State Rep Theresa Mah

We passed a state budget! Watch our video here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Tf-QGUnDpMug1BE6S_AXqZ7vCmWDy7sS/view?usp=drivesdk

It’s Saturday, the day before our legislative session ends, and it was great to have 600+ environmental advocates join us at the capitol. They’re continuing to fight for environmentally sensible policies like the POWER Act and the pause on tax breaks to data centers. I joined a group of our legislative colleagues at the rally to support them. It was also great to see Sierra Club Illinois members and other The Illinois Environmental Council advocates visit my office!

Next week at the Rudy Lozano Library in Pilsen—kick off a summer of reading with a free donut and a Barnes and Noble Gift card for the kids. Don’t forget—library books are always free to check out!

I’m sure you’ve all been feeling the pinch. With gas prices, groceries, and utilities going up, I'm fighting for affordability by passing major reforms that stop unfair insurance increases. Drivers and homeowners in Illinois shouldn’t be paying more to pad corporate profits, or to offset costs in other higher-risk states. Proud to have voted to pass SB 714 and HB 4273 this week!

A few more of the photos from Wednesday’s Joint Session honoring Senator Dick Durbin. I had the privilege of sharing some remarks, mainly centered on his role in fostering the growth of the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership, which increased the number of women who ran for public office in Illinois. The last photo in this batch is of the group of current women legislators, myself included, who are alumna of the Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership - IWIL.

What an eventful day—we spent 11 hours in the capitol, starting with a committee hearing at 8am, a press conference at 9am, Executive Committee at 10am and then to the House floor. Today we held a joint (House and Senate) session in which we honored our senior Senator from Illinois, Senator Dick Durbin, who is retiring from public service after 40+ years. I had the honor of presenting a tribute. I have tremendous admiration for someone who has devoted his entire life to public service and sets such a wonderful example for those of us in public office. I also had the opportunity to pass several of my remaining bills as well as present a resolution, an initiative of AARP Illinois, bringing awareness to Fraud Prevention Month. There was another round of committees in the afternoon, followed by floor action until 7pm in the evening.

Report from Springfield: we have been back in session since Monday afternoon. Yesterday, on Tuesday, we did see several advocacy groups in the capitol, including those seeking to form a rideshare drivers union and those trying to pass legislation holding gun manufacturers accountable for gun deaths. We also held an official ceremony honoring service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our democracy. My talented colleagues Suzanne Ness, Sharon Chung, and Maurice West performed Amazing Grace and Taps in honor of our fallen veterans.

The parade and ceremony that the American Legion William McKinley Post #231 Chicago and the McKinley Park Civic Association put together every year for Memorial Day is such a beautiful and appropriate way to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It’s because they fought for our freedoms and our democracy that we are able to enjoy those privileges in this country. We are eternally grateful to them and so fortunate to live in this beautiful community.

Today we honor those who fought and sacrificed for our country. Join us at the McKinley Park Library at 9:30am. We will parade through the neighborhood and end at the American Legion William McKinley Post #231 Chicago.