Hear from Haas: December 2023

I had the pleasure of attending the Annual Illinois Farm Bureau conference with some of my fellow representatives. It was a great event, I enjoyed spending time with both old and new farm bureau friends, as well as taking time to celebrate the achievements of Illinois farmers. Proud to celebrate a Friend of Young Leaders Debbie Werner of Will County, and Achievement Award winners, the Abbott Family from Kankakee!

I received the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois (CBHA) 2023 Legislator of the Year Award. I am truly honored to receive this award from such an incredible organization. This recognition means so much to me both professionally and personally, being nominated and chosen by my peers in the behavioral health profession for this prestigious award.

I will continue my unwavering commitment to advancing the mental health and behavioral healthcare system in Illinois by fighting for proper funding, addressing staffing shortages, and advocating to end the stigma associated with mental health. Thank you to the CBHA Board and members for selecting me as your Legislator of the Year, I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition.

Congratulations to CSL Behring for being named the 2023 Manufacturer of the Year by the Illinois Manufacturers Association! It was a pleasure to attend the event and also present to CSL a certificate of recognition from the Illinois House of Representatives for this wonderful achievement!

My team attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new CSL Substation that will bring reliable energy to their manufacturing center and the surrounding areas. Thank you to ComEd, CSL, and all of the stakeholders involved in making this project a reality!

I had the honor of receiving the Illinois Osteopathic Medical Society’s 2023 Legislator of the Year Award. The Illinois Osteopathic Medical Society does incredible work in advocating for Osteopathic Physicians and their patients. I look forward to continuing our partnership as we work to improve the Illinois healthcare system for both workers and patients.

For my December Local Business Spotlight, I was honored to recognize Broadway Jewelry & Rare Coins in Bradley. They are committed to delivering exceptional customer service and go above and beyond to ensure their customers are happy. On top of that, they offer quality, top-of-the-line products and create beautiful customized pieces of jewelry.

My staff enjoyed a nice evening at the Bourbonnais Rockin’ Around the Tree Lighting event last night while I was out of town. Such a great way to kick off the season!

I had the honor of attending the Wreaths Across America event at the Herscher Legion Community Center. The Wreaths Across America event is a yearly celebration meant to honor our fallen veterans by placing holiday wreaths on their graves. It is such a wonderful way to bring the spirit of the holidays to those who have protected our nation! Thank you to everyone involved, the donors, and to all the volunteers today who made this local event possible!

Thank you to everyone who attended the holiday blood drive! Giving blood is an easy way to save lives, and I was proud to see so many members of our community show up to help others.