Senate President Harmon statement on success of Black Caucus agenda

SPRINGFIELD – Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement after the General Assembly passed sweeping legislation championed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to address systemic racism:

“In a system purposefully and permanently designed to contain all but incremental change, we have accomplished something sweeping in scope and dramatic in impact.

“The members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, working with the Latino Caucus, led the way in developing a package of legislation that attacks the root of the racism that is systemically embedded in every aspect of our lives.

“The children in this state are not receiving equitable education. The same economic opportunities are not truly available to all people. And far, far too many Black and brown men, women and children have died at the hands of those who were meant to protect them.

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Harmon announces capital grant for Oak Park museum

OAK PARK, Ill. – Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) announced Pleasant Home in Oak Park will receive a $421,500 grant for its geothermal project.

“Pleasant Home is a beautiful piece of living history in our community and a shining example of the stunning architectural landmarks in Oak Park,” Harmon said. “Investments in our cultural institutions will help preserve these gems for years to come.”

Pleasant Home will use the funds to install a geothermal system that will provide much-needed air conditioning to the 123-year-old National Historic Landmark. 

“The Park District of Oak Park is thrilled to be awarded a State of Illinois Museum Grant,” said Jan Arnold, Executive Director for the Park District of Oak Park. “By adding air conditioning, the park district will be able to preserve Pleasant Home’s interiors while allowing us to increase programming, special events and tours in the summer for guests locally and internationally.”

The grant is part of the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program, funded by the historic Rebuild Illinois capital plan that Harmon supported through the Senate in 2019.

The state awarded $22.8 million in capital investments to 43 Illinois museums with this round of grants.

More information on the program is available on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website at https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/grants/Pages/Museum-Capital-Grants.aspx.

Senate President Don Harmon statement on clean energy economy plan

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois Senate President Don Harmon issued the following statement in response to Climate Jobs Illinois’ plan for clean energy jobs:

“I welcome Climate Jobs Illinois and organized labor as key allies in the fight to create a 100 percent clean energy economy—an economy that will not only protect our environment but also generate thousands of good-paying jobs.

Organized labor understands the importance of providing a trained workforce to support middle-class and working families and help close the growing income gap.

I look forward to continuing the conversation on this proposal.”

Census count impacts our daily lives

It is difficult to appreciate how much something as expansive as the U.S. Census can truly impact one’s daily life. It is easy to fall into the trap of viewing it as a large, strange concept rather than a necessary step to determining whether vital programs continue.

So, if you will, join me in imagining how much an undercount could affect a day in the (pre-COVID) life of an average Illinoisan. Let’s call her Mary.

Mary’s alarm goes off at least an hour before the sun comes up. Her 12-hour shift as a registered nurse starts early three days a week. Mornings are a rush, and she’s thankful that her son’s school offers a hot breakfast so she knows he’s had something nutritious to last him until lunch.

She smiles for a second after dropping him off. He’s really been thriving this year, and she believes that’s thanks to the early intervention services he was able to receive during preschool.

The road she takes to work used to be filled with potholes, but the city recently repaved it, and she’s hopeful she won’t have to replace another tire for a while.

On her day off tomorrow, she’s going to visit her mother, who is recovering from a hip replacement surgery. Medicare is covering the cost of in-home services, but she likes to stop in and visit to see how her mother is progressing.

Read more: Census count impacts our daily lives