NW Illinois News

Sen. Neil Anderson encourages the people of Illinois to go out and enjoy this National Parks and Recreation Month.

In a July 12 Facebook post, Anderson encouraged his constituents to name their favorite outdoor spaces.

"July is National Parks and Recreation Month which means it's time to get outside and explore! I'd love to know where some of your favorite spots to visit are. Leave me a comment below with your favorite summer outdoor adventures!" Anderson said.

In May, Anderson signed the Big Family Pledge. The Big Family Pledge is a project of the American Principles Project, a pro-family organization engaging directly in campaigns and elections. The pledge asks candidates to promise to "actively support legislation, litigation and other efforts" that would: (1) Defend girls' sports by prohibiting biological males from participating, including at the collegiate level; (2) Protect children from experimental "gender transition" procedures, including irreversible surgeries, chemical castration and psychiatric neglect; (3) Let kids be kids and protect them from dangerous and divisive propaganda being taught in schools, such as critical race theory and gender ideology; (4) Safeguard children from exposure to pornography, obscenity and indecency; (5) Protect life from conception to natural death."

Also in May, Anderson sponsored a bill to classify emergency dispatchers as first responders. "As most of you have probably seen on social media and through the news, this week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week," Anderson said. "This is the week that we highlight every year where the men and women behind the scenes who are literally the first ones that pick up the phone when someone is in need of help. This is the week I find it very appropriate to share some good news that came out of Springfield. For several years now I've worked on a piece of legislation that would classify emergency dispatchers as first responders." SB 3127 was sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Neil Anderson, Darren Bailey, Robert Martwick, Patrick Joyce, Win Stoller, Sue Rezin, Terri Bryant, Brian Stewart and Dale Fowler, the assembly reported. In the House, it was sponsored by Reps. Dan Swanson, Tony McCombie, Lance Yednock, Jackie Haas, Tim Ozinga, Norine Hammond, Jonathan Carroll, Amy Elik, Charlie Meier and Avery Bourne.

He has also spoken out on the 2022-2023 fiscal budget. 

"In what is already a historic year for rising inflation costs, where families are struggling to make ends meet, this was the year to shore up our budget with the additional $16 billion received in unexpected revenue from the federal government," Anderson said. "Clearly, there's a fundamental difference between parties where Democrats want to offer short-term, election-year tax relief, and Republicans want permanent solutions with permanent tax relief. The government shouldn't decide how to best spend your money, instead you should keep your money and spend it how you see fit."