ISDC
  • Home
  • Senators
    • Alphabetical
    • Committees
    • Leadership
    • Find My Senator
  • Caucus News
    • ILBC Committee Roundup
    • Subscribe
    • Majority Report
  • Issues
    • Agriculture
    • Budget
    • Business
    • Criminal Law
    • Diabetes
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Ethics
    • Health
    • Higher Education
    • Law Enforcement
    • Seniors
    • Transportation
    • Veterans
  • Multimedia
    • Monthly Minute
    • Photo of the Day
    • Sound of the State
  • Resources
    • Bills / Resolutions
    • Fact Sheets
    • For Educators
    • I Like Illinois
    • Illinois Compiled Statutes
    • Illinois General Assembly
    • Internships
    • Media Guidelines
    • NCSL
    • Senate Schedule
  • About the Senate
  • Contact Us
    • How to contact a Senator
    • Employment
    • Submit Feedback
  • ILBC Pillars
    • Pillar 1
    • Pillar 2
    • Pillar 3
    • Pillar 4
  • COVID-19

Harris: Working families deserve flat-dollar copay plans

Details
Category: Senator Napoleon Harris III News
Thursday, May 27, 2021 04:05 PM
  • Health Insurance
  • Harris
  • Drug Co-Pays
  • HB1745

Pharmacy

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) passed legislation out of the General Assembly that would require all Illinois-regulated health insurance companies to offer predictable plans for drug benefits.

“Many families have a monthly budget, and knowing how much their drug copayment will be every month would give them the ability to better manage their finances,” Harris said. “Flat-dollar copay plans should be an option for everyone and should be available immediately.”

Currently, most health insurance plans have a structure for prescription drug copayments based on graduated tiers. For the highest levels of drugs, often called specialty care drugs, these plans usually use coinsurance – requiring patients to pay a percentage of the drug’s cost – rather than a copay.

Read more: Harris: Working families deserve flat-dollar copay plans

Harris to create the Black Wall Street Program

Details
Category: Senator Napoleon Harris III News
Thursday, May 20, 2021 10:57 AM
  • Business
  • DCEO
  • Harris
  • Minority Owned
  • Black Wall Street
  • HB1960

Sen. Napoleon Harris, III

A program where Black businesses finally get the resources they need

SPRINGFIELD – To better support Black-owned businesses, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) is pushing to create the Black Wall Street Program to increase the progress of Black businesses in Illinois.

"We can reduce the challenges Black businesses face by providing access to resources that help them develop," Harris said. "Supporting Black businesses helps not just the businesses, but the entire community that surrounds them."

House Bill 1960 would require the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create and administer this program to stimulate black businesses' growth and development in under-served communities throughout the state of Illinois.

Read more: Harris to create the Black Wall Street Program

Harris legislation would require insurance companies to offer predictable drug co-pay plans

Details
Category: Senator Napoleon Harris III News
Thursday, May 13, 2021 09:29 AM
  • Health Insurance
  • Harris
  • Drug Co-Pays
  • HB1745

harris 051321SPRINGFIELD - To help patients better manage their prescription costs, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) passed legislation out of the Senate Insurance Committee that would require all Illinois-regulated health insurance companies to offer flat-dollar co-pay plans for drug benefits. 

"Working families could better plan for their health care costs if they paid fixed out-of-pocket amounts for their prescribed medicine," Harris said. "I want to make sure plans are available that offer that option."

Read more: Harris legislation would require insurance companies to offer predictable drug co-pay plans

Harris pushes Amtrak to create contract goals for small and minority businesses

Details
Category: Senator Napoleon Harris III News
Friday, April 23, 2021 04:30 PM
  • Harris
  • Amtrak
  • SB2424

 Harris 4 2021

 

SPRINGFIELD – In order to increase diversity and inclusion in the railroad industry, State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey) is pushing Amtrak to submit procurement goals for female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned and small business enterprises.

“In order to ensure that our small and minority businesses are getting a fair opportunity to participate in transportation contracts, we must urge all our railroad companies to set goals to increase diversity,” Harris said. “Illinois is a diverse state, and all industries should promote equity and inclusion for all business that want to participate in public contracts.”

Currently, the Railroad Supplier Diversity Act allows each Class I railroad company to submit an annual report containing procurement goals and actual spending for female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned and small business enterprises to the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Read more: Harris pushes Amtrak to create contract goals for small and minority businesses

Harris works to reduce racial disparities in the child welfare system

Details
Category: Senator Napoleon Harris III News
Friday, April 23, 2021 03:08 PM
  • DCFS
  • Harris
  • Racial Disparity
  • SB2406

Sen. Napoleon Harris, III

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure that Black and Brown families are being treated fairly, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III is sponsoring legislation that would require the Department of Children and Family Services to submit an annual report regarding racial disparities for children and families. 

“Our minority families already have to deal with enough challenges. They shouldn’t have to deal with racial disparities in their treatment by DCFS and other state agencies,” Harris said. “Requiring DCFS to provide a report on inequities helps us pinpoint where these Black and Brown families need help the most.” 

Senate Bill 2406 requires DCFS to prepare and submit an annual report to the General Assembly regarding racial disparities for children and families involved in the child welfare system by no later than Dec. 31, 2022, and each year after.

Read more: Harris works to reduce racial disparities in the child welfare system

Harris celebrates that local school districts are expected to receive over $250 million

Details
Category: Senator Napoleon Harris III News
Thursday, April 01, 2021 02:59 PM
  • Harris
  • Federal COVID Relief Package
  • American Rescue Plan
  • Local School Districts

harris school 040121DOLTON – As Black communities have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) announcing schools in the 15th District are set to receive an estimated $261,020,731 in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on our Black communities, and I’m glad to see that the Black Caucus’ efforts are helping make a change,” Harris said. “Providing guidelines on how to spend the funding will increase justice for our communities and help them move forward.”

The funding comes as part of the most recent federal COVID-19 relief packages. Schools, students and parents have overcome challenges that no one could have imagined before the pandemic began, including remote and hybrid learning, digital connection issues, new processes for receiving state and federal aid that normally flow through schools, and more.

Local school districts are set to receive the following amounts:

Arbor Park School District 145

$2,831,311 

Bloom Township High School District 206

$18,806,767 

Bremen Community High School District 228

$13,781,814 

Brookwood School District 167

$5,715,703 

Community Consolidated Schools District 168

$9,611,391 

Community High School District 218

$16,124,982 

Dolton School District 148

$19,654,519 

Dolton School District 149

$18,151,219 

Flossmoor School District 161

$4,108,837 

Ford Heights School District 169

$6,557,921 

Forest Ridge School District 142

$3,523,595 

Harvey School District 152

$20,263,089 

Hazel Crest School District 152-5

$7,769,398 

Homewood Flossmoor Community High School District 233

$1,852,853 

Homewood School District 153

$2,527,895 

Hoover-Schrum Memorial School District 157

$5,434,521 

Lansing School District 158

$9,416,356 

Midlothian School District 143

$6,339,376 

Posen-Robbins School District 143-5

$8,266,583 

Prairie-Hills School District 144

$16,502,652 

South Holland School District 150

$3,465,547 

South Holland School District 151

$7,785,862 

Steger School District 194

$4,961,072 

Thornton School District 154

$742,404 

Thornton Township High School District 205

$30,998,704 

West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147

$15,826,360 

The majority of the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, which gives local schools a great deal of flexibility in how they can use the money over the next 3 ½ years. At least 20% of the funding must be used to address learning loss, but beyond that, school districts can use the money to address many different issues and costs. For example, it can be used to better equip schools for safe learning, to prevent layoffs, to address students’ social and emotional needs, to fund summer programs, or to ensure all students have access to reliable Wi-Fi and technology.

The State Board of Education, in collaboration with other state agencies that address education, has produced a guide for local school districts to help them decide how to best use their resources. While the guide and other state-sponsored services are completely voluntary, the state aims to support local districts during this difficult time.

“Our Black students and teachers were some of the people most impacted by this pandemic, so our local school districts need to use the funds in a way that helps them overcome their barriers,” Harris said. “This federal funding means a lot for Illinois’ education system, and it will go a long way to help the 15th district community."

In total, Illinois received nearly $7 billion to support local school districts.

Harris: New Harvey vaccination site will serve the community members who need it most

Details
Category: Senator Napoleon Harris III News
Thursday, March 04, 2021 12:18 PM
  • Harris
  • COVID-19

Senator HarrisHARVEY – State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) announced Family Christian Center will serve as a COVID-19 vaccination site for Harvey and surrounding south side communities.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted disadvantaged communities, which is why it’s vital that communities like Harvey have access to the vaccine,” Harris said. “Family Christian Health Center already provides so much support to the Southland, and I’m glad they will now be able to provide vaccinations to community members who need it the most.”

Read more: Harris: New Harvey vaccination site will serve the community members who need it most

Harris supports $759,858 redevelopment investment at Carver Park Fieldhouse

Details
Category: Senator Napoleon Harris III News
Thursday, February 25, 2021 04:28 PM
  • Rebuild Illinois
  • Harris
  • Shovel Ready Infrastructure Capital Program

harris 29102019CM0717RIVERDALE — State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) announced the Carver Park Fieldhouse will undergo a $759,858 Rebuild Illinois renovation project to provide expanded athletic and recreational facilities, space for incubators and job skills training to the community.

“The rehabilitation of Carver Park Fieldhouse will not only provide a safe space for athletics but will lead the way to expanding job training and skills development for businesses and residents throughout our community,” Harris said. “This and other Shovel Ready grants will make the highest and best use of our statewide capital plan by improving infrastructure to meet the needs of community members today while setting the stage for broader economic development in the future.”

The Carver Park Fieldhouse is located in the Riverdale community and features a gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, boxing ring and multi-purpose clubrooms. The outside of the fieldhouse offers a playground, baseball diamonds, a batting cage, a sand volleyball court, basketball courts and a picnic area.

The investment for this project comes from the Shovel Ready Infrastructure Capital Program. Shovel Ready funding will help boost essential community development projects, including those that repurpose vacant land in disadvantaged communities into valuable community spaces.

Shovel Ready projects are supported by Rebuild Illinois – the state’s $45 billion, 5-year capital program.

All Shovel Ready projects will follow minority business participation requirements of the State of Illinois' Business Enterprise Program and will meet local hiring requirements through the Illinois Works program.

More Articles …

  1. Harris advocates for ex NFL Black players benefits
  2. Harris virtual town hall moved to Feb. 9
  3. Harris reminds homeowners to do a utility equipment check
  4. Harris to host virtual town hall regarding Black Caucus agenda, COVID-19
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8

Page 4 of 8

Follow ILSenDems

Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Sign up for the Majority Report

Laws Going Into Effect 2025

Employment Opportunities

Find Your Senator

Senate Schedule

Bills & Resolutions

SPRINGFIELD OFFICE

phone(217) 782-2728

phone309 State House
Springfield, IL 62706

Senate Floor, Illinois State Capitol, Springfield, IL

Senate President Don Harmon © 2025 Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus
FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTube
CHICAGO OFFICE

phone(312) 814-2075

phone160 N. LaSalle St., Ste. 720
Chicago, IL 60601