SPRINGFIELD – To mitigate pollution caused by agricultural runoff, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) advanced legislation to create the Illinois Healthy Soils and Watersheds Initiative.

“Meeting our goals for pollution reduction is a top priority in the fight against climate change,” Villivalam said. “We have an obligation to the next generation to leave behind a healthy planet.”

Thank you again for joining us at our Jan. 27 legislative town hall. To download a PDF vesion of our slideshow with information on this year's legislative agenda, click here. The full town hall forum can be rewatched on our Facebook.

­SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and State Representative Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) lauded the inclusion of $20 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program in this year’s proposed state budget.

“Our communities face unprecedented levels of discrimination,” Villivalam said. “Keeping our neighbors safe from hate-motivated harm is a top priority, and I am glad to see that reflected in this year’s proposed budget.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senators Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the West Rogers Park Jewish community suffered a series of targeted attacks over the weekend:

“This kind of hate is appalling and unacceptable anywhere, let alone in our own backyard.

“Illinois must live up to its commitment of being a welcoming state and prioritize protecting our most targeted neighbors. With hate crimes reaching the highest point in over a decade, Jewish and other diverse communities are in need of safe spaces to come together.

“To that end, we have introduced legislation to fully fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program so that the religious institutions, schools and support providers that serve marginalized communities have the necessary resources to protect their neighbors.”