SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings fought for a significant milestone in the expansion of the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program.

“This monumental legislation makes greater investments in our children,” said Hastings (D- Frankfort). “The cost of financing higher education can be overwhelming. The expansion of this grant program will help increase accessibility for middle class families at our state’s universities and colleges.”

House Bill 301 will make the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program permanent, increase transparency in the program to allow more students to take advantage of it, increase access for part-time students and make changes to the matching requirements for the public universities.

Since the 2019-2020 academic year the AIM HIGH program has provided merit-based, means-tested student financial aid to first-time, full-time undergraduate students and transfer students who are Illinois residents attending any of the 12 Illinois public four-year universities. AIM HIGH-participating universities are required to provide matching funding for institutional awards for students who meet certain eligibility requirements, as well as those established by each individual university.

The initiative adopts changes to help ensure that the AIM HIGH Grant Program targets those most in need, further amplifying its impact.

“Our children are the future leaders of our great state,” said Hastings. “It’s our goal to provide students with the opportunity to be successful – this legislation is a step in the right direction to do just that.”

House Bill 301 passed the Senate and House with bipartisan support.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings spearheaded a measure through the Senate that would allow the Tinley Park – Park District to renovate a degraded building into a sports park and recreational space for residents in the community to utilize.

“Tinley Park is a great place to raise a family, yet all this empty space has been ignored for over a decade,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This has been an eyesore for the community, and something needs to be done about it.”

SPRINGFIELD – Working across the aisle and in tandem with law enforcement, State Senator Michael E. Hastings championed a measure to help police and sheriffs quickly track stolen vehicles.

“We have technology at our fingertips to allow us to track carjackers as they travel from Point A to Point B – there’s no reason we shouldn’t be utilizing it,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Law enforcement officers are ready to help. It’s vital we give them the tools to do so.”

Carjackings are on the rise. Yet under current law, law enforcement officers have little to no ability to access real time tracking information.

The all-too-common occurrence led Hastings to pass House Bill 2245, which requires Illinois car manufacturers to establish a 24/7 hotline for police and consumers to utilize in case of a carjacking or kidnapping. This would give police real-time assistance with locating vehicles – allowing them to find the perpetrator and arrest them before they get away.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois may soon have a law on the books to help law enforcement quickly track stolen vehicles, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings. 

Hastings (D-Frankfort) advanced House Bill 2245, which requires Cook County to establish a vehicle theft hotline to facilitate the location of a stolen vehicle.

“We must embrace technology to give law enforcement the tools to track carjackers and tackle this epidemic,” Hastings said. “The quicker we are able to locate where a carjacker is, the safer our communities will be.”

Law enforcement officers said they are at a disadvantage when it comes to putting a stop to the crime because they can’t access real-time tracking information after the incident.

This measure would also allow law enforcement to contact auto manufacturers around the clock to ping where the car is located – allowing police to find the perpetrator and arrest them before they get away.

FRANKFORT – State Senator Michael E. Hastings encourages women to schedule their annual breast cancer screening exam during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Those who may not have scheduled a mammogram due to COVID-19 are especially encouraged to make an appointment.

“Early detection is key,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort).  “Making an appointment for your yearly exam is critical to your health and well-being.”

Breast cancer affects over 250,000 women and 2,400 men in the United States every year, and the National Cancer Institute reports an estimated 9.4 million screening tests that normally would have taken place in 2020 did not happen due to the pandemic. 

“Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a helpful reminder for women to schedule their yearly exams, and this simple test saves lives,” said Hastings. “If you still need to make an appointment for your annual breast cancer appointment, please prioritize calling your doctor to set up an appointment.”

IDPH reminds the public that the department’s Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) offers free breast exams and mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women. The program also supports diagnostic services and assists with referrals for treatment options.

To enroll in IBCCP, women can call the Women’s Health Line 888-522-1282 (800-547-0466 TTY). The Women’s Health Line will be able to walk women through the eligibility requirements and the screening process.

Hastings’ office is available to answer questions. To contact, please call (815) 464-5431 or visit www.SenatorHastings.com.

FRANKFORT – As World Mental Health Day approaches on Oct. 10, State Senator Michael E. Hastings is urging Illinoisans to work together to end the stigma around mental health.

Hastings (D-Frankfort) has spent his career advocating for mental health funding and support for residents throughout the 19^th Senate District. Not only this day but year round, he reiterates the importance of checking in on residents’ mental wellbeing.

“Our mental health is key in ensuring you lead a happy and healthy life,” said Hastings. “We need to work together to end this stigma and take care of ourselves.”

Hastings urges residents who are struggling or know someone else who is in need of assistance to call the Illinois Warm Line at 866-359-7953 to connect with a peer support specialist.

This year he passed House Bill 1321, a new law to provide mental health resources to the state’s first responders. This initiative was signed into law in May.

“Our first responders have difficult jobs and often find themselves in high stress situations,” said Hastings. “This new law will help provide our municipalities and law enforcement agencies provide our officers with the tools to check in on their mental health.”

Hastings championed this measure to ensure that first responders, including police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and public safety telecommunicators across Illinois have full access to supportive and responsive behavioral health services and treatment.

He also supported Senate Bill 3617 which focuses on expanding the current workforce by accelerating the process for out-of-state clinicians applying for licensure in Illinois. In Illinois, there are only 14 behavioral health care professionals for every 10,000 Illinois residents.

“I pledge to continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help alleviate this workforce shortage,” said Hastings. “We need to continue to work together to combat this crisis and connect with lifesaving resources.”

For more information on resources available in Illinois, residents can also visit www.dhs.state.il.us.

FRANKFORT – State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, removing millions of women the right to choose:

“I am disheartened that the U.S. Supreme Court decided to attack women’s right to make decisions regarding their own reproductive health care.  In the year 2022, women should have the right to make their decisions regarding their bodies.

“Luckily, Illinois has taken the necessary steps to ensure women in our great state have these undeniable protections.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois now has a new law on the books to address the growing need for mental health services for first responders, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

Hastings (D-Frankfort) sponsored House Bill 1321, which creates the First Responder Behavioral Health Grant Program to provide grants to municipalities, law enforcement agencies, fire protection and school districts, hospitals and ambulance services. It was signed into law on Friday.

“Every day our brave officers put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” Hastings said. “First responders across Illinois have difficult jobs and often find themselves in high stress situations. This new program will help provide municipalities and law enforcement agencies among many others offer better services for officers looking for the tools to check in on their mental health.”