I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Derek Glover, Executive Director of Believe in the Children in Freeport, and learn more about the work his organization is doing for local children and families.

Believe in the Children works closely with families involved in the child welfare system, providing counseling and helping connect people with the support they need. It was great to hear directly from Derek about the impact they are making here in our community and what they have planned for the future.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2027, Believe in the Children plans to expand its work by providing mental health services to individuals who are eligible for Medicaid. This will help make care more accessible to people across our region.

I appreciate Derek taking the time to meet with me and share more about the organization. I look forward to seeing Believe in the Children continue its important work in our community.

Proud to Earn the Highest Senate Score from the IMA

I was proud to learn that I earned a 92% rating on the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s 2025-2026 Legislator Report Card, the highest score awarded in the Illinois Senate.

Manufacturing has a major presence across Illinois, and especially in the communities I represent. These are businesses that have built their operations here and provided generations of families with good jobs. State government should be working to create an environment where they can continue doing that.

Unfortunately, I hear far too often from employers who feel like Illinois is making their job harder. When the cost of doing business continues to rise, it becomes more difficult to justify the next investment or expansion here. Those decisions eventually reach beyond the walls of a business and affect the communities and families that depend on those jobs. We cannot allow that to happen. That is why I support our manufacturers and business leaders.

I appreciate the IMA recognizing my record and will continue working with our manufacturers and local employers to make sure Illinois is a state where they can see a future and continue investing in the communities we call home.

You can read my full release and learn more about the IMA Legislator Report Card here.

A Reminder to Stay Safe During Harvest

As harvest gets underway across Illinois, National Farm Safety and Health Week is a timely reminder for both farmers and drivers to use extra caution and keep safety in mind.

Recognized since 1944, National Farm Safety and Health Week runs from September 21 through 25 this year. The theme, “Safety Today, Success Tomorrow,” highlights many of the risks that come with working in agriculture, including equipment and roadway safety, health and wellness, cancer prevention, and confined spaces.

Harvest is an especially busy time for farmers in our area. Long hours in the fields also mean more tractors, combines, and other slow-moving equipment traveling along rural roads. I encourage drivers to be patient when they come across farm equipment, leave plenty of space, and wait until it is safe before attempting to pass.

Safety is just as important on the farm. Working long days around heavy machinery, grain bins, and other potentially dangerous areas requires extra attention, particularly as fatigue begins to set in.

As farmers across our region head into harvest, I hope everyone will take a little extra time to look out for themselves and those around them.

More information and farm safety resources are available through the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.

Legislation to Ensure Students Learn About 9/11

Twenty-five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, we now have an entire generation of young Americans who were not alive when our country was attacked. I believe it is important that we make sure the story of that day continues to be taught.

Legislation proposed in the Illinois Senate would require schools to provide some instruction about September 11 each year. Illinois recognizes September 11 as a commemorative day, but current law does not specifically require schools to teach students about the attacks.

The proposal would require schools to dedicate some time to learn about that day and its importance. Potential aspects of 9/11 students could learn about include what happened that day, the nearly 3,000 lives that were lost, or the incredible courage shown by first responders and ordinary Americans.

For the last 25 years, Americans have promised that we will never forget. As fewer people have their own memories of that day, keeping that promise means making sure future generations understand what happened and why September 11 remains such an important part of our nation’s history.

Students need to understand how September 11 changed our country and shaped the years that followed.

The legislation has been introduced and is awaiting further action in the General Assembly.

The post Senator Chesney’s Week in Review appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Legislation proposed in the Illinois Senate would require schools to provide some instruction about September 11 each year. Illinois recognizes September 11 as a commemorative day, but current law does not specifically require schools to teach students about the attacks.

The proposal would require schools to dedicate some time to learn about that day and its importance. Potential aspects of 9/11 students could learn about include what happened that day, the nearly 3,000 lives that were lost, or the incredible courage shown by first responders and ordinary Americans.

For the last 25 years, Americans have promised that we will never forget. As fewer people have their own memories of that day, keeping that promise means making sure future generations understand what happened and why September 11 remains such an important part of our nation’s history.

Students need to understand how September 11 changed our country and shaped the years that followed.

The legislation has been introduced and is awaiting further action in the General Assembly.

The post Legislation to Ensure Students Learn About 9/11 appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Recognized since 1944, National Farm Safety and Health Week runs from September 21 through 25 this year. The theme, “Safety Today, Success Tomorrow,” highlights many of the risks that come with working in agriculture, including equipment and roadway safety, health and wellness, cancer prevention, and confined spaces.

Harvest is an especially busy time for farmers in our area. Long hours in the fields also mean more tractors, combines, and other slow-moving equipment traveling along rural roads. I encourage drivers to be patient when they come across farm equipment, leave plenty of space, and wait until it is safe before attempting to pass.

Safety is just as important on the farm. Working long days around heavy machinery, grain bins, and other potentially dangerous areas requires extra attention, particularly as fatigue begins to set in.

As farmers across our region head into harvest, I hope everyone will take a little extra time to look out for themselves and those around them.

More information and farm safety resources are available through the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.

The post A Reminder to Stay Safe During Harvest appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Manufacturing has a major presence across Illinois, and especially in the communities I represent. These are businesses that have built their operations here and provided generations of families with good jobs. State government should be working to create an environment where they can continue doing that.

Unfortunately, I hear far too often from employers who feel like Illinois is making their job harder. When the cost of doing business continues to rise, it becomes more difficult to justify the next investment or expansion here. Those decisions eventually reach beyond the walls of a business and affect the communities and families that depend on those jobs. We cannot allow that to happen. That is why I support our manufacturers and business leaders.

I appreciate the IMA recognizing my record and will continue working with our manufacturers and local employers to make sure Illinois is a state where they can see a future and continue investing in the communities we call home.

You can read my full release and learn more about the IMA Legislator Report Card here.

The post Proud to Earn the Highest Senate Score from the IMA appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Believe in the Children works closely with families involved in the child welfare system, providing counseling and helping connect people with the support they need. It was great to hear directly from Derek about the impact they are making here in our community and what they have planned for the future.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2027, Believe in the Children plans to expand its work by providing mental health services to individuals who are eligible for Medicaid. This will help make care more accessible to people across our region.

I appreciate Derek taking the time to meet with me and share more about the organization. I look forward to seeing Believe in the Children continue its important work in our community.

The post Believe in the Children Expanding Mental Health Services appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

“We have to pursue the best possible policies to create a competitive business climate in Illinois, and one of the best ways we can do that is by supporting the manufacturers and businesses that call our state home,” said Senator Chesney. “I’m proud to be a strong ally of the IMA and the manufacturing community, and I’ll continue supporting legislation that gives businesses the opportunity to invest and succeed here in Illinois.”

The score reflects Senator Chesney’s consistent support for legislation aimed at making Illinois a more competitive place to do business. Decisions made in Springfield have a direct impact on the cost of operating in Illinois and ultimately play a role in whether manufacturers choose to invest and grow here.

“Decisions made at the state level play a significant role in a businesses’ ability to succeed in Illinois,” Donovan Griffith, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer for the IMA said. “By supporting Illinois manufacturers, policymakers are supporting jobs and our economy.”

Senator Chesney said he will continue working with manufacturers and businesses across the state to support policies that strengthen Illinois’ business climate and make the state a more attractive place to invest.

To view the full 2025-2026 Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Legislator Report Card and see how lawmakers across the state scored, click here.

###

The post Chesney Earns Highest Senate Score on Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Report Card appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Celebrating Labor Day in Northwest Illinois

Happy Labor Day!

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend and getting a chance to spend some time with family and friends.

One of the best parts of representing northwest Illinois is getting to see firsthand just how much work goes into keeping our communities going. I’ve visited farms and businesses, toured manufacturing facilities, and talked with people who have spent most of their lives working right here in our region.

Those visits stick with me because behind every business or operation are people who get up every morning and make it all work. That’s really what Labor Day is about. It’s a day to recognize the people whose work often happens without much attention but makes a difference in our communities every single day.

So, to everyone who works hard to make a living and provide for their family, thank you.

I hope you enjoy a well-earned day off and have a safe and happy Labor Day!

Remembering 9/11 Twenty-Five Years Later

This Friday marks 25 years since the terrorist attacks that took nearly 3,000 innocent lives and changed our country forever.

For those who lived through that day, the memories remain vivid. We remember where we were when we first heard the news and the shock of watching the events unfold in New York, at the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93.

We also remember the incredible courage shown in the middle of it all. First responders rushed into buildings as others were trying to escape, knowing the danger they were facing. Many never made it home. In the days that followed, Americans came together to mourn those we lost and stood behind the families whose lives had changed forever.

Twenty-five years later, more and more Americans are growing up without their own memories of September 11. That makes it even more important that we continue to tell the story of that day and make sure those who were lost are never forgotten.

On this anniversary, I hope you’ll join me in remembering them and keeping their families in our prayers.

We will never forget.

Charlie Kirk’s Legacy Continues to Inspire

Charlie Kirk left an impact on the conservative movement that continues to be felt across the country.

This Thursday will mark one year since he was taken from us, and it is still difficult to believe he is gone. Charlie was only 31 years old. There was every reason to believe he had decades ahead of him to continue the work he had started, which makes it all the more remarkable to look back at the impact he made while he was with us.

Charlie reached young Americans at a time when many of them felt like there was no place for their views on college campuses or in the broader culture. He showed them they did not have to be afraid to say what they believed. Through Turning Point USA, he gave many of those young people a way to get involved and become part of something larger than themselves.

That work did not disappear when Charlie died. Over the past year, we have watched the movement he started continue without him. Young conservatives are still getting involved and refusing to be intimidated into silence. I think that says a great deal about what Charlie built and the people he inspired along the way.

As we remember his life, we also cannot separate it from the terrible way it ended. Charlie believed deeply in making his case and debating people who disagreed with him. His murder was the complete opposite of that. Political disagreement is inevitable in a free country. Political violence can never be allowed to become an acceptable response to it.

Charlie should still be here. He should still be doing the work he loved and watching the movement he started continue to grow.

One year later, he is deeply missed, but he has certainly not been forgotten.

May Charlie continue to rest in peace.

The post Senator Chesney’s Week in Review appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

This Thursday will mark one year since he was taken from us, and it is still difficult to believe he is gone. Charlie was only 31 years old. There was every reason to believe he had decades ahead of him to continue the work he had started, which makes it all the more remarkable to look back at the impact he made while he was with us.

Charlie reached young Americans at a time when many of them felt like there was no place for their views on college campuses or in the broader culture. He showed them they did not have to be afraid to say what they believed. Through Turning Point USA, he gave many of those young people a way to get involved and become part of something larger than themselves.

That work did not disappear when Charlie died. Over the past year, we have watched the movement he started continue without him. Young conservatives are still getting involved and refusing to be intimidated into silence. I think that says a great deal about what Charlie built and the people he inspired along the way.

As we remember his life, we also cannot separate it from the terrible way it ended. Charlie believed deeply in making his case and debating people who disagreed with him. His murder was the complete opposite of that. Political disagreement is inevitable in a free country. Political violence can never be allowed to become an acceptable response to it.

Charlie should still be here. He should still be doing the work he loved and watching the movement he started continue to grow.

One year later, he is deeply missed, but he has certainly not been forgotten.

May Charlie continue to rest in peace.

The post Charlie Kirk’s Legacy Continues to Inspire appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

For those who lived through that day, the memories remain vivid. We remember where we were when we first heard the news and the shock of watching the events unfold in New York, at the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93.

We also remember the incredible courage shown in the middle of it all. First responders rushed into buildings as others were trying to escape, knowing the danger they were facing. Many never made it home. In the days that followed, Americans came together to mourn those we lost and stood behind the families whose lives had changed forever.

Twenty-five years later, more and more Americans are growing up without their own memories of September 11. That makes it even more important that we continue to tell the story of that day and make sure those who were lost are never forgotten.

On this anniversary, I hope you’ll join me in remembering them and keeping their families in our prayers.

We will never forget.

The post Remembering 9/11 Twenty-Five Years Later appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend and getting a chance to spend some time with family and friends.

One of the best parts of representing northwest Illinois is getting to see firsthand just how much work goes into keeping our communities going. I’ve visited farms and businesses, toured manufacturing facilities, and talked with people who have spent most of their lives working right here in our region.

Those visits stick with me because behind every business or operation are people who get up every morning and make it all work. That’s really what Labor Day is about. It’s a day to recognize the people whose work often happens without much attention but makes a difference in our communities every single day.

So, to everyone who works hard to make a living and provide for their family, thank you.

I hope you enjoy a well-earned day off and have a safe and happy Labor Day!

The post Celebrating Labor Day in Northwest Illinois appeared first on Andrew Chesney.