State Senator Chris Balkema

State Senator Chris Balkema Proud to Represent the 53rd Senate District
To contact us, visit: senatorchrisbalkema.com

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It was an honor to deliver a certificate of recognition to Washington Fire Chief Tyler Gee for his incredible bravery an...
09/03/2026

It was an honor to deliver a certificate of recognition to Washington Fire Chief Tyler Gee for his incredible bravery and service to our community.

Chief Gee was recognized with the Firefighter Excellence Award after rescuing a woman from a burning home. His courage and quick thinking helped save a life, and his commitment to protecting others is truly commendable.

Thank you, Chief Gee, for your service and dedication to the Washington community.

Great visit this morning to Chenoa Locker, a family-owned business that has been serving the community for 45 years!It w...
09/01/2026

Great visit this morning to Chenoa Locker, a family-owned business that has been serving the community for 45 years!

It was wonderful meeting with Terry Bittner, his grandson Haden and their family, and seeing their exciting expansion into the renovated former IGA building.

I also couldn’t pass up a photo with this classic Rambler along Route 66! Small businesses like Chenoa Locker are what make our communities special.

Weekly Update! I hope you’ve had a great week, as always. As we head into September and the start of a new season, I’m ...
08/31/2026

Weekly Update! I hope you’ve had a great week, as always. As we head into September and the start of a new season, I’m excited to share this week’s updates and highlights.

This week’s topics include:
• Leading with Love
• SBA Disaster Assistance Available in Cook County
• Honored to Receive Farm Bureau Activator Award
• Tax Relief for Illinoisans Affected by Severe Weather
• Visiting Grainland Farms
• Visiting Heartland Community College
• Celebration Woodford County Agriculture

Read the full update here: https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/category/news/
Sign up for weekly updates here: https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/e-news/

08/27/2026

Leading with Love

Honored to be part of the Farm Bureau team and grateful to receive the Farm Bureau Activator Award. I’m proud to work al...
08/25/2026

Honored to be part of the Farm Bureau team and grateful to receive the Farm Bureau Activator Award. I’m proud to work alongside an organization that continues to advocate for Illinois agriculture and the families who depend on it.

I hope you had a good weekend and are getting back into your back-to-school routines!• Delivering Results for the 53rd D...
08/24/2026

I hope you had a good weekend and are getting back into your back-to-school routines!
• Delivering Results for the 53rd District
• Making Local Government Records Easier to Find
• Illinois’ High Sales Tax Burden
• When a Union Contract Overrides Illinois Law
• Illinois Public School Enrollment Continues to Decline
• IDOT Opportunities for Communities
• Illinois Farmer Mental Health Program Expands Under New Name
• Upcoming Events

Read the full update here: https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/category/news/
Sign up for weekly updates here: https://www.senatorchrisbalkema.com/e-news/

08/21/2026

We deserve to know where our money is coming from, where it is going, and how it is being spent. That is why I filed SB4211 to provide transparency.

Great visit to Heartland Community College with President Dr. Keith Cornille, Pontiac Director April Fornero, and Steve ...
08/21/2026

Great visit to Heartland Community College with President Dr. Keith Cornille, Pontiac Director April Fornero, and Steve Fast.

We had a great conversation about the college’s work to provide students with educational and career opportunities and the important role Heartland plays in strengthening our local workforce and communities.

Thank you to the Heartland team for taking the time to meet with us and share more about the work happening across the college.

Great visit with Terry Bline, CEO of Grainland Farmers , to learn more about the important role they play in supporting...
08/20/2026

Great visit with Terry Bline, CEO of Grainland Farmers , to learn more about the important role they play in supporting farmers across Central Illinois.

Grainland Farmers serves more than 1,900 customers across nine locations, providing grain storage, drying, transportation and access to markets for corn, soybeans and wheat. Their work helps keep our agricultural economy moving and provides valuable services to farmers throughout the region.

Thank you to Terry and the Grainland Farmers team for taking the time to show me around and share more about their operation and the farmers they serve.

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Springfield, IL
62701

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