Bill Text: IL HR0939 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Congratulates Laura Rodriguez, Gregory Pratt, and editor Erika Slife on receiving the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting. Thanks them for their commitment to truth, justice, accountability, and the people of Illinois.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Passed) 2026-06-01 - Resolution Adopted 076-032-000 [HR0939 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HR0939-Introduced.html

---

HR0939 LRB104 22108 RMO 38282 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are proud to congratulate Laura Rodriguez,
Gregory Pratt, and editor Erika Slife on receiving the 2026
Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting for their courageous and
impactful coverage of Operation Midway Blitz; and
WHEREAS, Through fearless investigative journalism and
powerful storytelling published by the Chicago Tribune, Laura
Rodriguez, Gregory Pratt, editor Erika Slife, and Tribune
staff documented the human impact of militarized immigration
enforcement operations that traumatized immigrant families and
communities across the Chicagoland area; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago Tribune's Operation Midway Blitz
reporting exposed the fear, uncertainty, and harm experienced
by working families while elevating the voices of residents,
advocates, students, workers, and local communities who came
together in resistance and solidarity; and
WHEREAS, The Pulitzer Prize Board recognized the Chicago
Tribune's reporting "for its powerful coverage of the Trump
administration's militarized immigration sweep of the city
that described in vivid, muscular prose how the siege-like
incursion of ICE agents unified Chicagoans in resistance"; and

HR0939 - 2 - LRB104 22108 RMO 38282 r
WHEREAS, At a time when immigrant communities have too
often been targeted, silenced, or dehumanized, the work of
Laura Rodriguez, Gregory Pratt, and editor Erika Slife
demonstrated the essential role journalism plays in protecting
democracy, demanding accountability, and ensuring that the
stories of impacted communities are not ignored; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago Tribune's coverage of Operation
Midway Blitz helped bring national attention to the realities
facing Latino and immigrant communities in Illinois and serves
as an important historical record of a painful chapter that
deeply affected families throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, The State of Illinois recognizes that a free and
courageous press is fundamental to democracy and public
accountability, especially when reporting on abuses of power
and the lived experiences of vulnerable communities;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate Laura Rodriguez, Gregory Pratt, and editor
Erika Slife on receiving the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Local
Reporting, and we thank them for their commitment to truth,
justice, accountability, and the people of Illinois; and be it

HR0939 - 3 - LRB104 22108 RMO 38282 r
further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to Laura Rodriguez, Gregory Pratt, and Erika Slife
as a symbol of our respect and appreciation.