1. Heather Adeline Steans was born on May 8,1963 and is a former Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 7th district.
22 Facts About Heather Steans
1. 2.
Heather Steans was appointed after winning a special primary election that followed the mid-term resignation of her predecessor, Senator Carol Ronen.
3.
Heather Steans resigned from office on January 19,2021 after 12 years in office.
4.
Heather Steans's father, Harrison I Steans, was a wealthy banker who founded a bank holding company he later sold to JPMorgan Chase.
5.
Financial Investments Corporation is actively invested in the banking and energy industries, and had an investment in hydraulic fracturing services company Liberty Oilfield Services prior to its initial public offering in 2018, though Heather Steans is not invested herself.
6.
Heather Steans is the former budget director of the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor, and Human Relations.
7.
In 2013, Heather Steans sponsored the gay marriage bill that was signed into law.
8.
Heather Steans was the Chief Sponsor of IL Senate Bill 655, which created new rules designed to improve care at nursing homes and prevent patient neglect and abuse.
9.
Heather Steans partnered with a formal political rival, Suzanne Elder, to pass anti-discrimination legislation.
10.
Heather Steans passed a law that allowed Illinois to enact Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
11.
In 2018 Heather Steans Seans was the lead sponsor in the Senate to restrict Illinoisans' access to non-Obamacare compliant healthcare plans in an attempt to force them into much more expensive Obamacare compliant health insurance plans.
12.
Heather Steans sponsored Illinois' Equal Pay Act of 2012, which holds individuals liable for wage discrimination on the basis of gender.
13.
Heather Steans has led the fight to have Illinois ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which passed the Illinois State Senate.
14.
Heather Steans authored the Lead Sinker Act, SB 1269, an education program that promotes the use of fishing products that are not detrimental to humans and wildlife.
15.
Senator Heather Steans helped lead in the passage of a law that strengthened Illinois' anti-bullying laws by through anonymous reporting, protecting student privacy, prohibiting retaliation and other measures.
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Heather Steans further spearheaded efforts to create an independent state body with the power to require local taxing bodies to support private charter schools, even where the relevant school board would not do so voluntarily.
17.
Heather Steans is a supporter of a group called "Yes for Independent Maps" redistricting reform proposals.
18.
Heather Steans believes that independent maps would help "restore faith in our political system," in Illinois.
19.
Heather Steans has served in the Illinois Senate for the 7th district since 2008.
20.
On January 19,2021, Heather Steans announced she would be resigning from the Illinois State Senate effective January 31,2021.
21.
In 2008, Heather Steans won re-election when she received 55,457 votes, ahead of her opponent's 13,190 votes.
22.
Heather Steans was unopposed in her 2012 and 2016 reelection campaigns.