Celebrating Illinois’ Olympians

SPRINGFIELD – More than a dozen athletes from Illinois represented the United States at the recent Winter Olympics. To honor their accomplishments, the Illinois Senate passed a resolution Friday.

“I am proud of all the winter Olympians from Illinois,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park).

Fourteen of the 220 athletes who were on team USA were from Illinois, and they competed in figure skating, hockey, ski jumping and speed skating.

“The hard work and motivation the Olympians have is admirable. We all watched anxiously and cheered you on as you lived out your dreams to compete as one of the country’s top athletes,” said State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “To our fellow athletes who represented our great nation at the winter games – you made your home state extremely proud.”

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Stadelman works to alleviate weight of trauma survivors carry when filling orders of protection

SPRINGFIELD – Leading legislation to give survivors of abuse more comfort and accessibility filing a protective order, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) hosted a press conference Wednesday to bring more awareness to the ongoing issues survivors face.  

“The weight of trauma a survivor carries becomes detrimental as they struggle to cope with grief and take the steps necessary to begin to heal,” Stadelman said. “By giving survivors the opportunity to file for protective orders at their own pace in the safety of their own home, we are giving them the keys to move forward.”

Stadelman’s measure would give people the option to file a protective order either online or in-person. The measure would also require any court in a county with a population above 250,000 to offer the option of a remote hearing to the petitioner for a protective order.

Read more: Stadelman works to alleviate weight of trauma survivors carry when filling orders of protection

Senate supports Ellman’s legislation establishing Hydrogen Hub in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – A measure by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) to create the Hydrogen Economy Task Force and establish Illinois as a Hydrogen Hub in the Midwest advanced out of the Senate on Friday.

“Through this legislation, Illinois has the opportunity to take the lead on a nationwide effort to spur clean energy and hydrogen generation,” Ellman said. “As a potential Midwest Hydrogen Hub, we can support our agricultural, refinery and transportation industries and create jobs for workers across the state.”

The Hydrogen Economy Task Force established under Senate Bill 3613 would be responsible for publishing a plan to create a Hydrogen Hub in Illinois, identifying opportunities to integrate hydrogen into the economy, analyzing barriers to hydrogen development, and recommending policies to catalyze deployment of hydrogen in the state economy.

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Bush measure to provide time off for miscarriage

SPRINGFIELD – The burden of silence many people face when returning to the workplace almost immediately following the loss of a pregnancy can cause emotional upheaval. State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is leading a proposal to allow people to take leave following pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or other fertility issues.

“The emotional anguish suffered after a miscarriage or stillbirth is often debilitating,” Bush said. “Returning to work sooner than they’d like leaves little room for grief, mourning and healing.”

Bush’s Senate Bill 3120 expands the Child Bereavement Act by providing up to 10 days of unpaid leave following a pregnancy loss, stillbirth or an unsuccessful intrauterine insemination, among other issues negatively impacting pregnancy or fertility.

Read more: Bush measure to provide time off for miscarriage