John --



Welcome to my end of Summer e-newsletter!



The General Assembly convenes after the election on November 8th for Veto Session.



Please contact my District Office with any questions or concerns regarding state issues. We are here to help.



Fighting for You!



Please find my End of Session newsletter online at the link below for a recap of Spring Session 2022:



rephaas.com/legislative-session-review-2022 <[link removed]>



Around the District and Under the Dome



Riverside Emergency Department



I had the pleasure of touring the new emergency department at Riverside Medical Center. Our community is so fortunate to have access to state-of-the-art healthcare and technology!











Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce



I had a great time at the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership and Lunch at ONU. It was wonderful to hear Dr. Chenoweth discuss leadership in our community. It was a great opportunity to learn and network with so many dynamic community leaders!









Southland Black Chamber of Commerce Award



I am extremely honored to have received the Southland Black Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 2022 Outstanding Legislator award. I am so very thankful to have the opportunity to represent the individuals in the  79th District!









Relay For Life



The Relay for Life of Kankakee County event was an awesome event! It was a great turnout for a great cause!











GEDC & DCEO Rountable



On June 15th, I attended the Grundy Economic Development Council and DCEO Roundtable discussion in Morris. It was great to hear about funding opportunities for our communities and businesses that have fought through the pandemic.









Dr. Janet Leonard Award



Congratulations to my good friend David M. Jaffe for receiving the 2022 Dr. Janet V. Leonard “Con Spirito” Award! Well deserved!



Kankakee County Ribbon Cutting



I had a great morning at the Visit Kankakee County <[link removed][0]=AZVQXw_E7kx01UXoIbvxs5g7crhBQTpO9xsuvW9ljnw5PagITEjC-ccDqJsbh6FWGt5RQyVJgwjfUXUIXvGSB3D0cpLLybOzjPXj3gv97DLkkNMFrH2RN4a5cSp9fNc3RsAd8BWNZtZRHeI72WuHwRRA_EMWkcuieJtXhPmj6DZYPQ&__tn__=kK-R>  Ribbon Cutting!  They’re in a beautiful space in the heart of Downtown. Be sure to stop by their office to check out visitor guides and buy some great Kankakee County merchandise!









Lunch at Candy & Cake



My team and I had a wonderful lunch atCANDY & CAKE <[link removed][0]=AZW3aHacDGiiR_s8cv4j-OPN9BDfKVhumSU7YwvRdY3jIZYqO6LnT_z6OvsHVbMy9Gt0C1AIDkQaszDtXCvP1NFM5uU9mEUsWxbSQI4XZAKwAOAudI5iZvho30o7So97xPCXgI41cSdEv3qP7fMiwfqJkPKQy1jcnEoMrzBEBCxNzw&__tn__=kK-R> on July 26th with Mayor Paul Schore, Trustee Rick Fischer,  and Trustee Jeff Keast! So many delicious options!







Wheat Harvesting



I enjoyed wheat harvesting in Herscher, in a field owned by the Perreault family! Thank you for your hospitality and for giving me this opportunity. What a great day!











Crown Cork and Seal Tour



Thank you to Crown Cork and Seal Company for giving me and my district office team a tour of the facility this summer. I learned a great deal about the operations of the facility and its benefits to our community, and beyond!















Local Business Spotlights



- June Spotlight:



In June I stopped by The Icebox Creamery in Peotone to present owners Jake and Melissa Kulacz with an official certificate recognizing their service to the community! The Icebox Creamery makes some of the best ice cream around. They are definitely a local favorite! Click below to learn more:



rephaas.com/icebox-creamery <[link removed]>







- July Spotlight:



I had the pleasure of presenting the founders and owners ofBrandon Caseys Comfort Crew <[link removed][0]=AZV0UJOzPxEBogQQwkKsTNddbsHyL3OLLvVKpqnnctPyOlo_rwl32wh69YA7bKJncGSJyGbLs5o6VAv2lQm1_b_pnH1Hi5THGkahYkM4bVF7a0K6RZRp41_1boXvhWiWoi6I29dB20kNUgspffdZRzB_Xw4h5yP_rKlV8Wv9EeRVnA&__tn__=kK-R>, Brandon and Lindy Casey, with an official certificate as my July Business of the Month, recognizing their service to the community! Casey's Comfort Crew has top-notch customer service and reliable, high-quality products. I am so pleased to have had them here in the 79th District! Click below to learn more:



rephaas.com/brandon-caseys-comfort-crew <[link removed]>







- August Spotlight:



In August, I chose to highlight the New York City Deli as my local business of the month! They have been in business for two years serving the 79th District with gourmet sandwiches. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Deli, meet with the owners, Michael and Kristi Panozzo, present them with a special certificate of recognition from the State of Illinois...and eat a delicious sandwich! I encourage everyone to check it out! Click below to learn more:



rephaas.com/NYCDeli <[link removed]>











Ricky Rockets Groundbreaking



I was able to take part in the Ricky Rockets groundbreaking ceremony in June. Thank you to Mayor Chris Curtis, ECDA Director Barbi Brewer Watson, Alderman Carl Brown, and everyone else who has worked so hard to bring this $20M investment to our community!







Legislative Barn Meeting



I had a wonderful evening at the Will County Farm Bureau Meeting in July! It was great to have important discussions regarding legislative priorities and concerns.











National Night Out 



We had a great time at National Night Out this week at Perry Farm! Thank you to our local law enforcement agencies for coordinating such a great event. Thank you for letting me and my team be a part of this wonderful event!  We handed out 600 school supply bags!







Eagle Scout Ceremony



I had the pleasure of attending the Eagle Scout ceremony for Phillip and Ryan Koerner on August 7th. It was an honor to be invited to participate and present both Phillip and Ryan with Certificates from the Illinois House of Representatives honoring their accomplishments. Congratulations to these two fine young men!







Legislative Breakfast



Thanks to the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce <[link removed][0]=AZX7GWD-2tTWn86PzFz89jZLnUa38e6fzmHCkdIQrxY288D1tI3zK-4ieVFrV3grwunzBVxq2GEVpREkSymw-v0Q9GMaAsz7f8uMQ8UHnpjzUElAmlsXu5-XVCyDvyKQUkaSbxIwSx4MlrvmwrzOELJZGrV3OCeYN_mltWVXJ4W5Jw&__tn__=kK-R> and Kankakee County Farm Bureau <[link removed][0]=AZX7GWD-2tTWn86PzFz89jZLnUa38e6fzmHCkdIQrxY288D1tI3zK-4ieVFrV3grwunzBVxq2GEVpREkSymw-v0Q9GMaAsz7f8uMQ8UHnpjzUElAmlsXu5-XVCyDvyKQUkaSbxIwSx4MlrvmwrzOELJZGrV3OCeYN_mltWVXJ4W5Jw&__tn__=kK-R> for hosting a wonderful legislative breakfast! I always enjoy the opportunity to talk about what I'm working on in the state legislature, and having a chance to listen to advocates in our community! I was also given the Illinois Farm Bureau Activator Friend of Agriculture 2022 award today at the breakfast...it was a great way to start the day!



















Tour At Nucor Steel



On August 22nd I welcomed Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin <[link removed][0]=AZXRllgLXwbFQoyY53PNnZJ40cYNOm5LQ5JtSPAJZobiHi6tz1MUReslgv9jd5jIGbonNtrOOocf1Bz1jizRcU-pwd2xiNIykOzIp0q_DljiG7dEBmiwvCivtfObT6r4NGZMVla8kq325DyfyyxehwLMg_sVadP5WAXQPXS_t3JpCs1vSFRBxBGcK_2ccUvF4Wx1XiTpNu2rl90Xw8tRrdTH&__tn__=-]K-R> to my district where we toured Nucor Steel in Bourbonnais. They produce steel and steel products, and hold the title of the most sustainable steel maker in the nation! I enjoyed learning about their manufacturing process, the products, and the incredible team behind it. Thanks for having me Nucor!

















Summer Reading Program Social 



I had a wonderful evening on August 25th celebrating my summer reading program with so many wonderful readers! All students who completed the program received a certificate from the House of Representatives and celebrated with ice cream and lemonade. Thank you to CANDY & CAKE and Haylibug Lemonadez for sharing your delicious treats with us!







Erickson Institute



I enjoyed my experience at the Erickson Institute during the first portion of the Executive Fellowship program which included a Day of Service to shadow and do the work of early childhood education professionals. For me, that meant spending time with kids at Gads Hill Center in Chicago; I got to play, read, dance, and engage with them and gain firsthand experience of the important work our early childhood professionals do—and see the resources that come to fruition from state funding. This experience isn’t something I’ll forget and left me encouraged to get back to work in Springfield to keep working on progress in early childhood education. I'm looking forward to the second half of the Fellowship Program next month!











State Legislative Leaders Program 



I had the honor and pleasure of attending the State Legislative Leaders Foundation  Emerging Legislative  Leaders Program at The University of Virginia Darden School of Business. This was a wonderful opportunity for a group of bipartisan legislators from all across the country to gather to learn and engage in honest discussions about how we as legislators can lead, work together to make our districts, our states, and this country a better place. Also grateful to have this opportunity with my dear friend and colleague Rep. Amy Elik! Now to DC for a couple days!







Cop On the Rooftop



Thanks to all who stopped by local participating Dunkin' stores on August 19th to make a contribution! Many of our local police and sheriff departments were participating in the #CopOnARooftop <[link removed][0]=AZUtRN0H76RdUUGRel2UZXDn6iih8Pc-gTUVtCpjaA0ZOPu8a20lIlumfjyKpTAu21MZ5JjaNqSJfncdNc0CWiKVqCUkYE26UdlQPK8tlcavWRMTU8CmUVIQEJuFMnhb8lpE2VbcimoK7dmaHLz_kEVHm2pSO4K_c5yIWrtTwWBVWrxAmq206d9fIvq6rld3yjs8sc3J3KFiBbmOYzQkpYRB&__tn__=*NK-R> event for the Special Olympics of IL/Torch Run today.







Other Happenings



IDES Employment



Looking for employment opportunities? IDES is hiring! Click the link below for more information:



[link removed]



Foster Parents



Good news for Illinois foster parents! The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services announced an increase in the monthly financial support provided to foster parents, caregivers, and older youth in care starting July 1. Thank you to all our foster parents here in the 79th District for welcoming one or more children into your family and providing them with the stability and love they deserve.



[link removed]



Mark Your Calendar!



Blood Drive 



I will be hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, September 30th, from 11 Am to 4 PM at the Bourbonnais Municipal Center community room.







Rep. Jackie Haas

<[link removed]>[link removed]







----

Office of the Republican Leader - Springfield, IL, United States

This email was sent to [email protected]. To stop receiving emails: [link removed]



Created with NationBuilder - [link removed]