BURBANK — According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 162 Illinois veterans died by suicide in 2022. As the newly appointed chair of the Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Advisory Council, State Senator Mike Porfirio is committed to leading the charge to lower this number.

“Suicide among veterans is a national emergency, and I am committed to advancing efforts toward breakthrough therapies,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “As a fellow veteran, I am honored to be appointed as a representative of the community and am eager to get started on the work to identify innovative therapies to address the veteran suicide crisis.”

SPRINGFIELD — In addition to his role as chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, State Senator Mike Porfirio will serve as a member on Senate committees for Transportation, Labor, Education, Higher Education and Appropriations for Public Safety and Infrastructure for the 104^th General Assembly.

“As a lifelong resident of the 11^th District, I speak with members of my community every day,” said Porfirio (D- Lyons Township). “I am confident my committee assignments will put me in a position to best represent my community and the issues important to them.”

Porfirio will expand his role in the Senate Transportation Committee as vice chair. The 11^th Senate District is a hub for transportation and labor, holding Midway Airport, CSX Transportation and the headquarters of Belt Railway Company of Chicago.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Porfirio is backing House Bill 2723, introduced by State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid, which would lift state pension investment restrictions placed on companies engaged in boycotts of Israel. Porfirio plans to file a bill in the Illinois Senate with identical language this week.

“Public pension funds should prioritize fiscal responsibility,” said Porfirio (D- Lyons Township).

SPRINGFIELD – A staunch advocate of the veteran community, State Senator Mike Porfirio has been named chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for the 104^th General Assembly.

“Veterans are pillars of the community, leaders and public servants throughout the great state of Illinois,” said Porfirio (D- Lyons Township). “I am honored and committed to defending the rights of my fellow veterans, as they have heroically defended ours.”

Porfirio, a Navy veteran himself, served over seven years on active duty. In 2005, he was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he patrolled Iraqi Oil Terminals and responded to the Pakistani earthquake relief efforts. After returning home, he was recalled to active duty as a Senior U.S. Military Advisor to the Afghan National Police from 2013 to 2014. He was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his service during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Porfirio continues to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve and has over 24 years of collective service in uniform.