| Last night, Agudath Israel of Illinois held a town hall-style legislative barbeque with Senator Ram Villivalam (SD 8), Representative Mike Kelly (HD 15), and Representative Kevin Olickal (HD 16). The event, attended by over 100 people, was hosted by Bruce and Cheryl Leon. The evening was an opportunity for the community to interact with legislators and discuss issues of communal importance. Legislators shared their initiatives and accomplishments with a visibly engaged crowd. The topic that dominated the evening was the Invest in Kids scholarship program (STC) and its looming sunset. The legislature will consider addressing the issue during the upcoming veto session in October and November. After opening remarks from Mr. Leon and the legislators, Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, AIOI's director of government affairs, moderated a question-and-answer session.
In addition to discussing STC, legislators highlighted other areas of progress and success. Senator Villivalam discussed capital grants for local projects benefitting the community, and the successful passage of his bill that requires schools and other state facilities to provide kosher and halal meal options upon request. Significantly, the bill amends the Kosher Food Act by giving a legal definition for kosher, which would allow the enforcement of a law prohibiting the misrepresenting non-kosher items as kosher. Representative Kelly talked about how the Orthodox community's turnout in the most recent primary elections made all the difference and is not taken for granted. He also reiterated his almost singular focus on preserving the scholarship program and hailed the efforts of Agudah in advocating for that. Representative Olickal mentioned the $20 million in funding of the state's nonprofit security grant program and the state's appropriation for Agudah's school transportation grant. As a freshman lawmaker, he also thanked Rabbi Soroka for his support and assistance as he acclimated himself to the legislative process. All three expressed unequivocal support and pledged to fight for extending the scholarship program.
Senator Villivalam said, "It's incredibly important for us to have a partner we can trust who understands the needs of the community and can translate that into the legislative process, and we have that through Rabbi Soroka and Agudath Israel."
"While these events are always important, it's vital now more than ever that we strengthen our partnership with our elected officials to achieve our shared goals," said Rabbi Soroka. "I think we accomplished that tonight with everyone's involvement and participation." | 
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