SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham provided the following statement after hearing the governor’s budget address Wednesday:

“The governor has presented a responsible budget plan that pays the state’s bills and meets our pension obligations. This fiscal stability will help allow the state’s economy to continue to grow.”

“The budget address is the first step in the budget negotiation process. I will be involved in the process over the next several months to make sure working families are put first.”

EVERGREEN PARK – The Evergreen Park Public Library will receive nearly $10,000 in grant money to provide the community with vital education resources thanks to support from State Senator Bill Cunningham.

“Libraries are necessary in giving access to knowledge,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “The funding granted to Evergreen Park Library will help it continue to provide a safe learning space for our community.”

The funding is allocated to libraries across the state to make upgrades, assist with the development of the local workforce and ensure the library stays open safely for families. The grant is comprised of both state and federal dollars.

“In a time with so many uncertainties, access to a library should remain a constant,” Cunningham opined. “I will never stop fighting for funding that benefits our children and working families.”

For a full list of libraries receiving a grant, click here.

CHICAGO - State Senator Bill Cunningham congratulated seven businesses in the communities he represents that have already received more than $200,000 in Back to Business grants, and he encouraged more local entrepreneurs to apply.

“I talked to many small business owners who struggled – and in some cases are still struggling – during the ongoing pandemic,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “We created the Back to Business Program to help people like them keep their doors open and build back even stronger. It’s not too late to apply!”

The businesses in the 18^th Legislative District that have successfully received grants illustrate the diversity of the area’s economy and how many different enterprises are eligible for the B2B program. They include restaurants, a salon, transportation companies, and an art business.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham, who has been deeply involved in negotiations on a piece of legislation meant to spark Illinois’ renewable energy sector and preserve and create tens of thousands of jobs, celebrated the measure’s final passage through the General Assembly.

“This ambitious plan would make Illinois a national leader in fighting climate change and creating jobs in the clean energy economy,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “This legislation has been years in the making, and I want to thank both the labor and environmental communities for their passion and dedication in getting it across the finish line.”

The legislation, Senate Bill 2408, sets an ambitious goal of transitioning Illinois’ electric generation to 100% clean energy by 2050 and 50% renewable energy by 2040. It creates a firm schedule requiring coal, oil, and gas-based power plants to close or repurpose, addressing a major contributor to global warming. In order to reach these goals, it more than doubles the state’s budget for renewable energy, creates new workforce training programs, and allows for the construction of two renewable energy transmission lines.