Walker honors veterans on 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War

SPRINGFIELD — On the 50^th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and fall of Saigon that took place April 30, 1975, State Senator Mark Walker spoke on his experience serving in the Vietnam War during a press conference on Wednesday.

“After I served in the Vietnam War, my mother asked me why I did it,” said Walker (D-Arlington Heights). “I told her I fought for the Bill of Rights, for freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly. Those freedoms are what I fought for and what my friends fought for. We fought alongside the South Vietnamese who fought for the same freedoms we did, for their country.”

State Representatives Hoan Huynh, Stephanie Kifowit, Dan Swanson and Wayne Rosenthal joined Senator Walker at the press conference in the Illinois Capitol Building to express their appreciation to the over 2.7 million American service members and 800,000 South Vietnamese who sacrificed for their country.

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Glowiak Hilton bill enhances standards for sexual assault evidence collection

SPRINGFIELD — At-home sexual assault evidence collection kits, often sold and marketed directly to consumers, are raising concerns about their reliability and the risks they pose to survivors seeking justice. State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton is working to strengthen standards by ensuring evidence is collected by trained medical professionals.

“At-home collection kits may sound ideal for privacy reasons, but they don’t provide the same level of support or legal integrity as exams conducted by a medical professional,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “No one should be sold false hope during one of the most traumatic experiences in their life.”

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Hastings working to ensure vet techs have necessary training

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings advanced a measure to ensure anyone practicing as a veterinary technician is licensed and trained from an accredited program.

“When you go to see a doctor, it can bring you peace of mind to see their medical license displayed on the wall or desk,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This legislation will align the veterinarian field with common health care practices.”

House Bill 3360 would require anyone referring to themselves as a veterinary technician to be licensed with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The bill would ensure that veterinary technicians have graduated from an accredited program and passed the exam required for the license. The bill would also require vet techs to visibly display their license in their office.

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Halpin bill to ensure homeowners receive attorney’s fees passes committee

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin’s bill to ensure defendants in a home repair or remodeling contract dispute receive attorney’s fees passed committee today.

“If homeowners have a genuine dispute and receive a favorable ruling, they should receive full coverage of attorney’s fees,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “This will make sure a resident will have one less cost barrier to enforce their rights against a contractor.”

State law already requires consumer contracts in cases under $10,000 to pay out attorney’s fees to a consumer if the consumer prevails in their action. This initiative would ensure that if a home repair and remodeling contract allows attorney’s fees then the contract will permit the award of attorney’s fees to all parties in the contract.

Read more: Halpin bill to ensure homeowners receive attorney’s fees passes committee