SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) took a moment to rise on the Senate floor Thursday to honor and recognize the victims of Wednesday’s shooting at the Molson Coors plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Morrison asked the body to take a moment of silence to honor the victims of the tragedy.

Below are the senator’s floor remarks:

“Yesterday, five people tragically lost their lives in Milwaukee after a man opened fire on the Molson Coors plant before turning the gun on himself.

“Such violence is senseless. Six families went to bed last night mourning the loss of a loved one. Those families, and all the families who have lost someone to gun violence, need us right now.

“We can all recognize these tragic events are happening far too regularly. No one should have to fear for their safety when they go to school, the grocery store or even work. When will we have enough?

“I ask that you please stand silently for a moment of reflection and respect. Words do not adequately express the tremendous grief I feel as I have to make this speech once again.”

SPRINGFIELD – In order to bring awareness to the rewarding, well-paid jobs resulting from career and technical education, the Illinois Senate adopted State Senator Patrick Joyce’s (D-Essex) resolution declaring February Career and Technical Education Month.

“Technical, vocational and trade education are an important and often overlooked part of the higher education system,” Joyce said.  “Too many people forget that many technical education degrees lead to careers that are as good as or better than jobs you can get with a bachelor’s degree.”

Senate Resolution 983 explains and praises the many benefits of career and technical education.

SPRINGFIELD – Alumni and students from the University of Illinois System rallied behind State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) in support of higher education in Springfield Wednesday.

More than 200 alumni and students from the University of Illinois System traveled to the Capitol to participate in their annual advocacy day, which included a rally with University of Illinois caucus members.

This event gives students and alumni the opportunity to show their support for higher education legislation and issues, as well as learn about the legislative process. 

SPRINGFIELD – Family members of people serving time would be ensured fair treatment by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) under legislation sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview).

“I’ve had the opportunity to hear from so many parents, siblings, children and friends of incarcerated individuals on this issue. When they expect a visit and get turned away, it can be heartbreaking,” said Fine. “We should be encouraging people to maintain connections with family and friends, which will improve their lives during and after incarceration.”

The measure requires IDOC to appoint a point-of-contact person to receive suggestions, complaints and other comments from visitors to prison facilities, and from other members of the public.

SPRINGFIELD - Assistant Majority Leader Tony Muñoz (D-Chicago) moved to ensure that the recent changes to Illinois tax structure under its construction funding program that are hitting customers with multiple taxes are repealed with new legislation on Wednesday.

The current tax structure enacted to fund Illinois’ first construction program in a decade removed a previous tax exemption and put in place a tax on any vehicle trade-in above $10,000, meaning consumers to pay a tax when purchasing a vehicle and again when trading in the same vehicle.

“This effort ensures that the cost of purchasing a vehicle in Illinois doesn’t skyrocket and protects consumers from the possibility of paying taxes on their vehicle twice,” Muñoz said.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) today congratulated students at a Sauk Village elementary school on winning a national kindness award.

Wagoner Elementary School in Community Consolidated School District 168 in Sauk Village, Illinois was one of over 650 schools from across the country that registered for the Fall 2019 cohort of the Teach Kindness Challenge.

“Now the nation knows what I already knew about Wagoner Elementary students and teachers. They are a stellar bunch who consistently go above and beyond to achieve results,” Sims said. “I am so incredibly proud of their efforts to spread kindness, which the world could always use more of.”

The “Teach Kindness” initiative is a national social-emotional learning program organized by Stand for Children that provides high-quality classroom lessons from national experts.

Wagoner has been selected as the 2019 National Winner of the Teach Kindness Challenge, a national recognition that carries a $5,000 credit at DonorsChoose.org.

SPRINGFIELD – Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) recently filed legislation that would require an employer to reimburse an employee within 30-45 days after the receipt of a required business expense, a common workplace scenario that currently isn’t governed by any sort of statute.

“A lot of employees despair of ever seeing their business expenses reimbursed,” Van Pelt said. “This should be a common labor protection, just as a 40-hour workweek is. Employees who float costs for their employers should receive reimbursements in a timelier manner.”

SPRINGFEILD - State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and advocates introduced the REACH Act at a press conference this morning. 

This legislation requires all K-12 public schools to offer a comprehensive and age-appropriate course on personal heath and public safety. The program would be phased in slowly, thus granting schools a smooth orderly transition to the new curriculum.