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ice hogs 040721ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) was joined by Governor J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday to celebrate hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal investments in the Rockford area.

As part of a $23 million multi-year Rebuild Illinois project, The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is granting $13 million for infrastructure improvements to the BMO Harris Center in Downtown Rockford, home of the Ice Hogs, an American Hockey League affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Stanley Cup-winning franchise recently announced its acquisition of the Rockford hockey team.

“This is great news for Rockford area hockey fans and downtown businesses,” Stadelman said. “The improvements to BMO Harris Bank Center will ensure the entertainment venue remains a tourist attraction. The state continues to show its commitment to Rockford by supporting the revitalization of downtown.”

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Sen. Mike Simmons

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago), joined by advocates from Voices for Illinois Children, SEIU Healthcare and Start Early, as well as members of the community, spoke out about his legislation creating a new $600-per-child state income tax credit to help working families make ends meet at a Wednesday press conference.

“As we reinvest in our communities following the pandemic, we must make sure working families are included,” Simmons said. “This pandemic has wrought devastation on families of color and children living in poverty in particular, and too often, they’re left out of the conversation.”

Simmons’ plan would provide a $600-per-child income tax credit for single parents making less than $40,000 per year and two-parent households that make less than $60,000. It would gradually phase out for parents at higher income levels.

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pvp vax 040721CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) said additional funding the state will receive to expand Illinois’ vaccination program will save lives, especially in communities of color that have been hit hardest by the virus.

“This funding is necessary for our state to increase vaccine accessibility, especially for those communities disproportionately affected by the ongoing pandemic,” Van Pelt said. “I commend the CDC for their effort to expand the COVID-19 vaccination program.”

Illinois will receive an additional $124 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand the COVID-19 vaccination program, including more than $90 million for the state and $33 million for the City of Chicago. Approximately 75% of the funding will focus on underserved and disproportionate communities affected by the pandemic to ensure vaccines are distributed to people fairly.

 

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hastingsl martinez 040921SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) will join Circuit Court Clerk Iris Y. Martinez for a press conference Wednesday to discuss shared legislative efforts to restore public trust and increase transparency in Cook County government.

Legislation currently awaiting consideration in the Senate, Senate Bill 583, would include the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County under the Local Records Act, providing greater transparency to the public regarding how the clerk’s office uses its public funds. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is a non-judicial office of the judiciary, and not a local government or public body currently subject to FOIA.

“As elected officials, part of our duty should be providing access to public records indicating our actions are in the best interest of the public,” Hastings said. “Clerk Martinez knows this better than most, having led on this issue when she was in the Senate. It is my privilege to follow that lead and partner with her to give Cook County taxpayers the ability to know exactly how their hard-earned money is being used to make their lives better.”

 

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