Naperville Track Meet Controversy Underscores Importance of Title IX
At a recent junior high girls track meet in Naperville, a biological male competed and won the 100- and 400-meter races. The races were not even close, bringing the debate over fairness in girls’ sports back to the headlines. The controversy led to a packed school board meeting in Naperville District 203 and a federal Title IX complaint filed by Awake Illinois. The school district maintains that it follows state guidance allowing students to compete based on gender identity.
Sports help girls build confidence, learn teamwork, and develop lifelong resilience. But those opportunities only exist when the playing field is fair. Allowing biological boys to compete in girls’ sports isn’t fair. It takes away hard-earned chances to make teams, build confidence, win, and be recognized. At higher levels, it affects scholarship opportunities and more.
This should not be an issue we’re even talking about, but this is what happens when we do not clearly designate the difference between “males” and “females.” It is because of the outrageous woke policies embraced by Illinois Democrats that the issue of fairness in girl’s/women’s sports remains a topic of growing concern. Title IX was created for a reason. Title IX is about protecting spaces where girls can thrive, lead, and dream big. If we want our daughters, sisters, and students to keep dreaming big, we need to stand up for equal opportunity in sports and make sure those dreams still have a place to take root and grow.
Senate Republicans Unveil Plan to Combat Rising Energy Bills
With energy prices once again on the rise, Senate Republicans are calling for immediate action to protect Illinois families from even higher electricity costs in the future.
According to recent utility filings, Ameren customers are expected to see their average monthly summer bills rise from $37.62 to $45.98, while ComEd customers could pay up to $118.60 per month, up from $108. These increases are tied to the results of recent energy grid capacity auctions.
With families already stretched thin by rising costs for groceries, gas, and housing, Senate Republicans say it’s time for Illinois Democrats to get serious about energy reform.
To address the problem, Senate Republicans are pushing a three-part legislative package aimed at improving energy reliability and affordability across the state:
- Senate Bill 1234: Creates the Illinois Regional Generation Reliability Task Force, which would examine how state policies, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), are impacting energy prices and reliability.
- Senate Bill 1235: Repeals the forced 2045 closure date for coal and natural gas plants under CEJA and allows for the construction of new gas peaker plants to meet energy demand without fear of premature shutdowns.
- Senate Bill 1236: Cuts red tape at the Illinois EPA to fast-track permits for new power plants. One key example is the Lincoln Land Energy Center in Pawnee, which began the permitting process in 2017 and is now not expected to open until 2028 due to delays.
I am a co-sponsor of all three bills. Our plan will help prevent future rate hikes and ensure grid reliability by expanding access to dependable, affordable energy. Continued inaction by Democratic lawmakers and their refusal to acknowledge the clear link between these rate hikes and the policies they’ve supported is simply unacceptable.
In the meantime, Illinois residents are encouraged to visit the Senate Republican Caucus’ FAQ page to learn how they can reduce energy usage and soften the impact of expected summer rate hikes.
Legislation to Support Young Farmers Passes General Assembly
Legislation I am co-sponsoring this year to help support the next generation of Illinois farmers has now officially passed out of the General Assembly. Senate Bill 2372 establishes the Farmland Transition Commission, a new body within the Illinois Department of Agriculture tasked with studying and addressing the challenges faced by individuals aged 25 to 40 who are seeking to purchase or access farmland. The Commission will meet quarterly and submit annual policy recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly through 2031.
The Farmland Transition Commission will be made up of agricultural leaders, policymakers, and young farmers from across the state. The group will evaluate current programs and incentives and provide recommendations to improve land access, ease generational farm transfers, and support long-term success for new and aspiring farmers.
