Morrison fights for veterans’ food security

SPRINGFIELD — Despite dedicating their time and safety to serve our country, over 11% of veterans face food insecurity in the U.S. — an issue State Senator Julie Morrison looks to remedy through legislation that will help more Illinois military families access food benefits.

“I’ve seen veterans in my district who are forced to rely on food pantries because their household doesn’t qualify for SNAP benefits,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Veterans served our state and our nation — they should be able to access the resources they need to live comfortably.”

Morrison’s measure, Senate Bill 32, would raise the income level at which households with a veteran or member of the Armed Forces would be eligible for benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Under current law, households without seniors or individuals with disabilities must have a gross income at or below 165% of the federal poverty guidelines — for a family of four, this would be a monthly income limit of $4,290 for Fiscal Year 2025. Senate Bill 32 proposes raising this threshold to 200% of the poverty level for veterans and military families, which would bring the monthly income limit to $5,200.

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Preston holds press conference on measure to enhance speech therapy coverage for stuttering

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Willie Preston along with fellow legislators and advocates gathered to emphasize the importance of requiring health insurance companies to provide coverage for speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering.

“I am dedicated to providing essential speech therapy services to all Illinoisans across the state regardless of their economic status, “said Preston (D-Chicago). “It not only will benefit their speech, but it will also help build their confidence.”

Senate Bill 40 would require health insurers to cover habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering for those covered by private or public insurance plans.

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Feigenholtz: Cameras are for safety, not for profit

CHICAGO — State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to add up to 50 speed cameras across Chicago:

“The city’s budget should never be balanced on the backs of Chicagoans, particularly when it comes to speed cameras. Cameras are for safety — not for profit. If the administration is interested in speed cameras, it should review the crash data on its website for DuSable Lake Shore Drive, where there have been over 15,000 vehicle crashes since 2015. The data is clear and it should be guiding our decisions.

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Castro highlights proposal creating pathway to homeownership for first-time buyers

SPRINGFIELD — Joined by realtors and advocates at a press conference Thursday, State Senator Cristina Castro outlined legislation she’s sponsoring to incentivize saving for a first home.

“I keep hearing from young people who are starting their professional careers, and a lot of them don’t feel like homeownership is attainable,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “This bill will help them prepare for that, and it will help make owning a home attainable.”

Years of low housing inventory have created an inflationary effect on the housing market in Illinois, driving home prices up by nearly 40% in the last five years. Ballooning prices mean that new homebuyers have to put down more of their savings for down payments, further driving up the burden of buying a home. To address this imbalance, Castro is leading a proposal to help consumers save responsibly and create a pathway to homeownership.

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