SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) appointed House Assistant Minority Leader Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont) to serve on the Illinois Works Review Panel. Leader Stephens was nominated alongside State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva).
“Illinois is fortunate to have hardworking residents across our state, and I’m proud to serve on the Illinois Works Review Panel to expand these apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities in our state,” said Leader Stephens. “I’m looking forward to getting to work on this panel to support our state’s construction workforce and increasing its diversity, as well as support each person seeking the opportunity to begin their career in this trade.”
The Illinois Works Review Panel reviews and evaluates the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program and Apprenticeship Initiative. It also reviews ideas to diversify the workforce in the construction industry in Illinois, as well as demographic data collected by the Department of Labor. The panel then reports findings and makes recommendations to the General Assembly and Department of Labor in regard to identification and evaluation of community-based organizations.
The Illinois Works Review Panel meets quarterly at minimum and each member serves 3-year terms. The Illinois Works Jobs Program Act was signed into law in 2019. Its purpose is to ensure all Illinois residents have access to State capital projects and careers in the construction industry and building trades.
Leader Stephens is a member of the House Labor & Commerce and Transportation: Regulation, Roads, and Bridges committees.