Government Affairs Roundup
“Your Timely Roundup of Local, State, and Federal Updates”
Chamber members:
Another great celebration day, this time we honored Kelly Rohder-Tonelli with the ATHENA Award – Congratulations Kelly!
At the time that I scheduled this message, the short-term government funding plan crafted by Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team is expected to fail upon coming to the floor today. More on this and other topics below.
*Government Affairs Roundup brought to you by CITGO*
Government Funding Update
Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team spent the weekend trying to rally support for his short-term government funding proposal, but it is widely expected to fail when it faces a vote on Wednesday.
Should the bill be rejected, it would confirm what many House Republicans have been quietly discussing for days: they are unable to pass any government funding bill without Democratic cooperation. To avoid a government shutdown, Republicans will likely have to work with Democrats to pass a temporary measure, which would keep the government funded until December.
A GOP lawmaker, speaking anonymously, expressed skepticism about Johnson’s plan reaching the required 218 votes, noting that the Senate would reject the bill even if it passed the House. The lawmaker predicted Congress would eventually pass a short-term funding measure through December, saying, “I think if you’ve got psychedelics and a bottle of tequila, you might get closer” to accepting that reality.
As of late last week, approximately 10 Republican members planned to vote against Johnson’s spending bill. The plan pairs government funding through March 28 with a Republican proposal that requires proof of citizenship to vote. Several more GOP lawmakers remain undecided, suggesting opposition could grow by the time the bill reaches the floor.
Some Republicans hope that if the bill fails on Wednesday, it will push Johnson and the GOP to pursue a backup plan. Although Johnson delayed the vote last week, many Republicans believe a public failure would prove they don’t have enough support and prompt a shift in strategy.
Despite the growing opposition, Johnson has not indicated he is considering alternatives. “That’s the play,” he told reporters, dismissing the need for a Plan B. During a closed-door leadership meeting on Tuesday, Johnson gave no sign of shifting course, according to two people familiar with the discussion. However, Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) said he had successfully persuaded some members to support the bill.
Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing to hold Republicans responsible if the government is brought to the brink of a shutdown just weeks before the election. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Republicans for advancing a “dead-on-arrival” bill tied to voter ID legislation, known as the SAVE Act. “Extreme MAGA Republicans are determined to shut the government down in ways that will hurt everyday Americans,” Jeffries said, predicting that the “overwhelming majority” of House Democrats would vote against the measure.
Although only one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), has committed to supporting the bill, several Republicans have publicly expressed their opposition as well.
Joliet Chamber Part of Group with Over 500 State and Local Chambers Calling for Pro-Growth Tax Policy
The US Chamber of Commerce led a group of over 500 state and local chambers and national trade associations in calling on policymakers to pursue a pro-growth agenda and prevent any tax increases on American families or businesses. Provided below is the letter.
To the Members of the United States Congress and New Administration:
Absent congressional action, at the end of 2025 American families and employers will be hit with the largest tax increase in American history.
The pro-growth tax reforms enacted in 2017 have been instrumental in driving economic growth, fostering capital investment, job creation, and higher wages. The expiration of many of these reforms will reduce economic growth, increase costs for families, harm main street businesses, reduce take-home pay for workers, and result in significant job losses. These outcomes are unacceptable and completely avoidable.
We are calling on the next Congress and Administration to commit to pursuing a pro-growth agenda and acting to prevent any tax increases on American families or businesses. By maintaining a pro-growth tax code, we can continue to build a robust economy that benefits all Americans and ensures that our nation remains a leader in global competitiveness and economic opportunity.
View the signees of the letter here.
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces Bright Start 529 College Savings Enhancements
Illinois families enrolled in the Bright Start 529 College Savings Program will soon benefit from lower fees, enhanced investment options, and a new mobile app, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced on Thursday.
Frerichs emphasized the importance of maximizing college savings for families, stating, “We worked to ensure that more of a family’s hard-earned savings goes toward the cost of college or vocational school. I believe in continuous improvement, especially for a program as crucial as this. One of my proudest accomplishments as State Treasurer has been transforming a troubled program into one of the nation’s best. Today, I’m excited to announce further improvements.”
Effective September 30, the program will undergo significant upgrades, with TIAA, a leader in 529 college savings plans, taking over as Bright Start’s program manager. TIAA’s involvement marks the largest new plan mandate in its Education Savings business history, highlighting its state-focused approach and dedication to providing college savers with essential tools and information.
David Nason, Chief Operating Officer of TIAA, emphasized the importance of college savings, saying, “Access to higher education is key to unlocking long-term economic opportunity. This partnership with Illinois will help more people plan, save, and confidently pay for college expenses.”
As part of the enhancements, Bright Start 529 will reduce total average asset-weighted fees by 13%, helping families keep more of their savings for rising college costs. This follows over $100 million in previous fee reductions under Frerichs’ leadership.
In addition, technological improvements will greatly enhance the user experience. A new Bright Start 529 mobile app will allow users to manage their accounts, check balances, and open additional accounts for new beneficiaries. The account opening process will be faster, and funds will be more easily transferred directly to colleges. Illinois parents or guardians will also be able to claim their one-time $50 seed deposit for a Bright Start 529 account online for children born or adopted on January 1, 2023, or later.
The program’s low-cost investment approach will remain, with a key enhancement being the transition from the current Age-Based Portfolio structure to an Enrollment Year Portfolio structure. This change will allow for more gradual rebalancing and greater flexibility to meet varying investment objectives, risk profiles, and timelines based on the future student’s year of enrollment.
More business will be handled by Illinois-based companies, including Nuveen as the investment partner and Razorfish and Purple Group for marketing.
During the transition from Wednesday, September 25, to Sunday, September 29, no withdrawals, contributions, or account changes will be processed. Normal account access and transactions will resume on Monday, September 30, at 7 a.m. Parents are advised to withdraw funds for tuition by September 18 for the fall semester, especially with deadlines like the University of Illinois’ September 28 due date.
After the transition, account holders will need to re-establish online access and update payroll instructions. To ensure a smooth transition, Bright Start 529 has sent multiple emails and mailers to account owners, and all communications are available at BrightStartEnhancements.com.
Under Frerichs, Bright Start 529 has earned recognition as one of the nation’s best college savings plans by top publications like Time, Forbes, and Business Insider. Research shows that children are three times more likely to attend college if they know they have a dedicated savings account.
With over $20 billion in assets and 900,000 total accounts, Illinois’ 529 program is the sixth largest in the nation. The transition to TIAA management means that more than 25% of Americans will reside in states where TIAA manages 529 plans. Currently, TIAA oversees plans for California, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, as well as advisor-sold plans in Michigan and Colorado.
For more information or to open an account, visit BrightStart.com. There is no minimum amount required to open an account. The Bright Directions advisor-guided program will continue to be managed by Union Bank and Trust. As of June 2024, TIAA Education Savings manages $46.2 billion in assets across its 529 plans.
Major Road and Bridge Projects in Joliet & Will County Planned by IDOT Through 2030
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has announced a series of major road and bridge construction projects in Will County over the next six years, with a focus on infrastructure improvements and bridge repairs. These projects are part of the state’s ongoing Rebuild Illinois capital program.
IDOT’s upcoming infrastructure plans for Will County include 10 major projects totaling $118 million, in addition to the $1.3 billion Interstate 80 reconstruction through Joliet. State Rep. Larry Walsh Jr. (D-Elwood) emphasized the importance of these investments, stating, “Will County is home to the largest inland port in the country. Gov. JB Pritzker and IDOT understand how vital it is to invest in this region to keep America moving forward.” Walsh highlighted that within the 86th District alone, Rebuild Illinois has allocated $1.151 billion for transportation improvements.
Several projects in Joliet are either ongoing or planned for completion between 2025 and 2030:
- Route 6 (Scott Street) Resurfacing
- Location: Washington Street to Ruby Street
- Improvements: Resurfacing, ADA improvements
- Timeline: Construction started in spring 2024, expected completion by fall
- Cost: $1.5 million
- Route 6 (Channahon Road) Resurfacing
- Location: Terry Road to Hollywood Road
- Improvements: Resurfacing, shoulder repair
- Timeline: Expected completion by the end of 2024
- Cost: $1.3 million
- Route 6 (Maple Road) Bridge Deck Resurfacing
- Location: Henderson Avenue to Draper Avenue/Walnut Street
- Improvements: Bridge deck resurfacing, joint replacement, ADA improvements
- Timeline: Expected completion by late 2024
- Cost: $1.4 million
- Cass Street Bridge Superstructure Replacement
- Location: Des Plaines River
- Timeline: Construction begins in spring 2025, completion by fall 2025
- Cost: $22.2 million
- Jackson Street Bridge Rehabilitation
- Location: Des Plaines River
- Timeline: Starts late 2027, expected completion by late 2029
- Cost: $25 million
- Jefferson Street Bridge Repairs
- Location: Des Plaines River
- Improvements: New bridge deck, repairs
- Timeline: Begins in early 2026, completion by late 2027
- Cost: $22 million
Other Will County projects include:
- Interstate 57 at Pauling Road
- Improvements: New bridge deck, shoulder repair, retaining wall installation, and culvert repair
- Timeline: Begins in fall 2026, completion by fall 2027
- Cost: $5.8 million
- Route 53 Resurfacing
- Location: Route 52 (Doris Avenue) to west Manhattan Road
- Improvements: Resurfacing, lane closures
- Timeline: Starts early 2029, completion by late 2029
- Cost: $8.5 million
State Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D-Romeoville) emphasized the necessity of these projects, stating, “These improvements prevent accidents, maintain bridge and road structure integrity, and reduce damage to vehicles caused by rough roads. Ensuring that bridges remain stable is critical to preventing major safety issues.”
As part of the Rebuild Illinois program, $16 billion has been invested statewide, resulting in the improvement of 6,541 miles of highway, repairs to 686 bridges, and nearly 1,000 additional safety upgrades. For more information on other Rebuild Illinois projects across the state, visit Rebuild Illinois.
Joliet Working with Regional Group to Survey Residents on Travel Needs
The City of Joliet is working with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) as they launch a major survey called My Daily Travel this fall to better understand the travel needs of residents in northeastern Illinois. CMAP is northeastern Illinois’ regional planning organization responsible for guiding and coordinating transportation planning and land use development.
The survey seeks to understand residents’ day-to-day travel throughout northeastern Illinois: how people travel, where they go, how long it takes, and who travels with them. The survey will collect input from residents in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, and will be conducted in three phases, the first taking place this year. The goal is to get a complete picture of travel patterns to better plan for future transportation improvements.
As travel behaviors change and technologies evolve over the next few years, transportation planners will use this survey data to guide future transportation investments and prioritize improvements. Gathering input from a wide range of residents is critical to ensure planners are aware of travelers’ diverse needs when making planning decisions.
Households from across the region selected to complete the survey will receive an invitation by U.S. mail. At least 4,000 households in northeastern Illinois are expected to participate in the survey over the next year.
Invited households may complete the survey online, over the phone, or through a smartphone app (rMove™). Only invited households are eligible to take the survey, but if you don’t receive an invitation this year there will be two more rounds of the survey in the near future.
For more information, residents may contact help@mydailytravelsurvey.com or visit the city’s website for details at www.joliet.gov.
Recurring Business:
Event: Illinois Secure Choice 2024 Update Webinar
Date: 9/19/2024 at 02:00 PM
Illinois state law now requires every private-sector employer that has been in business for at least 2 years and had 5 or more Illinois employees in every quarter last year must offer their own qualified retirement plan or facilitate the Illinois Secure Choice retirement savings program.
In this session, the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office will cover the specifics of the state law and provide an overview of how Illinois Secure Choice works and how easy it is for businesses to facilitate retirement savings for their employees. Feel free to share this webinar opportunity with your members too!
Speaker Bio: Christine Cheng serves as Executive Director of Secure Choice for the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office. In her role, she oversees implementation and expansion of Illinois Secure Choice to improve retirement savings access for private-sector workers, helping to ensure that more Illinoisans can retire with dignity.
For more information or to register: https://business.iacce.org/ap/Events/Register/OOFBDNwSaCqCD
Will County Kicks Off Safety Action Plan
Will County, in partnership with local leaders and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), has launched the Will County Safety Action Plan. This initiative is designed to improve road safety, reduce crash severity, and ultimately save lives throughout the county.
“Ensuring safe roads in Will County is a top priority,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “This plan will help reduce traffic fatalities and injuries, creating a safer transportation network for all. I encourage residents to share their thoughts on how we can make ‘safe travel for all’ a reality.”
Will County Public Works and Transportation Chair Joe VanDuyne emphasized the progress already made in recent years to improve road safety through collaboration with state and local partners. “Public engagement is key to a successful plan,” VanDuyne said. “I urge our community to actively participate in this important process.”
The Will County Safety Action Plan is being developed with input from a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives from schools, fire departments, hospitals, community organizations, and law enforcement agencies. The steering committee members will ensure that the plan addresses the diverse needs of those who live, work, and travel throughout the county. Using community feedback and data-driven analysis, the plan will outline strategies and recommendations to enhance road safety for all users.
Anyone who travels in Will County is strongly encouraged to actively participate in this plan by attending community events and providing feedback online. Engagement opportunities will include the following:
- Community Open House: Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 24, 2024, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Join the project team at The Ovation Center in Romeoville at 349 S. Weber Rd., Romeoville, IL 60446, to learn more about the plan and share your input. Please complete the event registration form on the project website in advance to ensure accessibility needs are accommodated.
- Safety Hotspots Map: Visit the project website and use the interactive Safety Hotspots Map to drop a pin where safety improvements are needed, highlight challenges, and offer recommendations.
- Take the Online Survey: Shape the safety action plan for Will County by taking a few minutes to fill out the online survey.
As part of the regionwide “Safe Travel for All” initiative, the Will County Safety Action Plan will focus on identifying practical actions, innovative solutions, and policy proposals aimed at improving roadway safety for all users, particularly pedestrians, cyclists, and individuals using mobility devices. Completing this plan is a key step that will enable the Will County Division of Transportation, along with other local agencies, to access additional federal funding for transportation safety enhancements. The plan is set to be finalized in 2025.
Over the past five years, Will County has seen a steady rise in traffic fatalities and injuries, impacting the community significantly. Notably, 61 percent of fatal and serious crashes have occurred on just 8 percent of the county’s roadways. Crashes involving vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, tend to have the most severe outcomes.
The “Safe Travel for All” initiative is being implemented across six counties by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). The program is supported by a $4 million federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant, along with additional funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation and local county contributions.
For more information on the Will County Safety Action Plan and ways to get involved, please visit the project website at engage.cmap.illinois.gov/will.
Stay well,
Mike Paone
Executive Vice President
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
mpaone@jolietchamber.com
815.727.5371 main
815.727.5373 direct