Rep. Schmidt Honors Local Women at “Women to Watch” Event in Springfield
Springfield…This week, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) welcomed Barbara Sparkman and Wendy Granger from Millstadt to the “Women to Watch” Leadership Conference in Springfield. The event, hosted by House Republicans, consisted of breakfast and conversations, keynote speakers, networking lunch, and an informational seminar.
“I am honored to have Barbara Sparkman and Wendy Granger as my guests at this year’s conference and celebrate their well-deserved recognition for their work supporting our community,” said Schmidt.
Barbara serves as the Millstadt Food Pantry’s treasurer, and Wendy serves on the pantry board in addition to various other functions ranging from picking up food, packing bags for clients and distributing holiday food throughout the year.
The Millstadt Food Pantry began years ago in a small garage with a big mission. Today, the pantry continues to exceed local annual donations and helps to feed less fortunate families across the Millstadt community with no government help. Barbara and Wendy have dedicated their time and efforts to make a difference in the small town they call home.
Schmidt continued, “I’m proud to represent a district that has great women leaders such as Barbara and Wendy who have opened their door to help others in need. This event was a fantastic opportunity for them to join nearly 50 women from across the state to be recognized as women leaders, and I look forward to seeing the great things they do in the future.”
In its fourth year, the Women to Watch Leadership Conference was designed to recognize accomplishments from up-and-coming women leaders across Illinois. Each year, legislators identify and invite rising stars from their districts to attend the conference, where their efforts are applauded, and their suggestions are heard during a day of empowering programming.
Upcoming Event!
>How to File a Witness Slip
Witness slips are a vital piece of the legislative process. Before a bill is heard in committee, the chairperson will read who has submitted witness slips and whether they support or oppose the bill. This helps inform me and other legislators as to where Illinoisans and organizations stand, allowing us to make informed decisions when voting. Learn how to file a witness slip here.
Working for You
As your State Representative, I will always vote on legislation that benefits you, your family, and local businesses. We have an uphill battle in Springfield, but I’m committed to improving the quality of life for all families in the 114th District and Illinois. We can move our state in the right direction, but we need to focus on real issues and find long-term solutions. Passing legislation to regulate plastic foodware does nothing to improve the quality of life for hard-working families.
Migrants in Illinois
JB Pritzker has created a migrant crisis in Illinois with his sanctuary state policies. Due to bad public policy, Illinois taxpayers have been footing the bill on migrant services: free healthcare, housing, cell phones, food, and it’s only getting worse. Migrant crime is also a concern for Illinois residents who feel like public safety has been reduced over the past few years. We must get serious about protecting Illinois citizens from crime in their communities and it starts with allowing law enforcement officers to do their job.
Currently, the cost of providing services to undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers is costing taxpayers an estimated $2.84 billion from fiscal year 2023 through fiscal year 2025, which doesn’t even include education costs or other various state and local services. We must repeal the TRUST Act to end Illinois’ sanctuary state status and stop the flow of undocumented immigrants into Illinois.
Sign this petition in support of legislation to repeal the Trust Act.
Property Taxes
According to a new tax analysis by ATTOM, our state has the highest effective property tax rates in the nation with 4 of the 5 top-taxing metro areas being right here in Illinois. This is one list where we definitely don’t want to be #1. Illinoisans need relief from this crushing tax burden.
Read the report: ATTOM’s 2024 U.S. Property Tax Analysis for Single-Family Homes
Coffey Talk in Millstadt
I hosted a Coffee Talk event this morning to give my constituents the opportunity to discuss what’s important to them and to hear what they want to see from state legislators. I enjoyed speaking to everyone and getting to know them! Thank you for attending the event!
Resources for Veterans
The State of Illinois offers a variety of programs and resources for veterans and their families. Here you will find a collection of federal, state, and local services available to veterans on a wide variety of issues. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to give my office a call at (618)-215-1050 and a member of my constituent service team will be ready to assist you.
For more information, please contact Rep. Schmidt’s office at (618)-215-1050
Representative Kevin Schmidt represents the 114th District, which includes a portion of St. Clair County.