05/28/2026
🇺🇸 Back in the summer of 2013, when I was a high school student aiming to become an engineer, I joined the Ready 2 Lead (R2L) Next Gen program. It was more than just a glimpse into public service—it was a crash course on how government functions, what it actually does, and our role in it as constituents. It opened my eyes to a life of public service.
That summer, the group of four Illinois students I was a part of hoped to meet in his DC office, but he was unavailable. Years later, after I became a State Representative, I finally met him in my district in Little Village during a 2020 Census event to make sure everyone was counted. He’s been my U.S. Senator for my entire life, and now, as an Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip in the Illinois House, there’s a special parallel between my role and his long tenure as Democratic Whip in the Senate.
Yesterday, as he addressed our legislature, I reflected on his decades of dedication. Senator Durbin has fought for DREAMers, championed fair judiciary processes, expanded healthcare access, and so much more. His leadership has truly touched every corner of Illinois life. Thank you, Senator Durbin, for your unwavering service.
