Originally published on Pantagraph on March 29, 2022.

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers have formed the Illinois Assyrian Caucus in an effort to help them understand and learn about challenges facing the Assyrian community and how to address them.

Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, announced the formation of the caucus at a news conference in early March. The caucus has 18 founding members from the Senate and House, including 17 Democrats and one Republican. Villivalam will serve as co-chair alongside Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview.

“I look at our role as a caucus as working with the community to ensure that their voice is heard and that they have a seat at the table when we have policy discussions,” Villivalam said.

Originally published on KPVI Channel 6 on Jan. 27, 2022.

Nutrient loss is one of the most serious pollution threats faced in the U.S., causing a Rhode Island-sized dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, poisoning local lakes and streams and causing serious health problems for people and domesticated animals.

This year, Illinois lawmakers are considering how to best direct state resources to help reduce nutrient runoff, particularly in the agriculture sector and suburban sewage runoff.

Originally published on Journal-Topics on Jan. 24, 2022.

Niles-Maine District Library trustees imposed a hiring freeze in May and have seen a steady attrition of library employees since then. The library’s reduced staffing has also caught the attention of local state senators, state representatives, and a county commissioner, who called on trustees to end the freeze.

State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-8th) read a letter during public comment at the library’s Wednesday, Jan. 18 board of trustees meeting, also signed by State Sen. Robert Martwick (D-10th), State Rep. Marty Moylan (D-55th), State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-19th), Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin (D-13th) and Niles Township Democratic Committeeperson Josina Morita.

Originally published on Daily Line on Nov. 16, 2021.

As Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot were in Washington D.C. Monday to celebrate the signing of Democrats' long-awaited Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, elected officials from across Illinois were already making plans for the $17 billion that will come to Illinois.