SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to Gov. Pritzker’s State of the State address:

“Since the beginning of this pandemic, my office has helped more than 750 people experiencing unemployment across our district with accessing their benefits. I am hopeful that this proposed additional funding to the Illinois Department of Employment Security works to address the backlog.

“Additionally, the governor pointed out where we can potentially save $932 million by closing corporate tax loopholes. At a time where large corporations are making record profits at the expense of everyone else, we need to close as many corporate loopholes as possible in order to help small businesses and working families.”

Funding Will Go Towards Purchase of Software Needed to Investigate Expressway Shootings

Springfield, IL - The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) today announced it will provide $12.5 million to the Illinois State Police (ISP) for the purchase and installation of automated license plate readers (ALPR) and software to aid in the investigation of Cook County expressway shootings. ALPR installations at 47 locations will include specialized cameras to read the license plate numbers of vehicles moving in traffic. The installations will also include a communication system to backhaul the video images to a central location where additional software is used to query and match license plates to existing license plate and vehicle databases. This will help agents investigating expressway shootings.

“No one should feel afraid for their life or safety on Illinois expressways, and I’ve directed my administration to work collaboratively and creatively to ensure we have assets in place to protect the public,” Governor JB Pritzker said. “Tamara Clayton’s tragic death must not be forgotten, and we must do everything we can to prevent more expressway shootings.”

New initiative spearheaded by Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago calls for the inclusion of an Asian American history curriculum in Illinois public schools

SPRINGFIELD - Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago and a coalition of over 20 Illinois organizations applaud the introduction of the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act (HB376). Sponsored by Sen. Ram Villivalam and Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, the bill would add an Asian American history curriculum to the Illinois School Code and in all public schools across the state.

CHICAGO – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) announced the local recipients of the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) Program’s second round of funding.

“I was honored to work with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to secure funding for our local businesses in the 8th District,” Villivalam said. “Small businesses are the engine of our economy and must be prioritized for economic relief to help them through this difficult time.”

Round 2 BIG funding was awarded to over 6,100 small businesses across the state, including 194 small businesses in the 8th Senate District. $227 million was distributed in Round 2, totaling $276 million in small business relief since the program began.