HARVEY – As a strong advocate of allowing compensation for student-athletes, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) supports the Supreme Court decision to allow these students to receive education-related payments. 

“College sports is a billion-dollar industry, and these student athletes are not compensated nearly enough for helping their schools and the NCCA build a commercial empire,” Harris said.  “This decision is a great step toward helping these student-athletes receive fair compensation, but it doesn’t go far enough. I still believe they should be allowed to be paid for the use of their images and likenesses in connection to products like clothing and video games.” 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) released the following statement regarding a budget that addresses Illinois’ unemployment system and the Black Caucus plan to rid Illinois of systemic racism. 

“One of the greatest needs in our state is to continue to provide access to unemployment resources to workers who were laid off because of pandemic. We increased funding to the Department of Employment Security by over $100 million for software upgrades and staff increases. 

“Also, some of the Black Caucus agenda to rid Illinois of systemic racism will receive funding to ensure our disadvantaged communities get the investments they need the most. 

SPRINGFIELD – As an ex-college player and advocate for student-athletes, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) is nearing victory in his fight to allow Illinois student-athletes to receive compensation from their use names, images, or likenesses who attend Illinois colleges and universities.  

"These student athletes shed their blood, sweat, and tears to play college sports,” Harris said. “Their schools’ benefit off their talent by selling clothing, rights to use their images in video games and more. The kids deserve to get financial benefit, too especially at powerhouse universities who generate millions of dollars." 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) advanced his effort to ensure insurance companies adopt and expand telehealth services, with a particular focus on serving disadvantaged communities.  

“The pandemic has highlighted existing racial, economic, and geographic disparities that hinder access to medical treatment,” Harris said. “Creating uniform rules for insurance companies’ telehealth services could improve access for everyone, especially members of disproportionately impacted communities that have limited resources.”