Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – With a long history of successful animal protection legislation in the Illinois Senate, Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) has now presented a measure to add more safeguards in the courts for abused animals.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 153 on Tuesday, which would give trial courts discretion in prosecutions for cruelty to companion animals to appoint a volunteer lawyer or supervised law student to assist the court as a special advocate.

“Abuse cases can result in dismissed charges or reduced sentences for animal owners accused of cruelty, often due to prosecutors with good intentions but not enough resources for research and information to make a strong case,” Holmes said. “These advocates can assist the courts in working toward consistent reinforcement of Illinois’ mandate to properly protect companion animals.”

Aurora – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) is reminding small businesses in DuPage, Kane and Will counties that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are still available for those organizations affected by civil unrest that occurred from May 26 to June 8, 2020. She also is sharing information on upcoming workshops for businesses interested in the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.

The Small Business Administration is urging those eligible to apply before the deadline of March 23.

“If your business suffered damage or loss during this period last spring, I encourage you to apply for these low-interest loans,” Holmes said. “This does not cover COVID related losses, but those due to the civil unrest that took place in communities across the country.”

According to the SBA, working capital loans up to $2 million are available at 3 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. The loans are intended to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other expenses that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. To be considered for this assistance, eligible entities need to apply by the deadline.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov and should apply under SBA declaration # 16494, not for the COVID-19 program.

For those interested in participating in IDOT’s DBE program, IDOT will be hosting free virtual workshops throughout March. The DBE program provides minorities, women and other eligible small businesses an opportunity to participate in highway, transit and airport contracts that are federal and state funded.

“Now is an ideal time to get involved in the DBE program: because of the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois plan, IDOT is helping to deliver the largest capital program in state history,” Holmes said. This promotes equity and inclusion, as well as diversifying job sites and workforce to reflect the communities it serves.”

Workshop information, including dates and times, is available at http://ow.ly/UB4Z50DL59u. Advance registration is required.

Aurora, Ill. – Headed by Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), the Senate Labor Committee held a subject matter hearing Wednesday morning regarding unemployment issues stemming from the pandemic, with a focus on input from business and labor representatives.

“The dramatic increases in unemployment and several new federal unemployment programs bogged down the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s offices and website, which kept thousands of Illinoisans from accessing their unemployment payments, adding more economic stress on top of job losses,” Holmes said. “They were understaffed and underfunded to meet this unprecedented demand.” 

AURORA – State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) will lead a subject matter hearing in the Senate Labor Committee today at 9 a.m. to learn more about the experiences of employers and employees with the Illinois Department of Employment Security in the last year.

The goal this week is to hear from employers and employees about their experiences with the unemployment system. The pandemic, during which more than 1 million Illinoisans lost their jobs, forced the creation of new unemployment programs for people who were not previously covered by the system, like gig workers and self-employed individuals. These new programs added tremendous strains on IDES, and as a result, many Illinoisans who expected to be covered by unemployment insurance struggled to access benefits. 

Holmes urges taxpayers to be wary, vigilant of ID theft

AURORA – Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, warns taxpayers to be aware of ongoing nationwide unemployment fraud as tax season approaches. Across the country, taxpayers are opening their annual earnings statements and learning they've been the victim of unemployment fraud that has swept the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's bad enough that so many people have lost their jobs during this pandemic. It's just plain evil that there are hackers out there preying on individuals, stealing their identities and filing fraudulent claims, too many of which will go unnoticed until the annual earnings statement arrives for tax time,” Holmes said. “Check your statements, check your credit and if you've been a victim, take action now."

This ongoing fraud attack on unemployment systems was a key part of a Senate Labor Committee hearing this week. The vulnerability of the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program for self-employed workers and independent contractors left unemployment systems exposed to fraud. IDES, working with law enforcement, put stronger documentation requirements in place for wage and identification to reduce that vulnerability, and the federal government is engaged at the national level.

Most importantly, state officials said they have set up hotlines and added advice to the state agency website to help victims. Individuals can call IDES at (800) 244-5631 with questions about their 1099-G form. Resources are also available on IDES's website, at https://www.ides.illinois.gov/1099G or https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/Report-Identity-Theft.aspx.

This week’s hearing culminated many virtual meetings of a working group Holmes has led since last year. Next week the Labor Committee will hold a second hearing on unemployment issues with representatives of business and labor.

AURORA – Senator Linda Holmes will lead a subject matter hearing in the Senate Labor Committee this week to learn about the status of several Unemployment Insurance issues plaguing the Illinois Department of Employment Security in the last year. Their handling of an unprecedented flood of claims in the last year, when more than 1 million Illinoisans lost their jobs, overwhelmed the department.

“Our working group on this major issue has been investigating this since shortly after the pandemic began,” Committee Chair Holmes said. “We’ve had input from colleagues and the hundreds of constituents who’ve contacted us about their difficulties getting payments, navigating the website or getting a call back from IDES.”

AURORA – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) is pleased to announce the Fox Valley Montessori School in Aurora has received an Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Grant to fund a pollinator garden at the school.

“This is a great way of combining learning about Illinois habitats and repairing the fragile state of our pollinators’ habitat by letting kids get their hands dirty and enjoy some fresh air,” Holmes said. “Learning how pollinators are vital to our food supply is an important part of understanding how each of us can have a positive impact on our environment.”

The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Fund (ICF) to support the development or enhancement of wildlife habitat on the school grounds or other public places. Projects funded by these grants are meant to teach children that their actions can make a difference in the world while increasing the use of native plants in Illinois.

Funding for the program is provided through donations to the ICF. More than $329,000 in Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant funding has been distributed since the program’s inception. A total of $35,524.59 will be distributed in this round, and Fox Valley Montessori’s grant is for $718.50.

Applications for the next round of Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Grants will be open soon, with an application deadline of Nov. 30, 2021. More information on applying for the next round of grants can be found on the IDNR website.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law takes effect Jan 1, 2021 to prevent pharmaceutical and insurance companies from continuing to excessively profit off Illinoisans who manage their diabetes with insulin.

Co-sponsored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), Senate Bill 667 makes Illinois the second state in the nation to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $100 per month for all patients using a state regulated insurance plan, regardless of the supply they require. 

“This law challenges corporate greed and ensures people with diabetes don’t pay unfair prices for a medication they cannot live without,” Holmes said. “I am ready to work with my colleagues in the upcoming legislative session to continue to reform prescription drug pricing and reduce patients’ out-of-pocket costs.” 

The cap applies to commercial insurance plans regulated by the state and increases annually based on data from the Department of Insurance, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The data will include findings on insulin pricing practices and recommendations to control and prevent overpricing of prescription insulin drugs.

Holmes worked alongside bill sponsor State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), and other advocacy groups to build a grassroots advocacy campaign to drive this historic legislation through the General Assembly.