CHICAGO – State Rep. Aarón Ortíz, D-Chicago, will bring Southwest Side voices to major conversations about job creation, education and environmental justice as a member of several key committees in the new legislative session. 

“As state representative, I make hearing my community’s concerns a top priority, and they are calling on me and the House to act on many key issues,” Ortíz said. “As a member of the Public Safety committee, I am ready to bring down rates of carjacking and violent crime. Rising costs are squeezing families, in my own community and all of Illinois, dry. Keeping costs down will be a top priority for me on the Revenue & Finance and Labor & Commerce committees. As members of these committees, I will focus on bringing consensus around effective solutions to public safety, labor and environmental issues.” 

Ortíz will serve as the vice chair of the Elementary & Secondary Education committee, bringing his hands-on experience working for Chicago Public Schools to the challenges facing education. Environmental concerns remain at the forefront of Ortíz’s priorities in the upcoming session, and he will continue fighting for better environmental protections for poor and minority communities on the Energy & Environment Committee. Ortíz will serve as a member of the Executive Committee, working with his colleagues to advance key legislative priorities of the House for the upcoming year. 

Additionally, Ortíz will serve on the House Labor Committee, the Revenue & Finance Committee and budget committees related to public safety and education funding. 

Ortíz has a strong record of supporting low-income and minority communities across Illinois. He passed Senate Bill 265, expanding energy bill assistance programs to more people struggling to make ends meet. He also helped bring menstrual hygiene products to Illinois public bathrooms with House bill 155, ensuring female students have access to the care they need. Public safety and bringing down crime is a top priority. To crack down on catalytic converter theft, Ortíz passed House Bill 106 to document the purchase and sale of these devices in a more consistent manner. 

“This upcoming session is a unique opportunity to create a bold and forward thinking future for Illinois, and I am committed to making that a reality,” Ortíz said. “These committees will be critical in securing environmental protections for the most vulnerable, uplifting low-income families, and creating comprehensive education policy that allows students from every corner of the state to succeed.”

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Rep. Aarón Ortíz, D-Chicago, issued the following response to the Governor’s State of the State Address, highlighting the need for fully funded services and strong fiscal decision making. 

“Supporting immigrant families, greater community-based violence prevention program funding, bringing down everyday costs for working families and building affordable housing are all top priorities of mine as we enter budget talks,” Ortíz said. “While we made strong fiscal decisions that allowed us to pay down debts, secure pension payments, upgrade our credit and much more, we have to do more to better ensure working families receive the support they need. 

“Budgets are reflections of what we as a state value most. For too long, these budgets have not reflected the needs of communities of color and the most vulnerable. We have a chance to change that, and I look forward to doing so.”