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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
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August 2, 2024
This Week in Illinois
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A message from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Chairman: Dan Wagner
“To this place and the kindness of these people, I owe
everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century and have
passed from a young to an old man.” - Abraham
Lincoln Farewell Speech Leaving Springfield, Illinois to go to DC.
We are
proud to call Illinois “The Land of Lincoln” for a
reason. Abraham Lincoln spent 31 years living in Illinois and as
his quote underscores the importance Illinois as the place and
Illinois as the people that helped him mature into the leader that
saved the union and freed the slaves. The Illinois Chamber of
Commerce celebrates the fundamental strengths of our State that have
not only given our country incredible leaders like Abraham Lincoln,
but also incredible companies from large to small that have shaped
our proud American Business Industry.
The
Illinois Chamber was founded in 1919, and I am honored to be the
52nd Chair of the Chamber and it is important to reflect on our
fundamental strengths that make Illinois an incredible place to live,
work and raise a family. Some of the top strengths include our
central location as a major transportation hub and our incredible
research and educational infrastructure.
As a major transportation hub, all you have to do is
look at a national highway map and see the network of interstates is
far denser than for any other state and we have 2,200 miles of
Interstate arteries, more than any state but Texas and California. In
2022, Megahub Connectivity Index ranked O’Hare the best-connected
airport in the world. Since we are right in the middle of the
country you can fly anywhere in the continental United States and
return home on the same day. Chicago remains the nation’s busiest
rail hub…all six U.S. Class I railroads operate here as do many
non-class I railroads, and Illinois waterways relieve traffic
congestion and the state’s networks of rivers, waterways and ports
contributes $6.4 billion to the Illinois economy each year. In
addition, our fertile soil provides for our strong agricultural
industry and location next to the great Lakes provides and
unparalleled level of a freshwater supply. As for our industrial
research and educational infrastructure, Illinois is home to the Universities
of Chicago, Northwestern, University of Illinois, Illinois State
University and the other 74 colleges and universities, along with
major research laboratories such as Argonne and Fermi Labs who
receive more National Science Foundation funding than anywhere in
America. It's no wonder Illinois is a magnet for employers given the
high level of education within our workforce.
Clearly
the place of Illinois and the people of Illinois are two key
fundamentals that the Illinois Chamber of Commerce promulgates and
promotes to the world. With such advantages the question arises
why did business leaders 105 years ago form the Illinois Chamber of
Commerce and what keeps the Chamber relevant for our business
community? Kipling said it best, “The strength of the Wolf is
the Pack and the strength of the Pack is the Wolf.” In
other words, the alliance of our business community (large and small) brings
together such a large and diverse group of interests that we can
represent to our elected officials at the local, state, and national
level of how their proposed legislative and regulatory initiatives
could weigh down and impede the successful execution of our
businesses.
Read the entire message from Chairman Wagner here.
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U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hires Former Illinois
Congressman Rodney Davis to Lead Government Affairs
The
Illinois Chamber would like to congratulate former Illinois
Congressman Rodney Davis on his new role leading the Government
Affairs Team at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Announced
on Monday, the former five-term congressman will lead the Chamber’s
engagement on Capitol Hill and with the administration, helping
defend against the growing threats to the American free enterprise
system and working to advance pro-growth policies.
"Former
Illinois Congressman Davis is a big addition to the US Chamber
team," Said Illinois Chamber President, Lou Sandoval at the time
of the announcement. "We look forward to working with him in his
new capacity in our national Chamber network."
As a
five-term Republican U.S. Representative for Illinois’
13th district, Ranking Member of the Committee on House
Administration, and a Deputy Whip, Rodney was considered one of the
most effective legislators during his tenure, willing to work across
the aisle to advance common-sense policy solutions.
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Local Chambers Leaders: Member Education on
Interchange Fee Prohibition
A new law
passed by the Illinois General Assembly will make Illinois the first
in the world to prohibit interchange fees on tax and
gratuity on July 1, 2025. This will significantly impact
all business owners and consumers across the state, and forever
change the transaction experience at the cash register. It is
important that your members are informed about these changes to their
business operations. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is working with
various partners to provide informational resources to local chambers
on this issue.
If you are
interested in hosting an informational event for your members, please
contact Jordan Ryan.
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Bills of Interest Recently Signed Into Law
HB
5142 Pregnancy wrap-around services was signed into law. Provides that all
outpatient coverage required under a provision concerning coverage
for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care must be provided without
cost sharing, except to the extent that such coverage would
disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a
health savings account and except that, for treatment of substance
use disorders, the prohibition on cost-sharing applies to the levels
of treatment below and not including 3.1 (Clinically Managed
Low-Intensity Residential) established by the American Society of
Addiction Medicine. Makes a conforming change. Further amends the
Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that coverage for abortion care may
not impose any deductible, coinsurance, waiting period, or other
cost-sharing (instead of other costsharing limitation that is greater
than that required for other pregnancy-related benefits covered by
the policy). Provides that the provision does not apply to the extent
such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from
eligibility for a health savings account. Beginning January 1,
2025, certified professional midwife services (in addition to
licensed certified professional midwife services) shall be covered
under the medical assistance program.
SB
3649, Employer Speech, Opposed was signed into
law. This bill creates the Worker Freedom of Speech Act to prohibit
an employer or the employer's agent, representative, or designee to
discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize, threaten to discharge,
discipline, or otherwise penalize, or take any adverse employment
action against an employee: (1) because the employee declines to
attend or participate in an employer-sponsored meeting or declines to
receive or listen to communications from the employer or the agent,
representative, or designee of the employer if the meeting or
communication is to communicate the opinion of the employer about
religious or political matters; (2) as a means of inducing an
employee to attend or participate in meetings or receive or listen to
communications; or (3) because the employee, or a person acting on
behalf of the employee, makes a good faith report, orally or in
writing, of a violation or a suspected violation of the Act. Provides
for a private right of action to enforce the provisions of the Act.
Sets forth the duties and powers of the Department of Labor under the
Act. Provides that, within 30 days after the effective date of the
Act, an employer shall post and keep posted a notice of employee
rights under the Act where employee notices are customarily placed.
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Local Chambers: 2024 Legislative Presentation
Opportunity
The Illinois
Chamber is pleased to offer in-person and virtual legislative recap
presentations to local chambers across the state. This opportunity,
offered exclusively as a benefit to local chambers within our
membership, provides insight into the major legislative action that
occurred this spring at the statehouse and what it means for Illinois
businesses.
If you are
putting together programming for the rest of this summer and fall we
are happy to offer our services on this topic to keep your members
informed on the most critical advocacy items.
For any
questions, please contact Andrew Cunningham at acunningham@ilchamber.org or Jordan Ryan at jryan@ilchamber.org
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Save the Date: Illinois Chamber of Commerce Annual
Luncheon
On
Thursday, September 19, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., business leaders
from around Illinois will gather at the Marriott Marquis in Chicago
for the Illinois Chamber's 2024 Annual Luncheon.
The Annual
Luncheon provides an opportunity to gather with business leaders to
strive toward a better and brighter future for everyone in Illinois.
The event has repeatedly served as a platform for highlighting and
addressing business-related concerns at the forefront of the public
agenda. This year's event will center around the theme
"Innovation to Drive Growth: The Formula for Business
Resilience."
We are proud
to announce that David M. Foulkes, Chief Executive Officer and
Director of Brunswick Corporation, will be this year's keynote
speaker. Lourdes Duarte, Co-anchor and Lead Investigative Reporter
from WGN, will be serving as the emcee for the event.
Register: Here
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Spring Session Update
The Senate
adjourned on Sunday, May 26th until the call of the Senate President.
With the adjournment of the House on the morning of May 29th, both
chambers have concluded business for the 2024 spring legislative
session.
Neither chamber will
return to Springfield until the fall veto session which will take
place November 12th-14th and 19th-21st. View the calendar here.
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