Protectors of the dead fulfil the highest standard of a code of morality because they fulfill an obligation that is forever. THE NEWSETTE FEBRUARY 2021 VOLUME 64, EDITION 2 A PUBLICATION OF THE ILLINOIS CEMETERY & FUNERAL HOME ASSOCIATION HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH Emanuel "Chris" Welch Emil Jones III Speaker of the House Senate Deputy Majority Leader IN THIS EDITION… CELEBRATING BLACK BLACK HISTORY IN THE MAKING: HISTORY MONTH DRAIN TILE & DRY WELLS HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK OF TURNING THE SPOTLIGHT ON REV. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TWO STATE LEGISLATORS DR. WILBUR NATHAN DANIEL ICFHA ● 14608 John Humphrey Dr. ● Orland Park, IL ● 60462 Phone: 866-758-7731 ● Fax: 866-758-7732 ● E-mail: [email protected] ● Website: www.ICFHA.org LEGAL UPDATE from the desk of Stephen S. Morrill ICFHA General Council & State Lobbyist I IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH TWO ILLINOIS HISTORY MAKERS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEATH CARE INDUSTRY AND ITS CONSUMERS In celebration of Black History Month, we recognize two important state elected officials who have contributed their time and energy to craft state policy that protects cemetery consumers, helps assure the long-term viability of Illinois cemeteries, and preserves the competitive balance within the death care industry. In addition to sponsoring cemetery-related bills during their tenure, including the Cemetery Oversight Act (“COA”), House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Emil Jones III have forged impactful legacies as black legislators and history makers in Illinois. Chris Welch recently succeeded longtime Speaker Michael Madigan to become the first black Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Emil Jones, who comes from a family steeped in public service, this year rose to the third-highest ranking position in the Illinois Senate and continues to oversee the Senate Licensed Activities Committee. Emanuel “Chris” Welch On January 13, 2021, Representative Emanuel “Chris” Welch made history by becoming the first African-American in the 203-year history of Illinois to be elected Speaker of our state House of Representatives. Succeeding the longest- serving statehouse speaker in the history of the nation, Michael J. Madigan, Speaker Welch was Emanuel "Chris" Welch Takes Oath as Illinois House Speaker elected by the Democratic majority after just three days of campaigning. That meteoric rise, after having served in the Illinois House a relatively short eight years, reflected the extent to which attorney Chris Welch stood out among his Illinois House Democrat peers. Elected from the 7th House District – which includes all or portions of River Forest, Forest Park, Maywood, Bellwood, Broadview, Hillside, Berkeley, Westchester, LaGrange Park, Melrose Park, Western Springs, and Northlake – Speaker Welch represents a significant number and wide variety of cemeteries and has been a consistent voice for public policies that protect death care industry consumers with appropriately balanced laws that avoid unintended consequences. In 2020, he sponsored the COA sunset renewal, the foundational law that regulates Illinois cemeteries. After it became clear that the COVID-19 pandemic would make a regular spring ICFHA NEWSETTE, FEB. 2021 2 session impossible last year, all sunset renewals – including COA – were uniformly granted a one-year extension. Now in his role as Speaker, Welch continues to contribute to the effort by serving as principal co-sponsor of the legislation. A native of Hillside, Illinois, Speaker Welch graduated from Northwestern University, where he played baseball, and earned his juris doctorate at The John Marshall Law School in 1997. Prior to joining the General Assembly, Speaker Welch served as a board member of the Proviso Township High School Board of Education, where he spent 10 years as board chair. He led the board in the creation of the Proviso Math and Science Academy, now a nationally recognized academic institution. First elected to the House in 2013, Representative Welch quickly established himself as one of the chamber’s most gifted orators, and as an effective lawmaker focused on improving classroom education, creating jobs, helping the Rep. Welch Presenting Bill on House Floor most vulnerable, and streamlining government. Over his eight-year tenure, Welch has served as chairperson for the Executive, Higher Education, Qualifications Challenge, and Special Investigating Committees. Welch also sponsored a number of historically significant bills, including the Homeless Bill of Rights and the Historic Illinois Trust Act. Welch has been a leading voice in the ongoing conversation to increase representation of black and brown people on boards of publicly held corporations, and has sponsored legislation requiring Illinois corporations to disclose board composition. Beginning with his election at age 29 to the Proviso school board, Welch has never lost a campaign. It seemed only natural that, after Madigan announced the suspension of his reelection effort for speakership, Representative Welch almost immediately became the clear frontrunner in the race to replace him. The 102nd General Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Welch, will undoubtedly continue to make Illinois history. Emil Jones III The Illinois Senate made history comparatively early, when in 1975 – a year before Black History Month was recognized by the federal government – it elected Cecil A. Partee to become the first African-American Senate President. Partee went on to serve as Chicago City Treasurer and Cook County State’s Attorney. Twenty-eight years later, the Senate elected Emil Jones Jr. as its second black President. Emil Jones Jr., the son of a Chicago Democratic Precinct captain, rose to the position of President after having long served as the chair of the Senate committee that oversees all licensed professions. When President Jones retired as Senator of the 14th Senate District in 2009, he was replaced by his son, Emil Jones III, who quickly established himself as a leader in his own right. Senator Jones has long chaired the same committee overseen by his father, thus continuing a family tradition of shaping laws affecting every licensed profession in Illinois, and this year ascended to the third highest leadership position in the Senate, becoming Deputy Majority Leader. Deputy Majority Leader Emil Jones III Presenting Bill in Committee ICFHA NEWSETTE, FEB. 2021 3 Sen. Jones has long been connected to the development of history-making legislation affecting the death care industry. His district includes Burr Oak Cemetery, the site of a now-infamous grave plot reselling scandal in 2009, and Sen. Jones quickly assumed a leadership role in developing state policies to protect consumers against such conduct in the future. Immediately following news reports of the Burr Oak scandal, Sen. Jones undertook a tremendous time commitment to personally tour cemeteries of all types and sizes throughout Illinois to gain firsthand knowledge about the industry and associated consumer interests. Jones played a critical role in developing the original Cemetery Oversight Act in 2010, serving as its principal sponsor in the Senate, and ever since has been the leading Senate voice on legislation that assures the integrity of the death care industry and protects its consumers. A strong supporter of consumer rights, Sen. Jones has been crucial in the Sen. Jones Conferring with Senate Colleague development of legislation that protects consumers of all Illinois licensed professions with well-developed policies that appropriately balance stakeholder interests and avoid unintended impacts. In all his legislative work, Deputy Leader Jones brings both personal integrity and straightforward pragmatism, together with the innate political instincts of someone literally born for the role. A significant legislative focus of Jones has been the preservation of health care access in low-income urban areas. He has been a steadfast champion for safety net hospitals, and is credited with saving Roseland Community Hospital from closure. Prior to his time in the Senate, Jones served as a member of the advisory board of the Division Street Business Development Association and as an administrator at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. During his 12 years in the Illinois Senate, in addition to constituent services, Deputy Leader Jones has focused on increasing public safety standards, improving quality of life and neighborhood security throughout the state, reducing gang recruitment, and decreasing cyberstalking and cyberbullying. He was recently elected as treasurer of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. Conclusion As we celebrate Black History Month, ICFHA proudly recognizes the accomplishments of both Speaker Welch and Deputy Majority Leader Jones, two history makers in Illinois state government who continue to make positive impacts on the citizens of our state. This article is intended as a general discussion, and not as legal advice; cemeteries with specific factual situations should consult their attorney before taking action. ICFHA NEWSETTE, FEB. 2021 4 IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH Dr. Wilbur Nathan Daniel Third Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church After almost a quarter of a century, Antioch found itself once again in need of a leader and began to pray for the Lord to send its next pastor. The pulpit committee set about the monumental task of sifting through many possible candidates. Although many came, one was sent. That man- that preacher- that pastor was