Clean Water

2023 Environmental Scorecard

IEC is proud to present our 2023 Environmental Scorecard for the Illinois General Assembly. Scores are based on the environmental impact of their voting record over the last legislative session.  We hope this will be a useful resource and allow you to see whether your legislators have used their power in the General Assembly to …

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2023 Chicago Transition Report Analysis

IEC’s City Programs Director, Iyana Simba, provides an in depth analysis of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Transition Report, with attention to Environmental Justice goals for the city.

2023 Legislative Report

IEC’s state policy team has published our 2023 Legislative Report detailing environmental wins and setbacks during this year’s legislative session.

Illinois General Assembly Passes Bill to Reduce Plastic Waste and Expand Access to Clean Drinking Water

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation this week to reduce plastic pollution and promote access to clean drinking water. Once signed by Governor Pritzker, SB1715 will require that, in settings where the plumbing code already calls for drinking fountains, the installation of new drinking fountains must include a water bottle filling station. …

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400+ Illinoisans Advocate for Slate of Legislation Promoting Environmental Protection and Climate Justice

Springfield, IL. — More than 400 Illinoisans mobilized today to urge their representatives in the Illinois General Assembly to pass bills that protect the environment and address climate injustices impacting historically marginalized communities across Illinois. At a rally outside of the Capitol Building and during meetings with legislators, advocates and activists called for the legislature …

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Breaking Free from Foam: How Illinois and Chicago Can Reduce Plastic Waste

Illinois needs to break up with plastic. For decades, we’ve known that single-use plastic items, including polystyrene foam cups, plates, and containers are among the most common and harmful forms of pollution found in the environment. So, what are Illinois’ plans to eliminate outdated foam foodware?

2023 Chicago Environmental Mayor Report

From clean energy to transportation to urban conservation, IEC’s Mayoral Report lays out both small & lofty objectives that the mayor ought to tackle to make Chicago a sustainable city.

IEC Policy Platform

We convened town halls open to the public, all of our 100+ affiliate organizations, our individual members and our staff to deliberate and develop the policy solutions endorsed by our Illinois environmental movement.

Water and Waste Town Hall

Tuesday, November 22 | 6-7:30 pm | Register via Zoom using the form below IEC is hosting a series of three town halls for our supporters. At the Clean Water and Waste Town Hall, participants will hear from IEC and our partners on the most pressing issues facing Illinois and our current advocacy plans. We’re …

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2022 Environmental Scorecard

IEC is back with our 2022 Environmental Scorecard for the Illinois General Assembly. Scores are based on the environmental impact of their voting record over the last legislative session.  We hope this will be a useful resource and allow you to see whether your legislators have used their power in the General Assembly to protect …

2022 Environmental Scorecard Read More »

Statement: Illinois Environmental Council Applauds Chicago’s Approved FY2022 Budget

CHICAGO — The Illinois Environmental Council issued the following statement of support following Chicago’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget vote: “The Illinois Environmental Council applauds Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago City Council Alderpersons who voted in support of the FY2022 budget for passing the single largest environmental investment in Chicago’s history. This historic investment in …

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48 State Legislators Score 100% on Illinois Environmental Council Scorecard

(SPRINGFIELD, IL) – The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) released its 2021 Legislative Environmental Scorecard today. The scorecard, which is released annually, assigns a percentage score to legislators based on how they voted on bills affecting the environment. This year, 38 state representatives and 10 state senators received 100% scores based on their record on 16 …

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2021 Environmental Scorecard

IEC is back with our 2021 Environmental Scorecard for the Illinois General Assembly. Scores are based on the environmental impact of their voting record over the last legislative session.  We hope this will be a useful resource and allow you to see whether your legislators have used their power in the General Assembly to protect …

2021 Environmental Scorecard Read More »

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Signs Bill to Replace Toxic Lead Service Lines

New law requires replacement of lead lines, prompts calls for federal funds from Congress CHICAGO (August 30, 2021) – Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act, making Illinois the third state in the nation to require full replacement of lead drinking water pipes, which can deliver toxic lead …

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2021 IEC Legislative Report

IEC is pleased to release our 2021 Legislative Report. We are proud to report that we advanced a broad and ambitious agenda, defeated potentially damaging legislation and secured important appropriations in the state budget.

IEC Summer 2021 Newsletter

It’s been a busy year for team IEC, so we’ve put together a quick roundup of some of the work that we’ve been doing so far in Springfield, Chicago and now at the federal level in D.C. too! Check out some of our recent wins, and the ongoing work we’re engaged in building power for …

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Illinois General Assembly Approves Bill That Will Eliminate Toxic Lead Service Lines

Bill requires replacement of lead lines, and establishes state grant and technical assistance program to support communities in this effort (SPRINGFIELD, IL) –Following a concurring House vote late last night in favor of the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (HB 3739), both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly have approved the bill, which …

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Illinois Senate to Vote on Bill That Would Eliminate Toxic Lead Service Lines in Illinois

Bill would protect public health, safe drinking water for millions of Illinoisans SPRINGFIELD, IL (May 13, 2021) – Following bipartisan passage by the Illinois House of Representatives of the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act  (HB 3739), which would require all water utilities statewide to replace all lead service lines, Senate action is needed …

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1,000 Illinoisans Urge Lawmakers to Back Environmental Justice Bills at Virtual Lobby Day

Hundreds Rally for Passage of the Clean Energy Jobs Act, Toxic Lead Service Line Removal and New Air Permitting Reforms SPRINGFIELD, IL —  Today, 1,000 environmental justice leaders, renewable energy advocates, youth activists, faith leaders, business representatives and consumer groups from every part of Illinois met virtually with over 80 members of the Illinois General …

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Illinois Environmental Council Announces Illinois’ 2021 Environmental Legislative Agenda

Agenda Tackles Clean Energy, Clean Water, Sustainable Agriculture, Wildlife Protections and More SPRINGFIELD, IL — On behalf of their over 100 member affiliate organizations, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) announced today Illinois’ annual environmental legislative agenda. The 2021 agenda tackles the environmental community’s priorities across a wide range of issues including clean energy, clean water, …

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New Bill Would Eliminate Toxic Lead Service Lines in Illinois, Protect Drinking Water Standards and Public Health

State legislators and advocates introduce legislation that would create a plan, funding, and timeline for the removal of all lead service lines in Illinois SPRINGFIELD, IL (Feb. 22, 2021) — Illinois Rep. Lamont J. Robinson (D-Chicago) has introduced the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (HB 3739), a bill creating a feasible and equitable …

New Bill Would Eliminate Toxic Lead Service Lines in Illinois, Protect Drinking Water Standards and Public Health Read More »

Gov. Pritzker’s Mid-term

IEC’s environmental analysis of Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration midway through his first term.

New House Speaker, New 2021 Legislative Session Begins

As we look ahead to the spring session, we will be working with the new General Assembly on key environmental priorities, while protecting environmental programs from budget cuts against a challenging fiscal environment.

In Solidarity with the Legislative Black Caucus Agenda

The Illinois Environmental Council stands in strong support of the Black Caucus in these efforts, and encourages the General Assembly to take up this legislative agenda in the coming lame duck session.

Lakeshore Erosion

https://youtu.be/PH_nsZJ0HT4 As part of Chicago Water Week, please join IEC and our panel of experts to discuss shoreline erosion in the Great Lakes. Recently, Great Lake water levels have been historically high, threatening beaches, homes, businesses and infrastructure along the shores. Solutions like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative have supported shoreline restoration jetports but there are also international and …

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father helps son at kitchen sink

Life Without Running Water During COVID-19

We haven’t done right by the communities most impacted—Black, brown and low income communities—until we’ve guaranteed this vital resource regardless of zipcode, race or ability to pay.

Waters of the United States Protections and Rollbacks

https://youtu.be/IEXySaRZUCw In the 30th installment of our Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Molly Kordas of Openlands to discuss the Water of the United States Protections and rollbacks by the Trump Administration. Resources: Openlands

Urban Stormwater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S774fmdYa3I In the 24th installment of IEC’s Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Marcella Bondie Keenan of the Center for Neighborhood Technology and Olga Bautista of Alliance for the Great Lakes to discuss urban stormwater. Find links and resources from the session below: Center for Neighborhood Technology Alliance for the Great Lakes