Lou Lang

Lou graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign in 1971 with High Honors where he obtained a B.A. in Political Science, before earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree with Honors from Depaul University, College of Law in 1974. Born in Chicago in 1949, Lang has been a Skokie resident since the age of five, and is a Niles North High School alumnus. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Turning Point's Advisory Council, Asian American Caucus, among many other organizations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tpoint.org/advisory-council|title=Turning Point's Advisory Council {{!}} Turning Point: Outpatient mental health center|website=www.tpoint.org|access-date=2018-06-06}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.advancingjustice-chicago.org/asian-american-caucus/|title=Asian American Caucus – Asian Americans Advancing Justice {{!}} Chicago|website=www.advancingjustice-chicago.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815153450/http://www.advancingjustice-chicago.org/asian-american-caucus/|archive-date=2018-08-15|url-status=dead}} Lang is currently{{when|date=February 2020}} Of Counsel to Del Galdo Law Group, LLC.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} He is the father of five children, and a grandfather to three grandchildren.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

Lang served as attorney for Niles Township for ten years, before being appointed to the Illinois House in 1987 by the Niles Township Democratic Organization to fill the vacancy of Representative Alan J. Greiman.{{cite web|editor-last=Gherardini|editor-first=Caroline|title=Novak, Lang newest members of House|date=September 15, 1987|volume=13|issue=9|pages=66|work=Illinois Issues|publisher=Sangamon State University|access-date=October 4, 2019|url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/1989/ii890119.html}}{{cite news|title=MOTOR-MOUTH DOES ALL THE DEMOCRATS' STALLING|date=1995-05-26|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|first1=Christi|last1=Parsons}} The district at very times included Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, and portions of neighboring Chicago. Lang serves as committeeman for Niles Township Democratic Organization, Executive Vice Chairman for the Cook County Democratic Party, and as Secretary of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

In 1993, Lang advanced to House Democratic Floor Leader, a post he held until 1997 when he assumed the position of Assistant Majority Leader, and in 2009 Lang became Deputy Majority Leader. Lang also served in several other leadership roles, including the Legislative Ethics Committee, and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR).

Lang resigned from the aforementioned leadership posts on May 31, 2018 amid harassment allegations from

a longtime activist who accused him of repeated harassment and intimidation.{{Cite news|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/state-rep-lou-lang-accused-of-harassing-springfield-activist/|title=She says Lang 'harassed' her — he dismisses her as disgruntled pot profiteer|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en}} On September 5, 2018 after a thorough investigation, Illinois' Inspector General absolved Lang of all allegations.{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-il--illinois-lawmaker-harassment-claim-20180906-story.html|title=Ex-Illinois House leader Lang cleared of sexual harassment|agency=Associated Press|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-09-21|language=en-US}}

He continued to serve as State Representative, and after receiving a partnership offer from prominent lobbying firm Advantage Government Strategies, Lang submitted his resignation as State Representative effective January 7, 2019. Lang remains Committeeman of the Niles Township Democratic Organization, and Executive Vice Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rich|title=Rep. Lang steps down to become lobbyist|date=January 7, 2019|newspaper=Capitol Fax|access-date=January 7, 2019|url=https://capitolfax.com/2019/01/07/rep-lang-steps-down-to-become-lobbyist/}}

Lang was a strong advocate for legalized gambling. In 2009, he sponsored the Video Gaming Act which legalized the use of video gambling machines in Illinois. A 2019 ProPublica investigation found that Illinois gambling regulators were underfunded and understaffed, and the gambling failed to meet projected revenues for the state's public coffers.{{Cite web|url=https://features.propublica.org/the-bad-bet/how-illinois-bet-on-video-gambling-and-lost/|title=Illinois Bet on Video Gambling — and Lost|last=Grotto|first=Jason|last2=Kambhampati|first2=Sandhya|date=2019-01-16|website=ProPublica|language=en|access-date=2019-01-20}}

In 2009, Lang passed [http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=38&GAID=10&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=39981&SessionID=76&GA=96 HB38] which was a long sought-after, 6 year, $32 billion construction program that focused on fixing schools, roads, and bridges in Illinois.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dlcc.org/board/dlcc-secretary|title=DLCC Secretary|date=2016-05-02|work=Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en}} The program was expected to create 439,000 new jobs by 2015, and would be subsidized through newly legalized gaming machines in bars.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/video-gambling-in-bars-moves-closer-to-reality/article_acaaf76c-c8e1-11de-a279-001cc4c03286.html|title=Video gambling in bars moves closer to reality|first=Mike|last=Riopell|work=pantagraph.com|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en}} Although trouble in implementation occurred following the passage of the bill, after various delays, the program was executed.

Lang has supported increases in minimum wage, opposed efforts to weaken worker compensation laws, and won a 7% property tax assessment cap for Cook County homeowners.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2112&GAID=3&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=7528&SessionID=3&GA=93|title=Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB2112|website=www.ilga.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}} In 2009 Lang co-sponsored Illinois' marriage equality law, and in 2017 he co-sponsored HB40, legislation protecting women's reproductive rights.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=10&GAID=12&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=68375&SessionID=85&GA=98|title=Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB0010|website=www.ilga.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=40&GAID=14&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=91&GA=100|title=Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0040|website=www.ilga.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}} On May 30, 2018, Illinois succeeded in ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. After twenty-five years of unsuccessful attempts at ratification, Lang, House Chief Sponsor of the ERA, was celebrated as Illinois became the 37th state to ratify.{{Cite news|url=http://nprillinois.org/post/after-46-years-illinois-ratifies-era#stream/0|title=After 46 Years, Illinois Ratifies ERA|last=Otwell|first=Rachel|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/illinois-at-center-of-revived-equal-rights-amendment-fight/|title=Illinois at center of revived Equal Rights Amendment fight|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/5/31/17414630/equal-rights-amendment-metoo-illinois|title=The Equal Rights Amendment's surprise comeback, explained|work=Vox|access-date=2018-06-06}}

Lang has championed several major bills dealing with mental health and healthcare reform. Lang was Chief Sponsor of HB1, a bill legalizing Medical Cannabis in Illinois.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1&GAID=12&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=85&GA=98|title=Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0001|website=www.ilga.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}} The bill became law in 2013 after it passed both chambers and was signed by then Governor Pat Quinn.{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/community/chi-ugc-article-rep-lou-lang-hails-new-medical-marijuana-law-2013-08-01-story.html|title=Rep. Lou Lang Hails New Medical Marijuana Law|last=Ormsby|first=David|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en-US}} As the national opioid crisis increasingly worsened, in 2015, Lang Chief Sponsored the Heroin Crisis Act, a bill used as a national model for battling the Heroin epidemic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1&GAID=13&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=88&GA=99|title=Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0001|website=www.ilga.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-heroin-crisis-act-st-0701-20160629-story.html|title=Illinois' Heroin Crisis Act a model for other states|last=Lafferty|first=Susan DeMar|work=Daily Southtown|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en-US}} In 2017, Lang was the Chief Sponsor of HR378, a resolution elevating awareness for maternal mental health.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=378&GAID=14&DocTypeID=HR&LegId=106900&SessionID=91&GA=100|title=Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HR0378|website=www.ilga.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}} Lang has also passed several bills dealing with mental health parity, and during the 100th General Assembly, Lang both authored and Chief Sponsored SB1707, dubbed the strongest mental health parity law in the nation.{{Cite news|url=http://nprillinois.org/post/illinois-lawmakers-address-mental-health-parity-laws#stream/0|title=Illinois Lawmakers Address Mental Health Parity Laws|last=Driscoll|first=Jaclyn|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1707&GAID=14&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=104563&SessionID=91&GA=100|title=Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB1707|website=www.ilga.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}}{{Cite news|url=http://thekennedyforumillinois.org/big-win-for-illinois-families-il-house-passes-strongest-mental-health-parity-law-in-the-nation/|title=Big Win for Illinois Families: IL House Passes Strongest Mental Health Parity Law in the Nation|date=2018-05-31|work=The Kennedy Forum Illinois|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=98&MemberID=1167 Illinois General Assembly - Representative Lou Lang (D) 16th District] Illinois General Assembly web page
• By session: [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=98&MemberID=1167 98th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1604 97th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=96&MemberID=1385 96th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=95&MemberID=1167 95th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=94&MemberID=932 94th], [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=93&MemberID=654 93rd]
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=6349 | fec= | congress= }}
• [http://www.housedem.state.il.us/members/langl/ Rep. Lou Lang] at Illinois House Democrats

{{Illinois House of Representatives}}

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Category:Members of the Illinois House of Representatives

Category:Jewish state legislators in Illinois

Category:1949 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Skokie, Illinois

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly