Loughran Cappel advances measures to further tackle teacher shortage

SPRINGFIELD – As a strong advocate for teachers, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel spearheaded two measures through the Senate to continue her efforts to address the teacher shortage that would increase the number of days substitute teachers can be in a classroom and increase the annual pay cap for teachers who mentor or provide professional development.

“I want to express my support for teachers and acknowledge the difficulties faced by many school districts in finding teachers and substitutes,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “It’s important that we collaborate with school districts to provide them with the flexibility they need to adapt to different situations.”

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Ventura leads measure to restore degraded forests and prairies

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura advanced a new measure that would create a grant for local governments to help mitigate the impact of climate change.

“We need to encourage local governments to plant native trees and grasses, which are proven to help mitigate climate change through carbon capture,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “With the climate crisis that is happening across the world, it is evident that legislation through every level of government needs to focus on important issues like this to ensure our children have a healthier planet.”

Senate Bill 2357 creates the Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act which requires the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to establish a grant program for local governments for the purpose of restoring degraded forests and prairies to help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to mitigate the impact of climate change.

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Villa initiative to address statewide nurse shortages passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – To address the shortage of nurses in health care facilities across Illinois, State Senator Karina Villa passed a bill from the Senate on Thursday. 

“Nursing is a difficult profession. It is a demanding job both physically and mentally,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Nurses should feel supported, and my hope is this initiative will help provide that support so more people will be inspired to join and stay in the nursing profession.”

The growing scarcity of nurses in Illinois, especially in Southern Illinois, is negatively impacting patients, as well as existing nurses who have to work without a full staff in some of these health care facilities. Nurses are a critical part of health care and make up the largest section of the health profession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that more than 275,000 additional nurses will be needed from 2020 to 2030.

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Senator Fine measure to make specialty services more accessible for HMO patients passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Fine’s legislation to eliminate hurdles HMO patients face when seeking treatment by medical specialists passed the Senate on Thursday, moving it one step closer to becoming law.

“The current HMO system can cause serious delays for people who need specialized care, which can lead to adverse health effects,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This new measure will ensure patients can get the care they need as soon as possible to allow them to start feeling healthy again.”

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