Downstate Senate Democrats applaud $5 million in grants for livestock farmers, small meat and poultry plants

SPRINGFIELD – Downstate Senate Democrats are encouraging livestock producers and small meat and poultry plants suffering interruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for $5 million in business recovery funding through the Illinois Department of Agriculture.  

“Farmers have continued to put food on store shelves and on families’ tables during these tough times,” Senate Agriculture Chairman Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) said. “I’m confident these funds will help benefit producers, consumers and rural communities that have been impacted by COVID-19 disruptions.”

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically slowed livestock processing throughout the state, which forced farmers to hold animals for longer periods of time, resulting in higher input costs and cancelled, delayed or reduced sales.

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Belt supports the need for affordable housing

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) expressed his support for the third pillar of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’s agenda: creating economic access, equity and opportunity for Black Illinoisans. He particularly supports increasing low-income, permanent and affordable housing options for Illinois families. 

“The gap between African American and white homeownership is larger today than when the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968. This has contributed to a racial wealth gap—nearly 1,000%—between median white and African American households," Belt said. “Because home ownership is how most families save and build wealth, the disparity in home ownership is a central driver of the racial wealth gap. We need to continue to advocate so every Illinoisan has access to housing that is affordable, stable, safe and healthy.”

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Bennett applauds new online sexual assault evidence tracking system from Illinois State Police

CHAMPAIGN – Drawing on his experience as an attorney and prosecutor, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is pleased to see that the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services (ISP DFS) has unveiled an online sexual assault tracking system to give sexual assault survivors the ability to track evidence in new cases.

“Creating a uniform system to track sexual assault evidence will ensure survivors are treated with respect and offenders are held accountable,” Bennett said. “This new system will empower survivors to access information that’s critically helpful for them to move forward from their assault.”

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State lawmakers discuss paths to sentencing reform and violence reduction

CHICAGO — Members of the Illinois House and Senate came together to discuss sentencing reform and violence reduction in a joint Senate hearing on Tuesday.

“We must confront the vast disparities in how individuals throughout the state are sentenced,” State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago), chair of the Senate Criminal Law Committee, who co-chaired the joint committee alongside State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), who heads the Senate Public Safety Special Committee. “We have to ensure that our justice system treats everyone fairly regardless of their race, religion and economic status. That often is not the case. These issues are important to achieve a more fair and equitable system.”

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