­MORTON GROVE – State Senators Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and Laura Fine (D-Glenview) joined administrators, staff and other officials on Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Julia S. Molloy Education Center in Morton Grove.

“This expansion will provide students throughout our community with a quality learning environment tailored to their needs,” Villivalam said. “I am proud to stand with our youth, parents and educators that serve our community today.”

"The Molloy School is life changing for the most vulnerable students in our district," Senator Fine said. "This expansion will allow the school to continue its incredible work of educating our children.”

Gov. Pritzker, Democratic and Republican leaders convene government, labor movement, business leaders to confront seismic shifts in economic environment

CHICAGO (September 28, 2021)--Convened by Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic and Republican legislative leadership and powered by a bold agenda to confront unprecedented challenges facing Illinois’ workforce in the coming decade, the bipartisan Illinois Future of Work Task Force held its first meeting today at Olive-Harvey College on Chicago’s South Side. The 26-member panel includes leading employers, economic thinkers, and representatives from the labor movement. It is chaired by State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and State Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago), with a mission over the next nine months to analyze major economic shifts and emerging technologies, and prepare policy recommendations that help the state to combat the worsening crisis of poverty, inequality, and climate change.

The task force is charged with issuing its findings in a report for the Illinois Legislature identifying the main problems facing workers and businesses of the future, and outlining proactive policy solutions to keep Illinois ahead of coming economic trends.

“We are proud to see this bipartisan, diverse task force convening and ready to take on the challenges ahead. This task force is the first of its kind in the Midwest, and the first in the country to address the future of work in the wake of the pandemic and its impact on our economy,” said Harish I. Patel, Director of Economic Security for Illinois, which spearheaded the effort to convene the task force. “This task force puts the future of Illinois’ workforce in capable hands.”

Task force members were appointed by legislative leaders from both political parties. The 26 members and 2 co-chairs were appointed by Gov. Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich), House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Westchester), and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs).

“The future of work is now; and working people across Illinois are counting on us to create an economy that works for everyone,” said State Senator Ram Villivalam, a co-chair of the task force. “Our team on the Future of Work task force is laying the foundation for 21st Century jobs to continue to grow, while fighting for dignified working conditions for all.”

­SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) released the following statement on the passage of House Bill 18, the Energy Transition Act:

“The Energy Transition Act is the strongest clean jobs plan in the nation, and I am proud to have voted in support of this legislation.

“This comprehensive package expands our renewable energy portfolio to make Illinois a leader in the fight against climate change. It sets bold decarbonization goals that prioritize the health of all Illinois residents, including those most affected by environmental injustice, and creates grant programs so working people in the energy sector experience a just transition to a good-paying job in clean energy.

“Climate change remains one of the greatest threats to our nation. I am honored to have voted for this plan as it will make Illinois a leader in clean energy and protect the planet we call home.”

CHICAGO – To better serve undocumented and immigrant communities, legislation introduced by State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) that would allow municipal ID cards to be used to access state services and facilities was signed into law today.

“All residents of Illinois, regardless of immigration status, should be able to receive essential state services,” Villivalam said. “Today Illinois renews its commitment to undocumented and immigrant communities that we are the most welcoming state in the nation.”