CHICAGO – Over 280 businesses in the 1^st Senate District were awarded more than $11 million in funding from the Back to Business program thanks to advocacy and support from Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz.

“Businesses have fought to keep their doors open,” said Munoz (D-Chicago). “Local businesses are continuing to get back on their feet after a financially tough few years.”

A total of $11.115 million was awarded to 282 businesses in the 1st District. The B2B grants are awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget.

DCEO has provided $250 million in B2B grants – thanks to strong support from Senator Munoz – to small businesses throughout the state, with an emphasis on hard hit sectors, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, barbershops and salons, and disproportionately impacted areas.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities,” Munoz said. “Let’s continue shopping local to show our support for small businesses.”

With strong leadership from Munoz, the state has seen six Illinois’ General Obligation bond rating upgrades in the last year from all of the nation’s primary credit rating agencies. The latest two-notch upgrade comes from Fitch Ratings, as a result of the state paying down its bill backlog from over $16 billion to less than $3 billion in a course of just a few years.

Due to fiscal responsibility, the state saw an increase in funds available to assist small businesses.

Munoz urges small businesses to visit the DCEO website for additional resources or contact DCEO’s First Stop Business Information Center Services at 800-252-2923 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CHICAGO – People will be prohibited to slow or stop due to a street sideshow on any street or highway thanks to a measure sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz that was signed into law Friday.

“Law enforcement officials need to be able to keep people safe,” said Munoz (D-Chicago). “Without this law, innocent people were put in dangerous situations with no one to stop them.”

According to a CBS report, Eisenhower Expressway was shut down in December 2021 with drivers blocking the on- and off-ramps and every lane while a group of people engaged in dangerous stunts, such as doing donuts with their cars and dancing on the expressway.

The new law defines a street sideshow as any event in which one or more cars block or impede traffic to perform unauthorized motor vehicle stunts, motor vehicle speed contests, or motor vehicle exhibitions of speed. Munoz’ law prohibits a street sideshow on any street or highway in Illinois and a person may not knowingly cause the movement of traffic to slow or stop for the purpose of facilitating street racing or a street sideshow. Under the previous law, people cannot be arrested for blocking a street or highway.

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SPRINGFIELD – Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) attended the Illinois State Police Officers Memorial in Springfield to pay tribute to fallen officers and their families.

“Honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice is a small gesture to show our support for their families,” Munoz said. “As a former Chicago police officer, the memorial serves as a reminder of the oath police officers take. They protect and keep our communities safe with their bravery, strength and courage.”

The monument in Springfield, located on the west lawn of the State Capitol, bears the names of the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities. It was first dedicated in 1990, and a ceremony is held each year to pay tribute to fallen officers and their families. The names of every officer who died while serving during the previous year are engraved in the monument leading up to the ceremony. 

The annual memorial event honors the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who make up our local, state and county police forces. Thursday’s ceremony honored 11 men and women killed in the line of duty.

A full list of 2022 honorees can be found here.

Senator Munoz announces he will retire after his term as Illinois State Senator 

CHICAGO – After more than two decades serving the 1^st Senate District, Assistant Majority Leader Antonio “Tony” Munoz (D-Chicago) will finish his career at the end of the 102^nd General Assembly.

Growing up in the Pilsen and Little Village communities, Munoz knew he wanted to better the lives of his family and others at an early age.

“I was taught at a young age that hard work and determination is the key to success,” Munoz said. “I have applied this to everything I have accomplished, especially as a state senator.”

Munoz joined the Senate in 1999, serving as assistant majority leader since 2009. Over the years, he has sponsored nearly 2000 bills, with more than 800 signed into law. In addition, Munoz has chaired the Licensed Activities, Transportation, Executive Appointments and Veterans Affairs Committees.

Practical legislation rather than political agendas has marked Munoz’s tenure in Springfield. He is well known as a Senator who can work with members on both sides of the aisle.

Forty years ago, Munoz served in the United States Army with the 82^nd Airborne Division. Munoz maintained his fight for the armed forces and veterans throughout Illinois by spearheading laws that ensure military service members have rights and protections. A veteran himself, Munoz worked to give them every opportunity available when returning to civilian life and having sufficient resources for their mental and physical health. In 2021, Munoz was appointed to the Veterans’ Advisory Council to review and study the most significant issues and concerns that Illinois veterans face and advises the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs on how to address the issues and concerns.

As a former Chicago police officer, Munoz saw firsthand that crime and gang activity were tearing apart his community. Over the years, he worked to keep children in school and off the streets by fighting for funding for after-school programs. He also passed a law making it a crime for street gangs to recruit on school grounds and making it illegal for a sex offender to live within 500 feet of a school, park, daycare, or child facility. In addition, Munoz co-sponsored and supported historic legislation that overhauled the state’s education funding formula to provide fair funding for all schools and was the lead sponsor to give in-state tuition to all students residing in Illinois.

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