CHICAGO – The National Museum for Mexican Art is set to receive $750,000 to make improvements and create new exhibits, thanks to support from Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago).

“Museums give people an experience to learn and understand our history,” Munoz said. “The National Museum for Mexican Art is extraordinary with rich visuals and eccentric exhibits. This funding will expand the museum’s arts for visitors from all over to enjoy.”

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to keep Illinois on track toward a cleaner, more sustainable future, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) advanced a measure out of the Senate incentivizing the purchase of electric motorcycles in Illinois.

“The decision is easy: any step we can take toward sustainability, we should,” Koehler said. “This legislation simply aligns the state’s treatment of all electric modes of transportation. We need to make electric vehicles of all kinds as accessible and affordable as possible to all Illinoisans. This is how we make that happen.”

MARYVILLE – The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police have named State Senator Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) as the 2022 Public Official of the Year.

“As law enforcement officers serve and protect our communities, I've worked diligently to advocate their interests in the Senate,” Crowe said. “It's truly an honor to be recognized by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police with the Public Official of the Year award.”

The ILACP named Crowe based on her strong relationship with law enforcement, noting her willingness to listen to their needs and advocate for their interests as legislation is proposed in the Illinois General Assembly.

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Democrats are applauding the creation of a new $3.5 million grant program to invigorate local economies. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the launch of the Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Development initiative today.

State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) and State Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) in particular are enthusiastic about the prospects of a post-pandemic recovery boom.

"Central Illinois is blessed with so many great economic assets," said Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria). "By working together to plan for the future, we can identify even more opportunities for growth."

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is supporting measures to ensure that Direct Support Personnel are fairly compensated for the assistance they provide to individuals with developmental disabilities.

“Support workers are essential workers,” Belt said. “These individuals care for residents who rely on them to do basic day-to-day tasks that many of us do without thinking. It’s vital that these workers are taken care of and paid a fair wage.”

DSPs are vital in community residential settings, where they help residents with daily personal care like eating and hygiene as well as teaching life skills and attending to complex medical needs. While funding for these services has increased over recent years, starting wages remain barely above minimum wage, and vacancies remain high. This disparity is because the state does not always require community agencies to pass wage increases through to the workers.

SPRINGFIELD – To bring greater awareness and education for kidney health, State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) commemorated March 2022 as Kidney Disease Awareness Month and March 10, 2022 as Kidney Day through the passage of a Senate resolution.

“Across the state, people are silently suffering with the pain and hardship that comes with kidney disease,” Turner said. “We are showing those with kidney disease we see them and we understand the struggles they continue to face.”

SPRINGFIELD – People who are prescribed opioid drugs would be educated on the addictive – and sometimes deadly – consequences of the medication by a pharmacist under a measure spearheaded by State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake).

“Opioid overdoses have been occurring at alarming rates in Illinois,” Bush said. “Opioid education will save lives.”

The measure would require pharmacists to inform the patient that opioids are addictive and offer to give the patient naloxone – a common opioid reversal medication. Further, under the legislation, if a patient is discharged from the hospital after overdose of a controlled substance, they would be provided with naloxone. 

SPRINGFIELD – A joint resolution was adopted in the Senate Thursday creating the first Soil Health Day and Week celebration in Illinois, thanks to State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign).

“Soil Health Day and Week is a wonderful opportunity to educate people who might not understand how healthy soil can benefit our food and drinking water,” said Bennett, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “I’m glad to bring awareness to the importance of soil health protection through this joint resolution.”

Throughout the Soil Health Week celebration, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance and participating partners will bring together farmers and eaters, organizations, state leaders, legislators and other partners to virtually celebrate with a variety of educational opportunities and resources.