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GRAYSLAKE — A number of students in the district State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) represents will have a chance to learn out in nature, thanks to the Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Grant Program.
“Hands-on learning, especially when children can see the change they’re making, is some of the best learning,” Bush said. “Students who benefit from this grant funding will be able to gain a sense of responsibility and learn more about the beautiful world around us, all while making a difference in the community.”
Read more: Bush congratulates local schools on nature grant awards
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) released the following statement after being sworn in to serve the 31st District for another term in the General Assembly:
“Serving the people of Northern Lake County has been an immense honor. Last year, more than ever, I learned just how important the legislature can be.
“During a year where we faced an ongoing public health crisis, grave racial injustice and divisive politics, I was reminded that it’s imperative to use my voice and my position to fight for the rights and lives of all Illinoisans.
“As I took the oath today, I was reminded of every life unjustly lost, every family who struggled to make ends meet and every small business that was forced to shut its doors during the past year. I was reminded I must uphold my duty to best serve the people I represent, so no one else has to suffer.
“Thank you, to the people of the 31st District, for trusting in me to continue to represent you at home and in Springfield. My work to make Illinois and the Northern Suburbs a better, safer and more inclusive place to live is far from over.”
Senator Bush has served the 31st District since 2013.
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Bush passes measure to further tackle opioid crisis
SPRINGFIELD – To further reduce opioid abuse, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) passed a measure to ensure every medication prescriber, including e-prescribers, has access to the same database.
“Every prescriber should have access to the prescription database, so they can keep better track of which patients received medications and when they received them,” Bush said. “Checking when someone last received a medication will crack down on overprescribing and doctor shopping.”
The Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program collects information on controlled substance prescriptions dispensed in Illinois. The PMP website allows prescribers and dispensers to view a current or prospective patient's prescription history.
The ultimate goal of the PMP is to assist prescribers and dispensers in the effective treatment of patients seeking medical care. However, currently not every prescriber has access to the database.
Read more: Bush passes measure to further tackle opioid crisis
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GRAYSLAKE – Many families have faced financial burdens and tough decisions about whether to return to work or provide care for their children, but Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) wants people to know that under a new child care co-pay cap, people can do both.
Families who use the Child Care Assistance Program will now have their child care co-pays capped to $1.25 per month for the first two months of 2021.
“Some families have had their hands tied during the COVID-19 pandemic. They needed to return to work but couldn’t afford to send their children back to child care due to being furloughed or laid off,” Bush said. “Thanks to the new cap on the CCAP co-pay, more parents will be able to provide for their families while having the peace of mind their children are being taken care of.”
The co-pay cap is applicable in January and February of 2021. The Child Care Assistance Program is administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services and provides access to affordable, quality child care for low-income and working-class families. This allows families to continue working or attending school without having to worry about how they will pay for the care of their children.
“The co-pay reduction will take an enormous weight off the shoulders of working class families,” Bush said. “Thousands of families will now be able to return to some sense of normalcy.”
More information regarding CCAP eligibility, including how to apply, can be found on the IDHS website.
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GRAYSLAKE – Illinoisans with diabetes will receive relief from skyrocketing insulin prices at the turn of the year thanks to a measure co-sponsored by State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake).
“No person should be forced to skip a meal or default on their mortgage just to be able to afford a medication they need to live,” Bush said. “The cap on rising insulin costs will protect people with diabetes and their families.”
Senate Bill 667 — which takes effect Jan. 1 — caps patients’ out-of-pocket costs for prescription insulin at $100 for a 30-day supply.
More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and 7.4 million Americans require prescription insulin every day to survive, according to the American Diabetes Association. However, the price of insulin has risen sharply in recent years, driving many patients to give up other daily needs to pay for insulin or to ration their supply.
“People will no longer have to take shortcuts or seek out other ways to get their hands on insulin,” Bush said. “The days of prescription drug companies prioritizing profit over people must come to an end — and that starts with this new law.”
The measure makes Illinois the second state to cap prescription insulin co-payments.
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GRAYSLAKE – Following the announcement that Region 9 – which makes up Lake and McHenry Counties – will see increased COVID-19 restrictions, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is reminding everyone the importance of the three Ws: wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance.
“Slowing the spread of COVID-19 is something we, as Illinoisans and Lake County residents, are familiar with and know how to do,” Bush said. “It’s important to continue our efforts to mask up, participate in common hygiene practices and not gather in large groups.”
Read more: Bush: Together, we can stop the spread of COVID-19
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GRAYSLAKE – State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is urging Lake County residents to shop small this holiday season to support local businesses that have been struggling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Small businesses are a part of our communities. They invest in our economy, employ our friends and neighbors and support local events,” Bush said. “It’s now our turn to support them and invest in all they have to offer.”
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GRAYSLAKE – After months of discussion, negotiation and development of a plan to support sexual assault survivors, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is pleased to see the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Forensic Services (DFS) has unveiled a sexual assault evidence tracking system to allow survivors to track the status of their case.
“Every day, survivors await justice, and now they will be able to track the progress of their kit,” Bush said. “Though nothing can undo the pain survivors experienced, I hope this new tracking system empowers survivors to continue moving forward.”
Through ISP’s new tracking system, survivors of sexual assault will be able to monitor the status of the evidence in their case, from collection at the hospital, through law enforcement pick-up and submission to the forensic lab, and ultimately to the State's Attorney's office, where final results will be received. The system, called CheckPoint, can only be accessed by unique case numbers and passwords to ensure privacy of survivors and law enforcement.
“The CheckPoint system will allow survivors to have real-time information about their evidence while protecting their privacy,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “This point-by-point knowledge of the location of their evidence will help to empower survivors and foster public trust in the system. ISP DFS personnel remain committed to supporting survivors of sexual assault through transparency and accountability.”
Currently, any survivor of sexual assault who seeks a forensic medical exam at a health care facility that has implemented the CheckPoint system is able to track the progress of their evidence in the system.
Bush served on the Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking and Reporting Commission, which recommended the tracking system in its final report in 2018. The report can be found here.
More Articles ...
- Bush: New grant to Lake County schools will help close the digital divide and give every student a chance to succeed
- Bush on World Suicide Prevention Day: Please don’t hesitate to reach out. Every life matters.
- Bush: $36 million to tackle opioid crisis is a great step, but more work needs to be done
- Bush: Our community relies on the census count
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