State Representative Mike Unes (R-East Peoria) is honored to announce that he is the recipient of the 2016 “Friend of Agriculture” award from the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB), which was awarded to him by the Peoria County Farm Bureau yesterday.

The award is an honor given only to legislators with proven record of understanding the importance of Illinois Agriculture, the far-reaching benefits of Illinois’ agricultural products, and the important role farmers play in our State and throughout the world.

Today, Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law two bills sponsored by State Representative Mike Unes (R-East Peoria) that benefit Illinois schools.  The first bill, HB 4675, ensures that federal pass-thru dollars to community colleges for adult education and career and technical training programs are not delayed by the Comptroller’s Office, even in the absence of a state budget.  The second, SB 2823, allows high school building and trades programs to sell homes constructed as a part of their curriculum through a licensed real estate agent rather than through the standard public bidding process for “state property.”  The bill was first introduced in the Senate by Senator Dave Koehler.

Acting as the vice chairperson of the Illinois Sportsmen’s Caucus, State Representative Mike Unes (R-East Peoria) will be in East Peoria on this Thursday, August 11, at 10 a.m. to present fundraising dollars he has secured for two 91^st District not-for-profits: Hooked on Fishing (East Peoria) and Camp Big Sky (Farmington).  The presentation will take place at Hooked on Fishing, located at 1807 B N. Main Street, with representatives from both organizations in attendance.

The Illinois Sportsmen’s Caucus is an advocate for the state’s outdoor recreational assets, and also works to raise and award private funds to local organizations that provide access and resources to the public for various outdoor recreational opportunities.

State Representative Mike Unes will host mobile office hours next week on Thursday August 4th at the Opera Professional Building, located at 45 East Side Square in Canton. Meetings will take place from 9-11AM in the Spoon River College Community Center conference room, across from the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce office.

Today, a bill that would greatly assist high school building and trades programs by allowing them to employ a licensed realtor to sell homes constructed as a part of their curriculum passed in the full House of Representatives.  SB 2823 was introduced in the Senate by Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria) and on behalf of Pekin Community High School, which maintains a highly successful building and trades class as a part of its sophisticated vocational program.  After receiving Senate approval, Representative Mike Unes (R-East Peoria) was proud to sponsor this legislation in the House.

Rep. Mike Unes (R-East Peoria) led the Illinois House of Representatives Wednesday in a tribute to Tazewell County Sheriff's Deputy Craig Whisenand, who lost his life in the line of duty on August 11, 2015. Deputy Whisenand's wife, Steffany, and members of his family and the sheriff's department were on hand for the tribute. The House adopted a resolution renaming a section of Illinois 9 in Tremont the "Deputy Craig Whisenand Memorial Highway."

PEKIN, IL – State Representative Mike Unes (R-East Peoria) will be hosting a free paper shredding event this Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. to Noon.  The event will take place on the street in front of the representative’s district office, located at 19 S. Capitol Street in Pekin.