our children and our families at risk. They are putting our caregivers directly in harm's way. Cutting child care funding pushes mothers, fathers, and caregivers out of the workforce, deepens our child care 10400064.docx 38  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 shortage, and threatens children's safety by forcing families into unstable or unsafe arrangements, all while harming our local economies from Chicago to downstate. All of our districts will be affected. When these investments are slashed, families don't just lose a line item in their household budget. They lose jobs, they lose stability, they lose opportunity, and providers are forced to close their doors and children lose access to the safe, nurturing environments that support healthy brain development and lifelong success. Illinois families should not be collateral damage in a political agenda. Our children's futures should never be used as leverage. I urge an 'aye' vote."

"Leader Keicher is recognized."

"The record will so reflect. Our final speaker on this… speaker on this resolution is Representative Lisa Davis." Davis, L.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the resolution."

"To the resolution." Davis, L.: "Representative, thank you for bringing this resolution forward. Believe it or not, we have a lot in common. We're both lawyers, we're both public servants, we're both fierce advocates of democracy, and we're both working mothers of small children. You all had an opportunity to meet my three- piece spicy when they came down for their spring break. My oldest is 14 years old, and I wouldn't be able to do the work that I do today without child care funding. But yet, these 10400064.docx 39  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 cuts to these funds by this administration is just another example of Trump punishing the American people for no reason. Make it make sense, please. I urge an 'aye' vote on this resolution. Thank you."

"Representative Jiménez to close." Jiménez: "Thank you. As to whether we should be speaking on this issue today, I think it is important to note that Illinois has to foot the bill, has to take on the cost of ensuring that these funds are continuing to flow by engaging in litigation. And as we've seen before, there are dozens and dozens of times that the state has had to take on the cost of this arbitrary decisions made by the Trump administration to unilaterally suspend 10 billion in child care. So, there is no slow investigation. There is no opening up the books and let's talk about it. It was a unilateral decision. That's why it's important for us to speak today because Illinois is on the hook for that cost. Our workforce has to take this into account, and the state of Illinois has no other choice unfortunately. And so, that's why we are here today. And as to whether this is just a political issue, it's not a political issue for me. As you heard from Representative Davis, it's not a political situation for her. And for our families in my district and Rep. Davis' district, this is not just a political stunt. This is our livelihood. And for all of Illinois, when we talk about child care, we talk about day care, we talk about education, for every single one of us, it touches. And that's why we must be here today. And that's why I urge an 'aye' vote and for the adoption of this resolution." 10400064.docx 40  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026

"Representative Jiménez moves for the adoption of House Resolution 621. All in favor vote 'aye'; all 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 70 'ayes,' 29 'nays,' 0 voting 'present.' And this resolution, having received a constitution majority, is hereby adopted. Under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 623, offered by Representative Ortíz." Ortíz: "Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Today, I rise to present House Resolution 623, which calls on President Trump to suspend his war against American taxpayers and refund the American people for his ham-handed and illegal tariff scheme. Make no mistake, Donald Trump's tariff wars have been a tax increase on the goods and services Americans rely on every day: home appliances, food, electronics. The cumulative effect of these tariffs have resulted in a $1200 tax, 12… $1200 tax on every household. Americans cannot afford these tariffs. While the president thinks affordability is a partisan buzzword, we in Illinois see right through him. Along with my Southwest Side colleagues, I represent one of the largest and most vibrant communities of Latino-owned businesses in the country. And in many… and many of those businesses, along with Asian American businesses, source their products directly from Asia, Mexico, Central America, and South America. So, it's frustrating to see how hard my community has been hit by the Trump trade taxes. It's unacceptable to know that courts have again and again found that Donald Trump imposed these taxes illegally. Again, those 10400064.docx 41  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 of you that love… love that word over there on that side, illegally, found that Donald… Donald Trump imposed these taxes illegally. And it's unfair that we are asked to do more with less. To those across the state and back home who are watching, your hard-earned money is a weapon in Donald Trump's so-called 'America First' agenda. It is far past time that this scheme… scheme be called what it is, a tax America first agenda. I rise to call on the president, the treasury, and congressional Republicans to refund taxpayers for lost wages and savings and do right by the American people for a change. Thank you. I urge an 'aye' vote."

"Leader Keicher is recognized."

Speaker Morgan: "The record will so reflect. For further discussion on the resolution, Representative Halbrook is recognized."

"To the resolution."

Speaker Morgan: "For further… further discussion of the resolution, we have Representative Vella."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the resolution."

"To the resolution."

"So, we all know that the hardworking men and women of Illinois need relief. They're having trouble making ends meet. We see it every day, every time we talk to our constituents. They don't need more taxes. The president's tariffs are nothing but an unwanted, unilateral tax on working families, and that is not just my opinion. It is the opinion of every right-thinking economist, anybody who has opened a book across the country and across the world. All these tariffs do is strip our citizens of much-needed resources they need to realize the American dream. Home prices are out of control because the wood and sheetrock has been tariffed beyond imagining. Farmers' crops and livestock are rotting 10400064.docx 43  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 because these tariffs have shut down their markets. Grocery prices skyrocket, fueled by arbitrary tariffs. And big corporations are out there, like Walmart and Costco, have the resources to sue the government. And they have, and they will win. But what about our people who we are responsible for? They are out of luck. These tariffs need to stop and our people need relief. They need to be made whole. This resolution calls for the right and fair thing. I urge the president to pay our citizens back for the money that he has taken from them. I urge an 'aye' vote."

"For further discussion and our final speaker on this resolution, we have Leader González." González: "Thank you, Speaker. I represent the neighborhoods of Little Village and Bryant Park in the city of Chicago and the town of Cicero, communities powered by small businesses, immigrant entrepreneurs, and commercial corridors that keep our neighborhoods vibrant. And today those businesses are being hit with a double whammy. First, the tariffs coming out of Washington are not abstract policies. They're a direct tax on the people I represent, a tax on our small businesses, a tax on our commercial corridors, a tax on working families. In effect, like Representative Ortíz said, it is taxing America first. In my district, many of our businesses rely on imports from Mexico and across Latin America, not for luxury goods, but for the ingredients, products, and cultural staples that help families feel connected to the home they left behind in the home they've built here. These tariffs have driven costs through the roof. I've spoken with business owners who've seen revenue drop 40%, 60%, even 80%. Some tell 10400064.docx 44  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 me it's worse than what they lived through during COVID. But that's only half the story because, at the same time, these tariffs are squeezing their supply chains. ICE raids are driving away their customers. ICE is parked in our business corridors, used parking lots as staging grounds, and forced shops to shut their doors. Families are afraid to come out. Foot traffic disappears, entire blocks go quiet, and the very businesses Republicans love to prop up in speeches are the ones being devastated in practice. So, when we talk about economic harm, we need to be honest. In Little Village, in Brighton Park, in Cicero, our small businesses are being hit from both sides, higher costs on the front end and fewer customers on the back end. No business can survive that for long. And let's be clear: We only hear about tax cuts from Republicans when they benefit the wealthy and well-connected. But when tariffs function as a tax on working-class immigrants and minority-owned businesses and when ICE actions scare customers away from their storefronts, suddenly that concern disappears. That's why this resolution matters. Illinois cannot sit quietly while federal policies destabilize our neighborhoods and threaten the small businesses that anchor our communities. We have a responsibility to call out how these tariffs are hurting our people and how the climate of fear created by ICE is hurting them too. I ask for an 'aye' vote."

"Additional conversation and discussion on this resolution, we have Leader Keicher."

"To the resolution." 10400064.docx 45  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026

"For further discussion on this resolution, we move to Representative Canty."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the resolution."

"To the resolution."

"You know, I… I think a lot about what's going on in our communities and the chaos going back and forth. The tariffs are on. The tariffs are off. We're sending our business communities into turmoil. We're sending government bodies into turmoil. Families are caught in the middle, small businesses. The New York Times some… some time ago, they had some stories of businesses, small businesses that were impacted by tariffs that were having a hard time getting materials in to their shops because they didn't have space to store them. They didn't have the resources to be able to prepurchase things. All of that chaos does harm to our communities, to us as a nation, to our standing in the world as leaders who are fiscally responsible. We cause confusion in the marketplace. As someone with a 401(k) who hopes to be able to retire one day, I think about these things all the time. I know people in my community are worried about it. I know they're worried about whether or not they will be able to get the products that they need at the time they need them. They're worried about if their small business will survive, if they'll be able to provide wages to their workers, if 10400064.docx 46  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 they'll be able to give them increased wages as inflation ever increases through this chaos. And so, I just want us to think about that because there are some in this chamber who spend a lot of time talking about fiscal responsibility and talking about how we need to be methodical and measured and we need to take care with our policies. But at the highest levels of our nation, we have someone who could not care less about any of those things. It would be impossible for him to care less about the economy of this nation and definitely the economy of the United States. I encourage an 'aye' vote. Thank you."

"Representative Ortíz to close." Ortíz: "This resolution goes out to all the small businesses in the state of Illinois, in Chicago, but especially in the 1st District. For those that are along the 47th Street business corridor, Archer Avenue, Pulaski Avenue, Kedzie Avenue, Western, California, thank you for opening up a small business in the state of Illinois. It is one of the most American things that you have done, and I hope that we start moving away from this tax America first agenda. So, I urge everyone in this body to vote 'yes.' Thank you."

Speaker Morgan: "Members, Leader Keicher has requested a verification. All Members will be in their chairs and vote their own switches. Representative Ortíz moves for the adoption of House Resolution 623. All in favor of vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay.' The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, take the record. Leader Keicher is recognized." 10400064.docx 47  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026

"Leader Keicher has withdrawn the verification. Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 67 'ayes,' 30 'nays,' 0 voting 'present.' And this resolution, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby adopted. Representative Deering, for which purpose do you seek recognition?"

"The record will so reflect. Under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 624, offered by Representative Norma Hernandez." Hernandez, N.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am here to introduce House Resolution 624. In the first week of 2026, Donald Trump declared himself as acting president of Venezuela and threatened unprovoked military action in Cuba and Iran. Trump has also said that his failure to earn a Nobel Peace Prize allows him to forcefully pursue complete and total control of Greenland, the sovereign territory of an ally. This is an outrageous act. At no point has Trump sought or been granted congressional authorization for military actions and even asking in this case could still be unhinged. Because this is Denmark we're talking about. Denmark. Although Trump sells himself as a peace president who keeps America out of 10400064.docx 48  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 unnecessary foreign conflicts so we can focus on providing for our communities, the reality of this administration has been marked by needless provocation, alienation of our allies, and continued escalating insanity. It's not just the cost of Trump's… it's not just that the cost of Trump's military operations in Venezuela could fund SNAP benefits for more than 300,000 Americans and the money has been… has publicly committed to unlawfully invading Greenland could cover the cost of the Affordable Care Act subsidies he let expire. It's not just that they could do both with billions of dollars left over to continue to fund needed health care and welfare programs for our constituents. It's that these actions are by themselves fundamentally out of step with who we are and what we stand for. That's why I'm… I am proposing this resolution to reject and condemn Trump's effort to acquire territories entitled overseas while leaving work families at home to foot the bill. Congress must step in and provide the constitutional oversight necessary to hold Trump accountable to the American people, preserve our longstanding alliances, and prevent our global standing from being further diminished. Thank you, and I urge an 'aye' vote."

"For further discussion on this resolution, Leader Keicher is recognized."

"To the resolution."

Speaker Morgan: "For further discussion on the resolution, Representative Didech is recognized."

"To… to the resolution."

"To the resolution."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2024, Donald Trump said that he would make life more affordable for families. On that, he has failed. He said he would make our communities safer. On that, he has also failed. What he didn't say, or at least I don't remember hearing him say this, is that he would use taxpayer dollars to purchase the island of Greenland. The price to U.S. taxpayers to acquire Greenland is estimated at $700 billion, $700 billion. Now, that amount of money would cover the cost of the Affordable Care Act subsidies that Trump has allowed to expire and the cost of the state child care funding that he froze. And there would still be hundreds of billions of dollars left over. Now, why… why would he decide that he wants to purchase Greenland? Well, he says that it's necessary for our national security, our national security. It's a weird thing to say when the U.S. military already has virtually unfettered access to Greenland for our natural… national defense, and we have since the year 1951. On April 27, 1951, an agreement was signed between the United States and the Kingdom of Denmark that says the government of the 10400064.docx 52  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 United States of America, without compensation to the government of the Kingdom of Denmark, may use such defense area in cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark for the defense of Greenland and the rest of the North Atlantic Treaty Area, including the United States. So, let me get this straight. Under Donald Trump, health care is getting more expensive, rural hospitals are closing, day cares are at risk of closing, and parents are at risk of losing their jobs. And for what? So, we can spend $700 billion on something we already get for free. This is the guy who wrote 'The Art of the Deal.' It's the worst deal I've ever seen, and families in Illinois will pay the price. I urge an 'aye' vote."

"For further discussion on this resolution, Leader Cabello is recognized."

"We're going to move to Representative Norma Hernandez to close." Hernandez, N.: "Thank you, Speaker. I'd like to end with the reality that I understand the pain that the individuals in Venezuela are experiencing, but there is a reality that you cannot end corruption with corruption. The Trump administration represents corruption. And I encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to do a little bit more research that's not just Fox News, real, factual research that talks about the violence inflicted to Latin America from the U.S. that has created the conditions for migration to… to happen from the very beginning. Because the U.S. has been causing so much damage to so many countries in Latin America, which is why we have the migration patterns that we have now. 10400064.docx 53  STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 64th Legislative Day 1/21/2026 I don't think people just want to leave for the sake of leaving. They are forced to leave. And the U.S. has a big part with their violence and colonialism to why we are where we are at now. So, I encourage my colleagues to do a little bit more research, get out of your Fox News bubble, and really understand the conflict, not just in Venezuela but in other countries across the globe. I urge an 'aye' vote."

"Representative Norma Hernandez moves for the adoption of House Resolution 624. All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay.' The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 68 'ayes,' 32 'nays,' 0 voting 'present.' And this resolution, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby adopted. Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."

"Leader Gabel moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. All those in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say 'nay.' In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Agreed Resolutions are adopted. And now, allowing perfunctory time for the clerk, Leader Gabel moves that the House stand adjourned until Thursday, January 22, at the hour of 10 a.m. All those in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say 'nay.' In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned."