EDWARDSVILLE – Feminine hygiene products will be required at homeless shelters for all who need them, thanks to a measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) that was signed into law today.

“I cannot personally imagine the indignity of having to use some other item as a makeshift sanitary product, but I believe people who have already been deprived of so much should not have to suffer that, too,” Belt said. “These are essential products for health, safety, and cleanliness, and we need to treat them as such when we supply our homeless shelters.”

EAST ST. LOUIS – To expand digital access in the Metro East, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is urging local organizations to apply for the second round of state broadband grant funding.

“People rely on the internet. As the pandemic forced many people to work from home and participate in school remotely, access to the internet became a necessity,” Belt said. “I want to spread the word that applications are open for organizations to apply for broadband funding as we work to eliminate the digital divide.”

The Office of Broadband Regional Engagement for Adoption + Digital Equity (READY) program is designed to increase access, adoption and use of high-speed internet access through the lens of digital equity and inclusion. To further these efforts across all ten economic development regions of the state, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Broadband is launching the next READY notice of funding opportunity, with another $250,000 available for grants.

The Broadband READY program is part of a comprehensive Digital Equity Package to boost broadband capacity while addressing existing broadband equity gaps. The READY program and other investments to enhance community planning and equitable implementation will complement the Connect Illinois program, a $400 million plan to deliver universal access to high-speed internet statewide.

Funding can be used to expand immediate broadband connectivity, conduct outreach and engagement to identify current digital inequities and establish next steps forward. Its aim is to create a digital inclusion ecosystem through regional collaboration among institutions of higher education, planning councils, community and economic development organizations, schools, libraries, health care and local leaders and other related stakeholders.

“In today’s world, the internet is our gateway to everything,” Belt said. “Bridging the gap to ensure people have reliable internet is essential.”

The application deadline for the second round of READY grants is Oct. 4, 2021. Visit the Illinois Office of Broadband website for information on eligibility criteria or application assistance.

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is encouraging residents to take advantage of public parks and natural spaces in celebration of National Park and Recreation Month.

“Parks offer communities a place to gather with friends and family outdoors,” Belt said. “I hope people will take advantage of spending time outside and experiencing the nature around us during Park and Recreation Month.”

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, parks play an important role in maintaining quality of life in a community. Parks provide gathering places for members of a community to interact with each other, host public events and offer recreational programs.

Additionally, parks are a public place where people can go to keep healthy and fit. A Penn State University study showed that the length of visits to parks has a connection with reductions in stress, lowered blood pressure and perceived physical health.

Parks also offer an economic benefit to their communities by raising nearby property values and increasing revenue from tourism. Trees and other growth are also estimated to save cities money in environmental impacts and the effects of storms.

“The Metro East has a wide range of parks and trails available for residents visit,” Belt said. “It’s a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors and appreciate all nature offers.”

Visit the Metro East Park and Recreation District to find a park near in the area.

SPRINGFIELD – Students can choose whether or not to submit their ACT and SAT scores when applying to Illinois colleges and universities, thanks to a measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) that was signed into law Friday.

“Standardized tests are not what universities need to rely on when accepting students,” Belt said. “This necessary transition away from test scores will benefit those students who have the capability to be accepted into Illinois’ universities, but may struggle with test anxieties.”

The new law, led by Belt and House Sponsor LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis), creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, which would prohibit Illinois’ public universities from relying solely on a student’s ACT or SAT score to make an admissions decision.

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is congratulating the East St. Louis Health Transformation Partnership for receiving funding to create community-based programs to reduce health disparities and expand access to quality, affordable health care in the region.

“East St. Louis is the most distressed community in the state,” said Belt, who voted to fund the program. “This funding will ensure that the most vulnerable populations have access to quality and affordable health care.”

The Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives’ goal is to reorient health care in Illinois to reduce inequities, improve health outcomes, address social determinants of health and assist underserved communities with access to quality health care. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services will administer a total of $94.3 million in funding to equity-focused health care collaboratives across Illinois.

East St. Louis Health Transformation Partnership, spearheaded by Touchette Regional Hospital, is one of eight awardees for the first round of funding. The funding will be used to realign the health delivery system and improve the quality of life for those living in the East. St. Louis Metro Area. The participating entities include SIHF Healthcare, SIU School of Medicine, Hoyleton Youth and Family Services, Centene, Memorial Medical Group, ConferMed Weitzman Institute, Washington University, Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center and Zade, Inc.

This project will address the issues of unmet health needs, social barriers, lack of connectivity between organizations, years of disinvestment, limited jobs and inequities in the workforce. These efforts will make the necessary transformations over the next five years to advance the health and well-being of the residents in the Metro East. Major projects include a new health care campus near major highways and transportation hubs, development of an urgent care center and a community health hub in midtown East St. Louis, deployment of community health workers, a new workforce development and job training center in Venice and improvements to public housing throughout the area.

“I’m proud to see funding being spent on communities that have been in desperate need of access to health care for far too long,” Belt said. “We will continue to break down the inequalities present in our health care system and work towards quality health care for all.”

More information is available on the Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives website.

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is proud to announce two local fire departments will receive funding through the Small Equipment Grant Program, administered by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal for equipment upgrades.

“This program gives eligible departments the opportunity to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to afford,” Belt said. “Thanks to the small equipment grants, these fire departments will be able to provide better service to residents and families in our community.” 

The Small Equipment Grant Program was established by the Office of the State Fire Marshal to provide grants of up to $26,000 to support small firefighting and ambulance equipment purchases. A total of $3.3 million was awarded to 149 fire departments and EMS providers across the state through the program.

Two grant recipients are located within the 57^th Senate District:

• French Village Fire Department - $20,282.28
• East St. Louis Fire Department - $26,000

“Departments have had to make tough financial decisions, especially this year during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez. “The Small Equipment Grant Program helps reduce the burden on smaller departments/districts while replacing aging and sometimes failing small equipment.” 

A complete list of recipients and awards can be found on the OSFM website.

East St. Louis – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is reminding people to look out for text and email scams asking for personal information from someone pegging themselves as the Illinois Department of Transportation.

“With the increase in hacking, residents need to be aware of who they are giving personal information to,” Belt said. “I urge everyone to take precaution when receiving a text message or email saying it’s from IDOT.”

While the messages might look official, IDOT will not request personal information, such as Social Security numbers or bank information, via text or email.

To protect personal information, take the following precautions:

• Delete unsolicited emails and texts requesting personal information or promising state driver’s licenses or IDs;
• Do not click on any links contained in such emails or texts, as they may place malware on your computer or devices;
• Hang up on any calls, including robocalls that ask you to take immediate action or provide personally identifiable information;
• Ask to use other types of identifiers besides your Social Security number;
• Keep software up to date, including operating systems and antivirus protection programs on your computer, phone and other devices.

“I have no respect for those who participate in fraudulent schemes,” Belt said. “IDOT will not ask for your personal information through text or email, and the department is working around the clock to keep you safe.” 

East St. Louis – To encourage summer reading, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is launching a Summer Reading Club for children and young people who live in the 57th State Senate District.

Belt is launching the club to counteract summer learning loss, which occurs when students “turn off their brains” during the summer months.

“It’s important for kids to become stronger readers to succeed in school and life,” Belt said. “I hope this book club encourages healthy brain development and lifelong learning.”

Studies indicate that 2 months of reading skills and 2 ½ months of math skills are lost over a single summer.

The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books and return the form to Belt’s office by Aug. 11. Senator Belt will host a pizza party for everyone who finishes reading their books. 

“Youth activities have always been one of my top priorities,” Belt said. “This program will keep the students’ minds alert during the summer months.”

To receive a book club form, visit SenatorBelt.com to download and print the form. Parents can also contact the district office at 618-875-1212.

Belt urges interested residents to call his office with any additional questions.