SPRINGFIELD – Legislation introduced this week in the Illinois Senate and House will begin the discussion on why some black suburban communities are paying too much for drinking water as compared to the City of Chicago and some wealthier non-black towns.

Companion bills (SB2874 and HB4744) were introduced by Stat Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey), who represents Harvey and Ford Heights, and Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago), who represents several suburban towns. Harvey, Ford Heights and Maywood do not have direct access to Lake Michigan water and get their water from other communities. Their residents pay some of the highest rates in Cook County, Harris and Ford said.

Ford Heights Mayor Annie Coulter worked with the lawmakers on the bills.

“These proposals will begin the discussion of making Cook County's drinking water rates more equitable,” Senator Harris said. “It's not fair that the place that you are born – whether it’s Harvey, Ford Heights, Highland Park or Chicago – determines what your family pays for water. It should be a right of all people to have equal, reasonably-priced access to drinking water.”

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Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) tells the story of his grandfather returning home after serving in the Vietnam War. African-American soldiers were often treated as second class citizens even after putting their lives on the line to fight for our country. The prejudice these veterans endured showed that while their lives were expendable in the name of freedom, they were not equals in America.