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Senator Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete,
was re-elected in 2002 to a 3rd term
as State Senator of the 40th
District.
She is a lifelong
resident of the 40th
District, married to Jim Bush. They
have four children and three
grandchildren.
With a reputation as one of the
hardest working legislators in
Springfield, Senator Halvorson rose
into leadership team after only two
years then spent two years as
Majority Caucus Chair and moved up
to Assistant Majority Leader in
2004. In January of 2005 she was
appointed Majority Leader, the first
woman ever in the history of
Illinois. She is the only woman in
Senate Leadership. Senator
Halvorson is past chairman of the
bi-partisan Southland Caucus, and
currently serves as co-chair of the
Coalition of Women Legislators. She
is a member of Transportation,
Agriculture and Conservation
Committees, chairman of the
subcommittee on airports as well as
the chairman of rail safety. In
addition she holds positions on
several statewide tasks forces
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Senator Halvorson
has
led
the movement to provide affordable
prescription drugs to all senior
citizens and those with
disabilities, regardless of
income.
She sponsored and passed Senate Bill
3, which is the first in the nation
to create a new program that would
offer all seniors and those with
disabilities in Illinois access to
cheaper prescription drugs without
having to go to another country.
She also personally drafted the
legislation that was enacted to
protect senior citizens checking
into nursing homes. One of Senator
Halvorson's successful domestic
violence initiatives
requires that orders of protection
from other states be enforced the
same as those that originated in
Illinois.
A graduate of Bloom Township High
School in Chicago Heights, Senator
Halvorson has degrees from Robert
Morris College, Prairie State
College, a Bachelor of Arts and a
Master’s Degree in Communication
from Governors State University.
She attended the Darden School for
Emerging Political Leaders at the
University of Virginia and completed
the Program for Senior Executives in
State and Local Government at
Harvard.
Halvorson was the chief sponsor of
one of Illinois’ toughest law ever
dealing with hit-and-run drivers.
And, she is also responsible for
passing legislation
increasing the penalties for the
harassment of minors via electronic
communications, making it a
Class 4 felony to send Internet
messages that attempt to arrange a
sexual act with a child.
Prior to entering the Senate,
Halvorson spent 14 years as a small
businesswoman and served as Crete
Township Clerk from April, 1993 to
December, 1996.
Through her service in the Senate,
Senator Halvorson has been
recognized by a number of
organizations. These include being
named an Education Hero by the
Illinois Education Association,
Freshman Legislator of the Year by
the Illinois Health Care
Association, Business Advocate of
the Year by the Chicago Southland
Development Inc., Distinguished
Legislator of the Year from the
National Alliance of the Mentally
Ill, Statesman of the Year by the
International Union of Operating
Engineers, Outstanding Legislator of
the Year from the Illinois Hospital
and Health Systems Association,
Community Service Award from the
Illinois Association of Park
Districts, recipient of the
Governor’s Award of Education to
Career, and Legislator of the Year
by the South Suburban Area on Aging,
and just since April of 2006 has
been awarded the Citizen of the Year
from the Will-Grundy Central Trades
and Laborers, Legislator of the Year
from the ARC of Illinois, Star of
the Year from South Star Services
honoring the Senator for her
tireless advocacy and commitment to
improve the lives of persons with
developmental disabilities. She has
also received Legislator of the Year
from the Illinois Community College
Trustees Association.
Senator Debbie Halvorson continues
to be a strong voice and advocate
for the interests of the hardworking
families of Illinois. She tours the
country as an advocate for women’s
issues, especially when it comes to
empowering women to make healthy and
educated decisions about
themselves. |
