JOLIET – State Senator Rachel Ventura, who has had a long history of standing with health care workers to ensure that their voices are heard, will speak at a picketing event and press conference Thursday, in support of St. Joseph Medical Center nurses.

“Health care workers should have a viable and transparent relationship with their employers. I encourage residents to show their support with those who take care of us when we are in need of medical care,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “My office has corresponded with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on investigating reports of repeated violations of Illinois staffing laws, and I am pushing for answers.”

In addition to working with IDPH, Ventura attended a rally to support nurses last week, and she previously sat in on negotiations with hospital officials. Ventura will be a featured speaker at an informational picket and press conference held Thursday, July 20 at the St. Joseph Medical Center.  The picket will take place at the Madison entrance of Ascension Saint Joseph starting at 3 p.m., followed by a press conference at 5:30 p.m. 

St. Joe’s Nurses Association has been in negotiations with Ascension representatives since May and many of the union’s proposals have remained virtually untouched in the intervening months. Nurses say the future of the only hospital in Joliet depends on this contract. The current union contract expires on July 19, 2023.

“St. Joe’s nurses deserve to work in an environment with safe staffing levels and they shouldn’t be made to feel taken advantage of,” said Ventura. “Our health care workers are a critical part of our communities and I will continue to be a voice for them in-district, and in Springfield.”

For additional questions about this event, contact Sarah Hurd with the Illinois Nurses Association (INA) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ROMEOVILLE – State Senator Rachel Ventura along with Will County Board Member Destinee Ortiz have raised concerns about a zoning map amendment and five variances for a proposed heavy crude oil pipeline and barge terminal currently being considered by the Will County Board.

“We have the largest inland port in the state,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “If there was an oil spill, we’d have to shut down the locks to drain it out. It would be devastating for our local economy.”

The Will County Board is taking up a proposal on Wednesday that would allow Ducere to open an oil pipeline terminal next to the Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve. If approved, the port would see oil exporters from Canada ship their cargo through Illinois to other states.

There has been a history of oil spills in Romeoville and in 2010, the Will County State's Attorney was forced to sue Enbridge — the pipeline company where Ducere will get their oil from — for cleanup costs associated with the Romeoville oil spill that devastated the community.

“Expanding pollution projects in this area is counterproductive to the state's goals,” said Ventura. “Bringing crude oil onto an Illinois waterway just to get to another state puts all Illinoisans at risk.”

The Ducere project is a barge petroleum loading terminal over the Des Plaines River that will allow oil from Enbridge to split off before CITGO's local refinery and send to Louisiana where companies like Shell use cheaper labor and do not pay union wages.

The map amendment will come before the full board for a vote on Wednesday, July 19 at 9 a.m. at the Will County Office Building in Joliet. Ventura and Ortiz are encouraging residents to contact their board members before the meeting to urge them to vote no on this proposal.

Ventura and Ortiz additionally went on WJOL, a local radio station to call for a public hearing on the issue before a vote is considered, interview which you can listen here.

JOLIET – Senator Rachel Ventura was appointed to serve on the Council of State Governments Intergovernmental Affairs Committee.

“This appointment will better position me to serve my colleagues in the senate and better advocate for residents of the 43rd District," said Ventura (D-Joliet). "My background working at different levels of government has prepared me for this new role.”

Ventura previously served as a Will County Board Member and as an employee for Joliet Township. Additionally, she also served as Vice President of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Ventura hopes to utilize this new role to benefit the 43rd District and Illinois overall, providing key insight on topics such as environmental issues, taxes and criminal justice reform.

The CSG Intergovernmental Affairs Committee is the primary body setting the state - federal relations agenda for CSG. Additionally, it is a bipartisan committee comprised of officials from all three branches of state government, as well as CSG Associate members.

“Senator Ventura brings a new voice and wealth of experience to CSG,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, who appointed Ventura to the CSG post. “I look forward to seeing her work.”

All committees will meet during the 2023 CSG National Conference, which is scheduled to be held Dec. 6-9 in Raleigh, NC.

JOLIET – State Senator Rachel Ventura successfully secured a $250,000 appropriation in Illinois’ 2024 state budget to support Habitat for Humanity's Neighborhood Revitalization effort in the Fairmont Neighborhood of unincorporated Lockport. This partnership aims to foster community growth, improve living conditions, and provide quality affordable housing for residents in need.

“By focusing on quality, sustainability, and community engagement, this collaboration will provide a brighter future for families in Fairmont,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “These dollars will help residents in the 43rd District prosper and flourish in life, and I look forward to working with Will County and Habitat for Humanity to make this revitalization project come to life.”

Neighborhood revitalization is a comprehensive approach that focuses on transforming communities by addressing the critical needs of residents. Will County Habitat for Humanity has built a successful model that involves strategic collaborations and active engagement from local organizations, businesses, and residents, working together to create sustainable, safe, and vibrant neighborhoods.

Partnering with the Fairmont Neighborhood community and other stakeholders, they will pursue a variety of initiatives and projects over the next five years to revitalize the area and uplift the lives of its residents. The boost of funds secured by Senator Rachel Ventura will help kick start the early stages of this effort. Habitat will continue to build and repair homes as a crucial component of this endeavor and recently acquired six scattered site properties. They are currently in the process of obtaining an additional 18 sites to construct much-needed quality homes in the neighborhood.