MARYVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon), vice-chair of the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee, joined conversations Thursday to discuss the state’s recovery plan for businesses, hotels and restaurants hurt by the pandemic.

“While I understand the importance of keeping residents safe, it has been difficult to watch local businesses suffer as residents cross our borders to support restaurants and shops in neighboring states,” Crowe said. “Illinois has so much to offer, and I’m looking forward to discussing our state’s recovery plan to re-ignite our unique tourism and hospitality industries.”

The committee’s first hearing on Thursday covered the strategic plan for COVID-19 recovery and relief in the hospitality industry and featured testimony from representatives of various areas of the industry. Details on the next meeting will be announced when finalized.

Committee schedules, witness slips and live proceedings are available at www.ilga.gov.

MARYVILLE – Thanks to an inspiring response from students, families and community members, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) will deliver hundreds of Valentine’s Day cards to residents at Stearns Nursing and Rehab in Granite City and Foxes Grove Supportive Living Community in Wood River.

“The pandemic has left our neighbors in local long-term care facilities feeling isolated from loved ones over many events and holidays,” Crowe said. “But thanks to members of our community, I am overwhelmed with joy to deliver these notes to remind our older residents how much they are cared for.”

PICTURED: (LEFT) Senator Rachelle Crowe poses in her Maryville district office with cards donated by Collinsville High School students and local residents. (RIGHT) Cards dropped off in Senator Rachelle Crowe’s Wood River office location.

MARYVILLE – To learn about the status of several unemployment insurance issues plaguing the Illinois Department of Employment Security, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) will attend a subject matter hearing in the Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday. The unprecedented flood of claims in the last year, when more than 1 million Illinoisans lost their jobs, overwhelmed the department.

“Almost a year after the pandemic began, our state’s unemployment benefits system is working through challenge after challenge, and meanwhile, residents are growing more desperate every day,” Crowe said. “Unemployed residents deserve solid answers regarding what is being done to fix our broken benefits system. IDES must provide the public with updates on how the department is addressing the complaints claimants have posed.”

MARYVILLE – Focused on the future of the justice system, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) vows to prioritize accountability and fairness in her renewed position as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Our state has the opportunity to build a justice system that works for everyone and upholds the values it was built upon: integrity and fairness,” Crowe said. “I look forward to hearing from crime survivors, families and other involved courtroom officials and using their input to guide this session’s agenda.”

Crowe got her start in law as a prosecutor in the Violent Crimes Unit at the Madison County State’s Attorney’s office before being elected to the Illinois Senate in 2018.

She was first appointed chair of the Judiciary Committee in January 2020, becoming the first woman in Illinois history to take on the role. Crowe also serves as vice-chair of the Tourism and Hospitality Committee and is an active member on the Labor, Licensed Activities and Veterans Affairs Committees.

MARYVILLE – To bring joy to older residents who have been isolated from loved ones, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) invites people of all ages to donate valentines to be given out at local long-term care facilities.

“Whether the cards are bought in a store or made from paper and markers, many older residents could use an extra reminder that they are cared for,” Crowe said. “I encourage families, students, community members and anyone with artistic talent to send in a Valentine’s Day card to spread love to our older neighbors.”

MARYVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is encouraging K-12 students to create and submit artwork for the annual art contest sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois State Board of Education. This year’s theme is “Art Surrounds Us.”

“Creating art is a great way for students to express themselves,” Crowe said. “The Metro East has many talented artists, and I hope students of all ages choose to participate in this statewide art contest.”

The contest includes four entry levels: grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. A panel of judges selects a winner and three runners-up in each entry level.

SPRINGFIELD - To empower health care providers to prevent opioid abuse, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) voted on a measure Sunday to give every medication prescriber, including e-prescribers, access to the same database.

“By allowing all prescribers access to a universal database, we can give health care providers an accurate resource to make educated decisions when prescribing medications,” Crowe said. “Armed with a patient’s full medical history, a provider may decide the best course of action is to prescribe one of the many viable opioid alternatives.”

The Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) 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.  

House Bill 2488 would tackle that issue. The measure would ensure every person who has prescribing authority has access to the PMP. 

Crowe, chair of the Senate Special Committee on Opioid Crisis Abatement, has gathered stakeholders from across Illinois to learn more about the state’s response to the opioid epidemic and is working to draft additional legislation to support the fight against the public health crisis.

HB 2488 advanced out of the Senate Sunday.

MARYVILLE – The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has announced the recipients of Strong Communities Program (SCP) grants, and State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is celebrating the City of Alton’s $161,000 award.

“By providing local governments with assistance to restore abandoned lots and damaged properties, the Strong Communities Program supports leaders in strategically revitalizing their communities,” Crowe said. “The program makes smart investments in communities while our state responds to the fiscal challenges of the pandemic.”

Created in August 2020, SCP provides grants of up to $250,000 to local government agencies to return vacant residential properties to productive and taxable use. To support neighboring residencies from harmful effects of blighted properties, grants can also be used to reimburse municipalities for acquisition, rehabilitation, landscaping maintenance and demolition if necessary.

The City of Alton is one of 68 local governments and land bank authorities to receive funding through SCP.