Gov. Pritzker to sign a bill to better count Arab Americans in Illinois. | Illinois National Guard public domain photo
Gov. Pritzker to sign a bill to better count Arab Americans in Illinois. | Illinois National Guard public domain photo
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he would sign a bill, HB 3768, passed by the legislature on May 19, allowing individuals to select Arab American as an ethnic option on registration forms.
Pritzker expressed his support when the bill was introduced, and took to Twitter to affirm his commitment.
"History made! With HB 3768 passage, our MENA, or Middle Eastern and North African communities, will now have their own category on state forms and surveys," Pritzker tweeted on May 19. "My office made this change years ago and I look forward to signing this bill into law to ensure a more equitable Illinois."
CBS News Chicago said Illinois would be the first state to officially recognize Arab American as an ethnic group when collecting public data.
The bill was sponsored by State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, the first Palestinian American elected to the state legislature.
Arab American community leaders said they have long recognized the need for accurate data regarding the Arab American population in Illinois and said they are optimistic that they will gain a more precise count of Arab Americans in the state, an ABC7 Chicago story said. This accurate data will empower them to address their community's specific needs and concerns and ensure that they receive appropriate resources and support, the story said.
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