Former Vice Chair, Environment and Conservation Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Government Reform Committee, Illinois State Senate

Member, Government Reform Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Human Services Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Human Services Subcommittee on Medicaid, Illinois State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Second Appropriations Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Civil Rights, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Issues Relating to DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services), Illinois State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Special Issues, Illinois State Senate

Chair, Appropriations I

Member, Appropriations II

Member, Committee of the Whole

Member, Environment and Conservation

Member, Executive

Member, Executive Appointments

Member, Government Accountability Pensions

Member, Government Reform

Member, Human Services

Chair, Human Services Subcommittee on Special Issues

Chair, Special Committee on Oversight of Medicaid Managed Care

— Awards:

• Lung Health Champion Award, Respiratory Health Association, 2010
• Outstanding Government Leadership Award, Illinois Recycling Association, 2010
• Civic Leadership Award, Chicago Battered Women's Network, 2010
• Leadership Award State Policymaker, Data Quality Campaign, 2009
• Legislator of the Year Award, Arc of Illinois, 2009
• Legislative Advocacy Award, Illinois Coalition Against Handgun Violence, 2009
• Heartland Alliance 25th Anniversary Award, 2009
• Legislative Lifesaver Award, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, 2009
• Legislative Leadership Award, Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, 2008
• Legislative Hero Award, illinoisvictims.org, 2008
• Activator Award, Illinois Farm Bureau, 2008 and 2010
• Kids Count Award, Voices for Illinois Children, 2008

Favorite Quote:

"To thine own self be true and it must follow as the night, the day that thou cannot then be false to any man." (I grew up on this quote from my father.)

"It's what you get that makes a living; it's what you give that makes a life." -- Winston Churchill.