SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ann Gillespie and child welfare advocates announced legislation that would provide youth in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services with legal representation on Wednesday.

“Children and youth with lived experience in our child welfare system have overwhelmingly voiced their desire to be seen, heard and represented,” said Gillespie. “We must join the vast majority of states that provide legal representation to youth in care so that our most vulnerable have expert help in leaving the foster care system and can go on to live safe, dignified lives.”

Illinois is one of seven states that does not guarantee legal counsel to at least some youth in care, and one of 14 states that does not guarantee legal representation for all children in child welfare proceedings. Without legal representation, children are left to navigate complex proceedings on their own, putting them at risk of receiving unfair treatment or having vital decisions about their future made without their input.

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler joined local leaders along with the Illinois Department of Transportation Tuesday to announce $24.6 million in improvements to Peoria’s Bob Michel Bridge through the Rebuild Illinois project.

The project includes installing new concrete and bridge joints to extend the life of the deck. The improvements will expand walkways and convert the five foot sidewalks into a 14 – foot path that is accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists in the community.

“These improvements to our bridge is vital for workers and residents throughout our community,” said Koehler (D – Peoria). “Residents of the greater Peoria area deserve safe transportation and high quality roads. These repairs provide opportunities for new jobs, economic development, and a brighter future for our community.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons presented the Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity with a proclamation declaring Feb. 7 as Black HIV/AIDS Advocacy Day during a press conference Tuesday.

“I was proud to stand with dedicated advocates for the Black HIV/AIDS community today,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We have so much work to do to bring new HIV infections down to zero and to ensure robust and affordable health care for those living with HIV and AIDS in our communities. Uplifting those engaged in this work today is step one.”

PEORIA – The Illinois Army and National Guard had their mobilization ceremony for 160 National Guardsmen Tuesday. State Senator Dave Koehler commends their sacrifice.

“I am thankful to have such brave men and women in our community protecting our nation’s interests overseas,” said Koehler (D – Peoria). “These airmen and women will be guiding our forces from above. I wish them a safe and successful deployment.”

More than 100 members of the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion of the 106th Aviation Regiment, as well as 30 members from the Company B. 935th Aviation Support Battalion from Kankakee will deploy to the U.S. Central Command region. Soldiers will spend their time providing air support to United States forces throughout the Middle East.

These men and women will be deployed overseas to help conduct operations with national interest.

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Railroad Association announced State Senator Patrick Joyce as a recipient of the Association’s annual Railroader of the Year Award.

“Senator Patrick Joyce is a true champion of the freight railroad system in Illinois,” said Tim Butler, President of the Illinois Railroad Association. “He understands the importance of what our historic rail system means not just to Illinois, but our nation, our continent and our entire world. His hard-fought advocacy for issues promoting a robust freight rail system helps get our state’s goods to market, ensures that Illinoisans have the items they want to purchase on store shelves and continues the emphasis that rail is an environmentally-friendly method of shipping.  The Illinois Railroad Association is proud to designate him as Railroader of the Year for 2022.”

DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy has been appointed to serve as Assistant Majority Leader of the Illinois Senate.

“I am honored to take on the role of Assistant Majority Leader,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “It’s a privilege to be entrusted to represent my colleagues in this capacity, and I look forward to working with them to advance legislation that brings positive change to our great state.”

Murphy is one of four assistant leaders in the Senate Democratic Caucus who assist the Senate President to develop and implement an agenda for the majority party.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman announced that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has awarded grants to 48 communities in need of lead service line replacements, including a $50,000 grant for the City of Rockford and $50,000 for the City of Belvidere.

“These funds will help communities identify the problems in their water systems and provide the knowledge of what needs fixed first,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “As we map out the service lines, our communities can figure out who needs help the most and which residents may be more at risk so we can act and fix the lines that need it most.”

The Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act requires owners and operators of community water supplies in Illinois to submit a complete water service line material inventory for the Illinois EPA’s approval no later than April 15, 2024. The complete inventory must report the composition of all service lines within the CWS’s distribution system.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons continued his fight for more funding for struggling families, during a press conference he attended with State Representative Marcus C. Evans Jr. and the Economic Security Project on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

“Working parents are struggling worse than ever before. It is time for the state to create a permanent Child Tax Credit that puts money back into the pockets of parents in Illinois, so that parents can take care of their children and communities can begin to recover,” said State Senator Mike Simmons (D- Chicago). “I am so proud to stand with this broad and diverse coalition of organizations and parents today to call for a permanent Child Tax Credit.”    

Senator Simmons discussed legislation that will create a child tax credit, making Illinois one of the few states to have a state-level child tax credit.