A program where Black businesses finally get the resources they need

SPRINGFIELD – To better support Black-owned businesses, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) is pushing to create the Black Wall Street Program to increase the progress of Black businesses in Illinois.

"We can reduce the challenges Black businesses face by providing access to resources that help them develop," Harris said. "Supporting Black businesses helps not just the businesses, but the entire community that surrounds them."

House Bill 1960 would require the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create and administer this program to stimulate black businesses' growth and development in under-served communities throughout the state of Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD - To help patients better manage their prescription costs, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) passed legislation out of the Senate Insurance Committee that would require all Illinois-regulated health insurance companies to offer flat-dollar co-pay plans for drug benefits. 

"Working families could better plan for their health care costs if they paid fixed out-of-pocket amounts for their prescribed medicine," Harris said. "I want to make sure plans are available that offer that option."

SPRINGFIELD – In order to increase diversity and inclusion in the railroad industry, State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey) is pushing Amtrak to submit procurement goals for female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned and small business enterprises.

“In order to ensure that our small and minority businesses are getting a fair opportunity to participate in transportation contracts, we must urge all our railroad companies to set goals to increase diversity,” Harris said. “Illinois is a diverse state, and all industries should promote equity and inclusion for all business that want to participate in public contracts.”

Currently, the Railroad Supplier Diversity Act allows each Class I railroad company to submit an annual report containing procurement goals and actual spending for female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned and small business enterprises to the Illinois Commerce Commission.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure that Black and Brown families are being treated fairly, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III is sponsoring legislation that would require the Department of Children and Family Services to submit an annual report regarding racial disparities for children and families. 

“Our minority families already have to deal with enough challenges. They shouldn’t have to deal with racial disparities in their treatment by DCFS and other state agencies,” Harris said. “Requiring DCFS to provide a report on inequities helps us pinpoint where these Black and Brown families need help the most.” 

Senate Bill 2406 requires DCFS to prepare and submit an annual report to the General Assembly regarding racial disparities for children and families involved in the child welfare system by no later than Dec. 31, 2022, and each year after.

DOLTON – As Black communities have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) announcing schools in the 15^th District are set to receive an estimated $261,020,731 in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on our Black communities, and I’m glad to see that the Black Caucus’ efforts are helping make a change,” Harris said. “Providing guidelines on how to spend the funding will increase justice for our communities and help them move forward.”

The funding comes as part of the most recent federal COVID-19 relief packages. Schools, students and parents have overcome challenges that no one could have imagined before the pandemic began, including remote and hybrid learning, digital connection issues, new processes for receiving state and federal aid that normally flow through schools, and more.

Local school districts are set to receive the following amounts:

The majority of the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, which gives local schools a great deal of flexibility in how they can use the money over the next 3 ½ years. At least 20% of the funding must be used to address learning loss, but beyond that, school districts can use the money to address many different issues and costs. For example, it can be used to better equip schools for safe learning, to prevent layoffs, to address students’ social and emotional needs, to fund summer programs, or to ensure all students have access to reliable Wi-Fi and technology.

The State Board of Education, in collaboration with other state agencies that address education, has produced a guide for local school districts to help them decide how to best use their resources. While the guide and other state-sponsored services are completely voluntary, the state aims to support local districts during this difficult time.

“Our Black students and teachers were some of the people most impacted by this pandemic, so our local school districts need to use the funds in a way that helps them overcome their barriers,” Harris said. “This federal funding means a lot for Illinois’ education system, and it will go a long way to help the 15th district community."

In total, Illinois received nearly $7 billion to support local school districts.

HARVEY – State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) announced Family Christian Center will serve as a COVID-19 vaccination site for Harvey and surrounding south side communities.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted disadvantaged communities, which is why it’s vital that communities like Harvey have access to the vaccine,” Harris said. “Family Christian Health Center already provides so much support to the Southland, and I’m glad they will now be able to provide vaccinations to community members who need it the most.”

RIVERDALE — State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) announced the Carver Park Fieldhouse will undergo a $759,858 Rebuild Illinois renovation project to provide expanded athletic and recreational facilities, space for incubators and job skills training to the community.

“The rehabilitation of Carver Park Fieldhouse will not only provide a safe space for athletics but will lead the way to expanding job training and skills development for businesses and residents throughout our community,” Harris said. “This and other Shovel Ready grants will make the highest and best use of our statewide capital plan by improving infrastructure to meet the needs of community members today while setting the stage for broader economic development in the future.”

The Carver Park Fieldhouse is located in the Riverdale community and features a gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, boxing ring and multi-purpose clubrooms. The outside of the fieldhouse offers a playground, baseball diamonds, a batting cage, a sand volleyball court, basketball courts and a picnic area.

The investment for this project comes from the Shovel Ready Infrastructure Capital Program. Shovel Ready funding will help boost essential community development projects, including those that repurpose vacant land in disadvantaged communities into valuable community spaces.

Shovel Ready projects are supported by Rebuild Illinois – the state’s $45 billion, 5-year capital program.

All Shovel Ready projects will follow minority business participation requirements of the State of Illinois' Business Enterprise Program and will meet local hiring requirements through the Illinois Works program.

DOLTON - State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) released the following statement on the NFL using race as a category to judge whether ex-players should be paid for head injury claims Wednesday:

"It's sickening that the National Football League uses race to determine concussion settlements. Black players who sustained injuries while playing deserve the same support as white players. This is further proof the NFL does not care about players' livelihoods after their football career is finished – but rather only when they can help the league.