What a week in Southern Illinois!
This past Monday, Southern Illinois enjoyed the first total solar eclipse to be viewable from coast to coast in the United States in 99 years. 

Massive crowds descended upon the region to view this marvel of our universe. I was blessed to invite friends to my house in Murphysboro, where totality could be seen for more than 2 minutes. It was, to say the least, an amazing way to start this busy week. I want to take  a moment to thank all the city and county officials, Mayors, Police, Fire and Emergency Services, SIU President Randy Dunn and his entire team, and all the volunteers that stepped up to make this once in a lifetime event a tremendous success.

Here is the picture I was able to capture of the totality. Amazing!

Union County Fair
I was very happy to once again share time and fun with friends and neighbors at the Union County Fair. This year I was busy buying animals at the Annual 4H Auction. This year, I bought the sheep you see below from Colton Clauson and the steer from Abigail Dahmer. Congratulations to these hard working young people. They have a bright future in agriculture!

DuQuoin State Fair Kicks Off Friday Night

The 2017 DuQuoin State Fair kicked off on Friday with the Annual Twilight Parade and celebrity milking contest. I am proud to represent DuQuoin in Springfield. The DuQuoin State Fair is a major economic driver for our region. Please enjoy some photos from yesterday's festivities! Thank you to everyone that came out to support me and walk with me in the parade. Also, I want to encourage anyone that has not been to the fair in a while to get come out and enjoy the awesome food vendors, great rides, and star studded grandstand entertainment. This year's DuQuoin State Fair will be one to remember. You can learn more about what's going on at the fair this year by CLICKING HERE










Pinckneyville Library Celebrates 100th Anniversary!

Also on Friday, I stopped in at the Pinckneyville Public Library to help them celebrate their 100th anniversary. I am pictured below with Pinckneyville Mayor Robert Spencer and the Director and Board members of the library. Congratulations and here's to another 100 years!

{{ broadcaster.name }}
{{ settings.site.full_url }}

Dear Friend,

As 2016 draws to an end, we look forward to a new year destined to shape of the political course of our country and our state. I want to invite you to please follow all the upcoming legislative action at my website www.RepBryant.com and be sure to leave me feedback on the site's Contact Form 

My New Year's Resolution is to continue bringing you updates on the happenings in Springfield and to continue representing the people of Southern Illinois to the best of my ability. There are some important dates coming up in January, including inauguration and the beginning of the 100th Illinois General Assembly.

Inauguration January 11, 2017

On January 11, 2017 the 100th General Assembly of the State of Illinois will take the oath of office. A swearing in ceremony will take place on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield. I will post photos and share information on the election of House leaders and much more. I look forward to raising my right hand and swearing to defend the Constitution of Illinois and the Constitution of the United States. It is my honor and privilege to serve as your State Representative.

New Laws 2017

On January 1, 2017, a significant number of new laws will take effect. For those wishing to catch up on the coming changes, the Illinois House Republican Caucus Blog has detailed explanations on 26 new laws that reflect significant changes.

A Look Ahead - Stopgap Budget Expires Dec. 31

Our State's fiscal condition is at an all time low, and the stopgap budget passed in June runs out as the New Year begins. Funding for Pre-K through 12th grade education will continue through the end of the fiscal year, but many critical services will be facing the prospect of no funding. The budget crisis in Illinois needs to come to a resolution immediately. I will continue to push both sides of the aisle to come together to pass a balanced budget to ensure critical state services continue uninterrupted.

STAY CONNECTED!

My office in Mt. Vernon is staffed Monday through Friday and my office in Murphysboro is staffed Monday through Thursday, each from 8:30 to 4:30 PM. You can find me on Facebook to keep up with my travels throughout the district. You can email me directly at [email protected] or send me a message through the contact form on my website at www.repbryant.com

Your opinions on important topics facing the State of Illinois are invaluable to me. Keep them coming!

Murphysboro….State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) won re-election to her seat in the Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday, with returns showing Bryant cruising to a comfortable double digit victory. Bryant spent Election evening at the Murphysboro Elks, where she thanked her supporters and congratulated her opponent on a hard fought race.

“This has been a long and tough campaign,” Bryant said. “But tonight, I am proud to announce that with your support I will once again have the honor of Representing your interests in Springfield. I want to congratulate Marsha on a hard fought battle, and I want to ensure you all that in Springfield I vote my district and will continue to do so.”

Throughout the campaign, Bryant picked up key endorsements that helped build coalitions across the district. First, it was Congressman Mike Bost, who handily won his race for Congress and then it was the Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR, the National Rifle Association, the Illinois State Rifle Association, and the Illinois Federation for Right to Life and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police.

“I want to thank Congressman Bost for stepping out to endorse me in my campaign,” Bryant said. “He earned a huge victory tonight. I am also proud to have earned the endorsements of members of the agriculture, law enforcement, pro-life, pro 2nd Amendment, pro gun rights, business, and labor communities. I look forward to continuing to represent the best interests of Southern Illinois in Springfield.”

####

Highlights of Terri Bryant’s first term:

• As a Freshman in the legislature,Terri Bryant authored six bills that were signed into law, the most of any other Freshman.

• Bryant helped secure the most money for district public schools in seven years.

• Bryant sponsored and passed Molly’s Law to extend the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits and increased penalties for government agencies for failing to release case-related information in a timely manner.

• Bryant was a sponsor of the bill and voted to reopen the Hardin County Work Camp, and most recently secured the reopening of the shuttered Murphysboro Youth Center.

CONGRESSMAN MIKE BOST ENDORSES TERRI BRYANT FOR RE-ELECTION

Carbondale….With just over one month to go before Election Day, State Representative Terri Bryant earned a major endorsement in the race for 115^th district State Representative. Congressman Mike Bost joined Bryant for a Thursday press conference at Com-Pac international in Carbondale to offer his endorsement for Bryant for State Representative.

“It is such an honor to be here with Mike Bost today and to join with friends, family, and supporters of my campaign at one of the great manufacturing operations in the all of Southern Illinois,” Bryant said. “To have Congressman Bost’s endorsement in this race means a great deal. He has been an outstanding representative in Washington, carrying with him the values that hard working Southern Illinois families share.”

Bost served as 115^th State Representative in Springfield until 2015 and endorsed Bryant for the seat he vacated to run for 12^th District US Representative during her 2014 campaign against Bill Kilquist. Bost and Bryant both hail from Murphysboro and both were successful in their 2014 bids. Now as 12^th district Congressman, Bost says he once again believes Bryant is best suited to serve Southern Illinois in Springfield.

“It is my honor today to offer my full endorsement for Terri Bryant for re-election as 115^th district State Representative,” Bost said. “As a resident of Terri’s district, and as a concerned citizen of the State of Illinois, I am proud to say Terri Bryant went to Springfield and got things done under difficult circumstances.”

“Terri Bryant has served with honor and distinction, and she’s accomplished a lot in a short period of time,” Bost continued. “The climate in Springfield is very divided, almost as much as it is in Washington, but Terri passed six bills into law as a Freshman legislator. SIU got $100 million and public schools in her district opened on time and with more money for this school year than any in the past seven years. She already has a long record of success, but Terri Bryant can get a lot more done for a State that has a lot of work to do.”

Bryant and Bost were joined by Com-Pac CEO Greg Sprehe, employees of Com-Pac International, and local government and party officials for the endorsement announcement.

####

Murphysboro....First-term State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) received the honor of being named a "Friend of Agriculture" by the Illinois Farm Bureau this week. Representative Bryant was also endorsed for re-election by the Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR. 

"Agriculture is Illinois' number one industry." Bryant said. "Southern Illinois' farmers grow the food that feeds the world. It is a tremendous honor for me to receive the Friend of Agriculture award and to be endorsed for re-election by the Farm Bureau."

Bryant noted that the 115th district is home to some of the richest farm ground in the entire world, and made special mention of the wide variety of products and services supported by Illinois' agriculture industry. 

"The farmers in my district grow some of the best beans, corn, and wheat in the world," Bryant said. "The climate for grape cultivation in Southern Illinois places us among the number one regions in the entire world for grape growing and wine production. Our wineries win international competitions for their wines. Southern Illinois is blessed with fertile soil and hard-working family farmers. Having the support of the agricultural community means the world to me. I want to thank the Illinois Farm Bureau and all of its members for their continued support."

Representative Bryant was presented the Friend of Agriculture Award during the opening night of the Murphysboro Apple Fest. Jackson County Farm Bureau Manager Jessica Grammer was on hand to present Representative Bryant with the award. 

2016 Friend of Agriculture Award Presented to State Representative Terri Bryant