Signs Legislation at the Burroughs-founded DuSable Museum to Designate March 25 as Day of Remembrance for Victims of Slavery

CHICAGO - June 18, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today commemorated Juneteenth at the DuSable Museum of African American History and proclaimed Dr. Margaret Burroughs Day in honor of the museum's founder. He also signed legislation to designate March 25 as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the state of Illinois.

Juneteenth is the oldest and most widely-celebrated holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

"Juneteenth is a day to remember our past and honor those who have made significant contributions to our present," said Governor Quinn. "I salute Dr. Margaret Burroughs for her incredible work to advance the arts in Illinois and her dedication to ensuring that everyone can experience African American history and culture."

Dr. Margaret Burroughs made the first of her many contributions to African American arts and culture when, at the age of 22, she founded the South Side Community Arts Center as a gallery and studio for artists and students. The center is still active today and Dr. Margaret Burroughs continues to serve on its board.

Then, in 1961, Dr. Margaret Burroughs, her husband Charles and other leading Chicago residents founded the DuSable Museum of African American History. The museum has since grown to be an internationally-recognized museum of African American art. It was originally located on the ground floor of the Burroughs' home on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago and is named for Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, the first non-Native-American permanent settler in Chicago.

"As the founder of numerous community institutions, a fighter for social justice and equality during the Civil Rights Movement, and a respected artist and pillar of the African American community, Dr. Margaret Burroughs has touched the lives of countless individuals and throughout her accomplished life has embodied the spirit of Juneteenth by brightening the futures of children and adults all across the Land of Lincoln," said Governor Quinn in the proclamation.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865 when Union soldiers led by General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced the end of the Civil War, freeing all slaves. Though Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was effective two years prior on January 1, 1863, a lack of Union troops in Texas prevented enforcement.

Also at the event, Governor Quinn signed a bill into law to designate March 25 as a Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the state of Illinois. House Bill 4586, sponsored by Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) and Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), passed the Illinois General Assembly unanimously. The holiday will coincide with the annual United Nations' International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which falls on March 25 annually.

A copy of the proclamation is attached.

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New Law Will Help Create Jobs, Encourage Investment in New Technologies and Protect Consumers

CHICAGO - June 15, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that overhauls and modernizes Illinois' outdated telecommunications law. The new law will continue protecting consumers, while creating jobs and encouraging private investment in new broadband and wireless technologies.

"Investment in broadband and wireless technology is a key to creating better jobs and providing unique educational opportunities across Illinois," said Governor Quinn. "I am proud to sign this law to encourage private investment in these critical technologies, which will put more people to work and protect consumers."

The Illinois Telecommunications Act was written in 1985 - well before the widespread use of cell phones and broadband Internet. Today, approximately 25 percent of Illinois households rely only on cell phones.

The new law eliminates obsolete regulatory standards, which will enable telecom companies to shift more investment to wireless and broadband technologies. In Illinois, a 1 to 3 percent increase in broadband penetration would create 13,000 to 39,000 non-farm jobs, according to the Brookings Institution.

Senate Bill 107, sponsored by Sen. Michael Bond (D-Grayslake) and Rep. Kevin A. McCarthy (D-Orland Park), allows telecommunications companies to opt-in to a new form of regulation that will promote more competition and encourage more investment in modern broadband and wireless technologies.

The new law also contains important consumer protections to ensure Illinois residents still have a variety of affordable phone service options. The law extends low-cost packages that are designed to protect consumers who still rely on landline service, but have varying communication needs. The low-cost package rates will be frozen for the next three years.

"One of the most important aspects of this legislation was that we have safeguards in place to protect consumers in Illinois," said Sen. Bond. "We wanted to ensure that residents who still rely heavily on land-line telephone service will have affordable options to choose from. As we make strides to boost investment in cutting-edge technology, we want to make sure we are providing security for those individuals who rely on land-line phone service."

"The signing of Senate Bill 107 considerably increases the possibility of greater private sector broadband investment in Illinois. The Legislature and the Governor's Office worked diligently to make sure this legislation is a winner for consumer, providers and employers across Illinois. The unanimous support of the General Assembly confirms the positive changes this legislation promises for our state," said Rep. McCarthy.

The Illinois Commerce Commission will retain the authority to impose penalties on providers who do not comply with general service quality requirements, which could amount to more than $200,000 per offense for a provider. This legislation takes effect immediately.                  

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Law Follows Superintendent's Indictment on Public Corruption Charges

CHICAGO - May 16, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation into law that eliminates the Suburban Cook Country Regional Office of Education in the aftermath of its superintendent being arrested and indicted on 16 counts of official misconduct, theft and misapplication of funds.

"When it comes to the vital task of educating our children, we can never tolerate any doubts about the ethics and practices of public servants," said Governor Quinn. "In this situation, the new law will put to rest any concerns taxpayers have about the operations of the Suburban Cook Country Regional Office of Education, while enabling the system to move forward."

The legislation (House Bill 16) closes the Suburban Cook Country Regional Office of Education and transfers its responsibilities to three intermediate service centers throughout suburban Cook County. Those responsibilities include : processing teacher certifications; providing bus driver training; and performing background checks on employees. The office was the largest of its type in Illinois and served more than 140 school districts and approximately 25,000 teachers.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) and Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest). It goes into effect on July 1.

The legislation was spurred by the January 16 arrest and indictment of Suburban Cook Country Regional Office of Education Superintendent Charles Flowers on 16 counts of official misconduct, theft and misapplication of funds. The indictment alleges that, in the span of two years, Flowers skimmed nearly $400,000 from the office. In March, Flowers pleaded not guilty to the charges.

On May 7, Flowers resigned as superintendent and agreed to be relieved of his administrative certificates for the next four years, preventing him from holding any administrative positions in Illinois public schools. The agreement was approved by the Illinois State Teacher Certification Board. If convicted of a felony, Flowers will permanently lose his teaching and administrative licenses in Illinois.

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CHICAGO - April 22, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today marked the 40^th annual celebration of Earth Day by taking part in "Ecojamapalooza" at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The student-organized event features entertainment and educational displays and highlights the university's sustainability initiatives.

"Today is Earth Day, which reminds us of the importance of getting young people excited about helping the environment and instilling a green way of thinking and acting," said Governor Quinn. "An emphasis on environmental education in college can inspire young people to enter into green careers protecting our natural resources and developing new clean energy technologies, which will make Illinois a better place for us all to live."

UIC has taken a number of steps to improve energy efficiency and reduce the school's carbon footprint. Grant Hall and Lincoln Hall were both renovated to utilize geothermal wells and a geothermal heat pump that have significantly reduced energy use. Lincoln Hall also features solar panels to power the building with renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas. This summer, Douglas Hall will be renovated to utilize a geothermal system and solar panels.

The university has also expanded its recycling program, and the program now saves over 36,000 trees and more than $90,000 each year. UIC has installed green roofs, soy-based white roofs, native landscaping, and low-flow toilets and fixtures in an effort to reduce energy and water consumption.

"Ecojamapalooza" is organized by the Green Youth Movement, a student organization that works toward increasing environmental awareness and responsibility. The daylong event features speakers, music and a historical bike tour of the UIC campus.

Earlier this month, Governor Quinn declared the month of April "Earth Month" in Illinois. Governor Quinn serves as the chairman of the Great Lakes Commission, the Illinois River Coordinating Council and the Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council. Governor Quinn has also signed numerous Executive Orders and statutes into law to ensure greater energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, and protection of Illinois' land, air and water resources.

For more information about Governor Quinn's sustainability initiatives, please visit www.Green.Illinois.gov.

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