U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) spoke on the House Floor this afternoon in support of S. 535. The Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 is a bipartisan energy bill to conserve energy, save Americans money and create jobs. Below is a transcript of Rush’s remarks and a link to the video.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that both the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have awarded a total of $674,639 in grants and vouchers to communities across Illinois that will be used to expand supportive services and housing for veterans in Illinois.

Lee & Associates, one of the largest national commercial real estate providers with regional expertise, has completed a 211,500-square-foot industrial space lease renewal and expansion located at 6750 Daniel Burnham Dr. in Portage, Ind.

U.S. Representatives Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today supported House passage of a bill he cosponsored, H.R. 1105, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, which permanently repeals the estate, or “death,” tax on family-owned farms and businesses.

The Boulder Group, a net leased investment brokerage firm, has completed the sale of a new construction single tenant triple net leased Walgreens property located at the southwest corner of 95th Street and Southwest Highway in Oak Lawn, Illinois for $10,700,000.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Alton will hold a free public seminar, “Balancing Energy Efficiency with Historic Preservation,” from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, at the Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton, Illinois

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Mark Kirk, Representative Mike Quigley, Amtrak and Metra today announced an additional $7 million funding to develop infrastructure improvements and train operating strategies that will enhance passenger rail service at Chicago’s Union Station. The funds will be used to conduct a Terminal Planning Study and create a Service Development Plan that will increase capacity at the 90-year-old station and on the railroads that lead to it.

The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) and the Chicago Lawyers' Committee For Civil Rights Under Law, Incorporated (CLCCRUL) marked the beginning of Fair Housing Month with a free training for housing providers and landlords on the Illinois Human Rights Act and best practices in avoiding discriminatory acts. The informative training session followed a proclamation by Governor Bruce Rauner, urging all Illinois residents to “to embrace diversity, recognize the importance of equal opportunity in housing and recognize the important work of equal housing advocates” throughout the month of April

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Washington Mayor Gary Manier today joined the Marfell family, whose house was destroyed by the November 2013 tornadoes, to view the progress they have made in rebuilding their home. Following the visit and tour, Senator Kirk and Mayor Manier, along with the Marfell family and local first responders, held a town hall meeting to discuss

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today joined with Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis and other local leaders to call for swift approval of a 100% green infrastructure proposal that would save money for residents while improving water quality and infrastructure and creating jobs in central Illinois.

Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, urged communities across her region of Illinois to apply for $500 million in federal grants available for transportation and infrastructure projects. More information on the application process on the next round of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants can be found by visiting http://www.dot.gov/TIGER. The deadline for pre-applications is May 4th and the deadline for final applications is June 5th.

Pets are treasured family members in more than half of Illinois households. If your family includes a dog, cat, hamster or other furry, feathered or scaly friends, don’t forget to include their unique needs in your home emergency plans

Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) is announcing that Lewis University Airport in Romeoville will be receiving a grant for $490,615 for a taxiway to the aviation center. This grant is part of a public-private collaboration that includes Lewis University, the airport, and the State of Illinois. This airport improvement is expected to promote job creation by attracting more businesses to the region and help the Lewis University Aviation program.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced a series of investments in Chicago that will bring jobs and infrastructure investments to the city over the next two years. This investment plan – known as Sprint® for Chicago – will bring more than 300 new jobs to neighborhoods throughout Chicago by the end of 2015 and includes the installation of hundreds of new cell sites and an expected investment of $45 million in its network infrastructure between now and the end of 2016.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan today applauded the House Human Services Committee after it passed her proposal to allow nursing home residents and their families to place video or audio monitoring devices in their rooms to help ensure their safety and well-being. House Bill 2462 sponsored by Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) now heads to the full House for consideration