Ventura: Proposed budget makes people-centered investments in housing and workforce development

• FY24 Budget
• Budget
• Education
• Workforce development
• Homeless prevention

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) released the following statement after Gov. JB Pritzker delivered his FY24 budget proposal to the Illinois General Assembly:

“Recently I met a gentleman named Lawrence, who is experiencing housing instability. My office is assisting him in navigating the complex housing system to move from temporary shelter to being fully housed. The barricades that people like Lawrence face are extremely difficult to overcome, and the new Home Illinois program will help to address these systemic challenges. People like Lawrence need this help now, and the proposed funding for Home Illinois will expand homeless prevention services to nearly 5,000 more families across the state.

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Ventura: DuPage County Sheriff must enforce assault weapon ban

State Senator Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) joined other lawmakers representing DuPage County to call for the enforcement of Illinois' ban on assault weapons. After the passage of the ban under the Protect Illinois Communities Act, the DuPage County Sheriff unilaterally directed his office to disregard the new law.

To the People of DuPage County:

We are the 16 Illinois State Senators and Representatives that represent the overwhelming majority of you and your families in DuPage County. Like so many concerned individuals who have contacted us in recent days, we are dismayed and angered by the recent pronouncement by the DuPage County Sheriff to unilaterally direct his office to flout and disregard the duly passed and signed Protect Illinois Communities Act. The Sheriff has no authority to determine the constitutionality of a law–that is up to the courts. Nor can he pick and choose which laws to enforce; he must enforce them all.

This bipartisan law was the product of hundreds of hours of negotiations and advocacy from across our shared community and constituents. It will fight the senseless barrage of gun violence that has plagued our state for far too long. By banning the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity ammunition magazines, and switches in Illinois, the Act makes our schools, neighborhoods, parades, grocery stores, and workplaces safer from the gun violence that is a threat to our wellbeing everywhere.

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Ventura looks ahead to first term

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura was sworn in for her first term to represent Illinois’ 43rd Senate District.

“I am thrilled to join the Illinois Senate and to bring forward solutions for working people in my community and across Illinois,” said Ventura (D-Joliet).

Ventura, a former Will County Board member and Business Director for Legendary Games, was elected to the Illinois Senate in the 2022 General Election. During her time on the Will County Board, Ventura led efforts that saw the county become the second in the state to adopt the Greenest Region Compact, setting forth bold goals for sustainability and green energy. Ventura seeks to continue that work in the Illinois Senate, as well as addressing other critical issues such as expanding affordable housing, transforming our health care industry and building an economy that offers opportunities for all.

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