Commission to End Hunger

Board and Commission Details

Contact Name

Colleen Burns; Kate Maehr

Contact E-Mail

cburns@gcfd.org; krmaehr@gcfd.org

Function

The purpose of the Commission to End Hunger shall be to develop an action plan every 2 years, review the progress of this plan, and ensure cross-collaboration among government entities and community partners toward the goal of ending hunger in Illinois.

Term

N/A

Senate Confirmation

Qualifications

The appointed members shall reflect the racial, gender, and geographic diversity of the State and shall include representation from regions of the State.

Compensation

Members shall serve without compensation and are responsible for the cost of all reasonable and necessary travel expenses connected to Commission business, as the State of Illinois will not reimburse Commission members for these costs.

Composition

The Commission to End Hunger shall be composed of no more than 21 voting members including: 2 - members of the Illinois House of Representatives; 1 - appointed by the Speaker of the House; 1 - appointed by the House Minority Leader; 2 - members of the Illinois Senate; 1 - appointed by the Senate President; 1 - appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; 1 - representative of the Office of the Governor appointed by the Governor; 1 - representative of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; and 15 public members, who shall be appointed by the Governor. The public members shall include: 2 - representatives of food banks; 2 - representatives from other community food assistance programs; a representative of a statewide organization focused on responding to hunger; a representative from an anti-poverty organization; a representative of an organization that serves or advocates for children and youth; a representative of an organization that serves or advocates for older adults; a representative of an organization that advocates for people who are homeless; a representative of an organization that serves or advocates for persons with disabilities; a representative of an organization that advocates for immigrants; a representative of a municipal or county government; and; 3 at-large members. The following officials shall serve as ex-officio members: Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee; State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee; Director of Healthcare and Family Services or his or her designee; Director of Children and Family Services or his or her designee; Director of Aging or his or her designee; Director of Natural Resources or his or her designee; Director of Agriculture or his or her designee. The African-American Family Commission, the Latino Family Commission, and the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council shall each designate a liaison to serve ex-officio on the Commission.

Chair

The representative of the Office of the Governor and a representative of a food bank shall serve as co-chairs of the Commission.

Authority

20 ILCS 5015/10

Member Names

Name	Member Expiration	Member Since	Appointed By	Position	Title	County
Herring Sr., John S.		06/04/2020	Governor	Member, representative of an organization that serves/advocates for persons with disabilities		Sangamon
VACANT			The African-American Family Commission	Ex-Officio
Gibb, Joshua D.		06/04/2020	Governor	Member, at-large		Knox
Eastern III, Robert		06/11/2020	Governor	Member, representative of a municipal or county government		St. Clair
Waxman, Rhoda Elaine		06/26/2026	Governor	Member, At Large
Karr, Rob		06/04/2020	Governor	Member, at-large		Morgan
Guzman, Idalia Flores		06/05/2026	Governor	Member, representative of an organization that advocates for immigrants
Quintero, Dulce			Statute	Ex-Officio, Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee
Haller, Mark			Statute	Ex-Officio, State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee
Aguirre, Jenny			Statute	Ex-Officio, Director of Healthcare and Family Services or his or her designee
Malone, Stacy			Statute	Ex-Officio, Director of Aging or his or her designee
Baren, Robert			Statute	Ex-Officio, Director of Agriculture or his or her designee
Ross, Carolyn K.		06/04/2020	Governor	Member, representative of an organization that advocates for the homeless		Will
VACANT			The Latino Family Commission	Ex-Officio
Egan, John			Statute	Ex-Officio, Director of Children and Family Services or his or her designee
Rezin, Sen. Sue			Senate Minority Leader	Member	State Senator
Slezak, Diane		07/02/2026	Governor	Member, representative of an organization that serves/advocates for older adults
Johnson, Jay			Statute	Ex-Officio, Director of Natural Resources or designee
VACANT			Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council	Ex-Officio
Hernandez, Lisa		09/14/2020	Speaker of the House	Member	State Representative	Sangamon
Hunter, Sen. Mattie	01/06/2027	05/24/2022	Senate President	Member	State Senator	Cook
Hou, Grace B.		01/26/2024	Governor	Co-chair, Governor's Office Representative		Cook
VACANT			Lieutenant Governor	Member
Ericson, Stephen D.		06/04/2020	Governor	Member, representative of a food bank		Kane
Maehr, Katherine		10/31/2019	Governor	Co-chair, representative of a food bank		Cook
Biekman, Robert		06/04/2020	Governor	Member, representative of a community food assistance program		Cook
Cleggs, Gina Kristi		07/10/2020	Governor	Member, representative of a community food assistance program		Cook
Doherty, Diane		06/04/2020	Governor	Member, representative of a statewide organization focused on responding to hunger		Cook
Saheb, Sarah Razak Salman		05/29/2026	Governor	Member, representative from an anti-poverty organization
Janney, April		06/08/2021	Governor	Member, representative of an organization that serves/advocates for children & youth
Meier, Rep. Charles		10/21/2019	House Minority Leader	Member	State Representative