SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement regarding Illinois Senate passage of House Bill 3816:

"Our democracy works best when everyone has a voice. Residents across Illinois will now have the opportunity to voice their opinion on whether millionaires should pay a little more to help ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.

"An investment in education is the best investment we can make for our economic future.

"I commend Speaker Michael Madigan and Senator Mike Noland for sponsoring this important bill and I look forward to signing it into law."

The bill has passed the Illinois House and now goes to the Governor's desk.

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"Portrait of a Soldier" Memorial Exhibit on Display at Illinois Tollway Oases through Independence Day  

SCHILLER PARK - Governor Pat Quinn today commemorated Memorial Day by unveiling the "Portrait of a Soldier" memorial exhibit at the O'Hare Oasis and announced the summer exhibit schedule at Tollway Oases in northern Illinois. The exhibit features a series of hand-drawn portraits of nearly all of the more than 300 Illinois men and women who have died while serving our country since Sept. 11, 2001.  

"The 'Portrait of a Solider' memorial exhibit helps people across Illinois learn about true heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms," Governor Quinn said. "From Memorial Day to Independence Day, I encourage everyone to take time to visit the display and honor our brave servicemembers who will forever remain in our hearts and minds."  

The exhibit is on display at the O'Hare Oasis until Sunday, June 1, and then will travel to the Hinsdale Oasis, where it will be displayed through Sunday, June 8. The exhibit will be on display at the Chicago Southland Lincoln, DeKalb, Belvidere and Lake Forest oases through theJuly 4 weekend.  

"By displaying the portraits of these dedicated men and women, we hope to honor the sacrifice they made while serving our country," Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur said. "We ask our Tollway customers to consider pausing in their travels to view this exhibit and help us commemorate the courage of these brave Americans."  

Governor Quinn established the "Portrait of a Soldier" memorial exhibit in 2004 to honor fallen Illinois servicemembers when artist Cameron Schilling of Mattoon drew the first portrait of Army Spc. Charles Neeley, also of Mattoon, after he was killed in Iraq. Schilling, a student at Eastern Illinois University at the time, committed to drawing a portrait of every servicemember who has fallen during the Global War on Terror.  

"This powerful exhibit presented on this solemn day helps us remember the ultimate price these men and women have paid to ensure our safety," Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Erica Borggren said. "It also reminds us of the duty we have to honor the fallen and support their families."  

Governor Quinn has made commitment to veterans, servicemembers and their families a top priority throughout his career. He led the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program that helps veterans transition back to their daily lives and the Welcome Home Heroes program which helps support Illinois service members seeking homeownership. As Lieutenant Governor, Governor Quinn championed the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund Act, which established a fund to provide grants to families of Illinois National Guard members and Illinois residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve components, who are called to active duty. These grants help servicemembers and their families with the costs of food, housing, utilities and other expenses when the wage-earner has left civilian employment for active military duty. The fund has distributed more than $15.1 million to 29,625 Illinois military families to assist with the financial burden at home.

Portrait of a Soldier Memorial Exhibit Schedule

Saturday, May 24 - Sunday, June 1              O'Hare Oasis (Schiller Park), Tri-State Tollway (I-294)

Monday, June 2 - Sunday, June 8                 Hinsdale Oasis, Tri-State Tollway (I-294)

Monday, June 9 - Sunday, June 15               Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis (South Holland) Tri-State Tollway (I-294/80)

Monday, June 16 - Sunday, June 22             DeKalb Oasis, Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)

Monday, June 23 - Sunday, June 29             Belvidere Oasis, Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90)

Monday, June 30 - Sunday, July 6                 Lake Forest Oasis, Tri-State Tollway (I-94)

NOTE: Beginning June 2, the exhibit will open at noon on Mondays at each oasis and for the rest of the week during the dates listed above, will remain open 24/7.

For more information on the "Portrait of a Solder" exhibit or to view the portraits online, please visit www.OperationHomefront.org.

Governor Quinn Honors Military Families with Welcome Home Heroes Program

Visits Cities Across Illinois to Promote Program and Continues Push to Protect Critical Veterans Services from Budget Cuts

WINNEBAGO - As part of his agenda to support our veterans in honor of Memorial Day, Governor Pat Quinn today will visit cities across Illinois to discuss his Welcome Home Heroes program. As part of this program, veterans and their families can take advantage of the $10,000 in cash down-payment assistance that is available. Visiting Rockford, Chicago, Rock Island and Decatur, the Governor is continuing his push for a responsible budget that adequately funds critical veterans services.  

"It is Job One on the homefront to take care of our veterans and military families for all of the sacrifices they make," Governor Quinn said. "With programs like Welcome Homes Heroes, Illinois leads the nation in serving those who have served us. I will continue to fight to ensure we protect our essential veterans services for those who have sacrificed so much."

In addition to the down-payment assistance, the program provides a 30-year fixed rate mortgage with an affordable interest rate (currently 3.875 percent); and a mortgage tax credit worth up to $20,000 over the life of the loan to reduce federal income tax liability. Since the program's launch three years ago, 1,300 Illinois veterans, active military personnel, reservists and Illinois National Guard members have accessed more than $165 million to buy their homes.

The Governor today will visit several veterans and their families today who have achieved their goal of homeownership through the Welcome Home Heroes program:

• ·         Dr. Eric Luke, and his wife, Andrea, had been renting in the Rockford area since 2009 while taking care of Dr. Luke's father who was sick. Luke served four years in Korea and reached Staff Sergeant in the Iraq War and now is currently a chiropractor. They're excited to be in the new house and Welcome Home Heroes made it possible. "We did save our dollars. We're savers by nature," Dr. Luke said. "However, when you factor in student loans from medical school and things we might potentially need to fix up in our new house, we realized that the assistance from Welcome Home Heroes would be just the product to put us over the top. We really appreciate the assistance."
• ·         Billy Lynn served in the Marines from 2000-2004 and achieved the rank of Sergeant. After becoming a Marine he and his unit were deployed in Australia. He was only there for six months when the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred. His unit was deployed to Afghanistan and was one of the very first units to arrive there. He purchased his home in Evergreen Park in October of 2012. "I wouldn't have been able to buy my house without Welcome Home Heroes," Sgt. Lynn said. "The program is great. The assistance ($10,000) really made my home purchase a possibility for me."
• ·         Joshua Thompson is an IT Tech with the Rock Island Arsenal and is also currently in the Army National Guard as an Active Reserve Soldier. He served in Afghanistan from 2010 - 2011 as a Specialist. After coming home from service overseas in 2011, Josh rented in the Quad Cities area as that is where he is from. He purchased his home in October of 2013 after he learned of the Welcome Home Heroesprogram from co-workers who are other military personnel at the Rock Island Arsenal. "I had high standards for the home I wanted to buy. There were a lot of things I was looking for and if it weren't for the assistance by the Welcome Home Heroes program, I would not have been able to purchase this home," Thompson said. "Mary at U.S. Bank explained the program to me and helped me through the process. Overall it's been fantastic!"
• ·         Paul Joliff served in the U.S. Army from 1986 - 1990, where he achieved the rank of an E4 Specialist and worked as a mechanic and crew chief on cobra helicopters. He then served in the National Guard from 1990 - 1994. Paul and his two children recently closed on their home on May 14th in Forsyth. "Welcome Home Heroes was huge for us," Joliff said. "The assistance allowed me not only to get a bigger house, it also allowed me to stay in Forsyth. My kids are in the school there and I love the school district. Getting a bigger home in a great school district was what I really wanted and Welcome Home Heroeshelped make that happen."

Welcome Home Heroes is one of a number of affordable mortgage programs the Governor has launched. In total, Governor Quinn has targeted $20 million total in state capital Illinois Jobs Now! funds to the Welcome Home Heroes program to help increase affordable homeownership opportunities for military veterans and their families.

Additionally, Welcome Home Heroes and other Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) programs help benefit the overall economy. According to the Illinois Association of Realtors (IAR), every home sold generates two jobs and $60,000 in ripple effects to the overall economy. This impact has already been realized statewide with other IHDA programs. In 2013, 3,000 families purchased homes through one of IHDA's programs, generating 1,500 jobs and infusing $70 million into Illinois' economy. Projections show that even just a 15 percent increase in 2014 could generate an additional 1,725 jobs and infuse another $10 million into Illinois' economy.

"Under Governor Quinn's leadership, Welcome Home Heroescontinues to eliminate barriers to homeownership that many Illinois military families face by providing a financial package that is one of the most substantial in the nation," IHDA Executive Director Mary R. Kenney said. "As the state's housing finance agency, we are proud to offer a program that helps military homeowners and improves local real estate markets across Illinois."

IHDA's mortgages have lower credit score requirements, provide cash for down payment assistance and require homeownership counseling. A list of lenders is available at www.ihda.org.

For more information about the Governor's programs for our veterans, visit OperationHomefront.org or call the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs at (217) 782-6641 or (312) 814-2460.

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SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement regarding Illinois Senate passage of House Bill 8, an important bill strongly supported by the Governor to provide job protections for pregnant women. This legislation will protect moms-to-be in the workplace.

"It's a great day for expectant mothers in Illinois. Women in Illinois will no longer be forced to choose between having a job and having a baby.

"This is a landmark bill that will end a common but often overlooked form of workplace discrimination. The accommodations contained in this bill are simple, proper and definitely needed. They give employees peace of mind and will lead to healthier mothers and babies. And they make Illinois a better place for our moms-to-be.

"I commend sponsors State Representative Mary Flowers and State Senator Toi Hutchinson for championing this cause and all the legislators who worked to pass this important legislation.

"I look forward to signing this bill to continue the progress we've made to protect and empower women in Illinois."

House Bill 8 has passed both chambers of the General Assembly, but needs to be voted on one last time by the Illinois House to approve minor technical changes made in the Senate.

200th Birthday Observance Will be a Year-Long Celebration of State's Past With an Eye Toward the Future

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today officially started the planning for Illinois' 200th birthday in 2018, a year-long celebration that will engage residents and communities throughout the state and leave a lasting legacy for future generations. The Governor signed an Executive Order to create the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial Commission, a grass-roots organization that will plan a celebration that is meaningful to every resident and spur history-based tourism.

"Ever since becoming a state on December 3, 1818, Illinois has been a crossroads, a microcosm and a breadbasket for our nation," Governor Quinn said. "We have cultivated such leaders as Presidents Lincoln, Grant, Reagan and Obama. The Bicentennial is an opportunity to remind everyone of our rich heritage and pave the way to a bright future."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate Illinois' rich heritage," Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) Board Chair Sunny Fischer said. "The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will do everything it can to help the Bicentennial Commission get people talking, learning, traveling and exploring 200 years of Illinois history."

The Bicentennial Commission will plan and coordinate events, activities, publications, digital media, and other developments and encourage citizen participation at all levels in every community in the state. It will use the highly successful 2009 Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial observance as a guide to make the state's 2018 birthday party a creative, comprehensive and all-inclusive celebration.

The all-volunteer Bicentennial Commission, which will be named in the coming months, will represent the diversity of the state. The Governor, each constitutional officer and the four legislative leaders will each name a member, as will the directors of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Office of Tourism; Illinois Arts Council; and Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Transportation.

The Governor will also name 40 members from academia, historic preservation, business, labor, military, civil rights, community development, education, philanthropy and the arts. The commission's efforts will be coordinated by an executive director and support staff.

For Illinois' 1918 Centennial, the U.S. Mint issued a commemorative 50-cent piece and the Illinois Centennial Monument in Chicago's Logan Square was built, as was the Centennial Building in Springfield. A multi-volume history of Illinois was published, and the first re-creation of buildings began at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site. Pageants and celebrations took place across the state.

The U.S. Congress passed the Illinois Enabling Act on April 18, 1818 that allowed for the organization of state government, fixed the northern boundary of Illinois, and established a permanent school fund from a portion of the proceeds of public land sales. On August 26, the Illinois Constitutional Convention adopted a constitution and selected Kaskaskia as the first state capital. The first Governor, Shadrach Bond, was inaugurated October 6.  Illinois officially became the 21st state on December 3, 1818 when President James Monroe signed the congressional resolution admitting Illinois to the union.

For up to date information on the Illinois Bicentennial, visit www.facebook.com/Illinois200.