EAST ST. LOUIS – Low-income families can now apply for help with their bills to avoid water and sewer shut off, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) announced Wednesday.

“Many families are forced to spend a large percent of their monthly income on utility services,” Belt said. “This funding provides stability for low-income customers who need assistance paying their monthly utility bills.”

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program provides $42 million to help people avoid shut offs, assist households that have already had their services shut off or provide assistance to residents unable to pay their water and sewer bills.

PEORIA – Four local airports across the district State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) represents will receive much-needed upgrades thanks to over $3.5 million in state funding.

“Local airports in Central Illinois are vital to our economy,” Koehler said. “They offer the ability to move people and products in a safe and efficient manner and provide good-paying jobs to many members of our community.”

The funding is provided through the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, and designates a total of $94 million for 96 airport projects in both urban and rural communities across the state. Projects will include planning, construction, reconstruction, development and improvement of public airports to increase safety and efficiency. Communities also will benefit from increased aviation access, good-paying jobs during construction and long-term opportunities for workforce expansion.

Local airports will receive the following amounts of state funding:

• General Wayne A. Downing ‐ Peoria International Airport, $900,000
• Ingersoll Airport, $360,000
• Mount Hawley Auxiliary Airport, $634,500
• Pekin Municipal Airport, $1,665,000

“The grants allow smaller airports in our state to make much-needed repairs, modernize their facilities and attract more passengers,” Koehler said. “I look forward to seeing how these upgrades will help revitalize our community.

A full list of recipients as well as designated projects can be found on the Illinois Department of Transportation’s website.

SCHAUMBURG – More than $175,000 in upgrades will be made at Schaumburg Regional Airport thanks to Senator Laura Murphy’s support of the Rebuild Illinois capital grant program.

“As people begin to regularly travel again, it is important our local airports are prepared for the uptick in flights,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “The Schaumburg Airport is a staple of our community – providing dozens of jobs and an efficient way to support residents and the business community.” 

Approximately $105,000 will be used for fuel system installation at Schaumburg Airport and $70,000 for security gate modifications. The money granted is part of a $94 million funding project to revitalize both large and small airports across the country.

Senator Murphy was proud to support the Rebuild Illinois capital program in 2019, which created a six-year plan to update the state’s aging transportation system, create jobs and promote economic growth. The money allocated to Schaumburg Regional Airport came from the bipartisan, multi-regional plan.

“Investments made to our airports are investments made to our communities,” Murphy said. “The grants allow smaller airports in our state to make much-needed repairs, modernize their facilities and better meet the community needs.”

The Illinois aviation system is one of the largest in the nation, made up of more than 850 individual landing facilities. Illinois is home to everything from O’Hare International Airport to municipal airports and private grass strips, contributing more than $95 billion annually to the state’s economy.

A full list of recipients can be viewed by visiting https://idot.click/rbi-airport-program-awards.

PLAINFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel’s office will be traveling to the Naperville Public Library on Monday, Dec. 13 from 1:00 - 2:45 p.m. to increase accessibility to residents throughout the 49^th District.

Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) hosts traveling office hours every month at different locations and times of day to increase the availability of state assistance and informational resources.

“We remain committed to ensuring our office is easily accessible to residents throughout the area” Loughran Cappel said. “I hope people take advantage of our traveling office hours to receive state services and voice their concerns on issues that matter most to our community,”

Loughran Cappel urges residents unable to attend the monthly office hours to reach out to her office at 815-267-6119 or visit her website www.SenatorLoughranCappel.com to take her legislative survey.

EAST ST. LOUIS – To give children in need a holiday surprise, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) and Representative LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) are reminding residents to donate toys this holiday season.

“There are only a few days left to donate toys for our holiday drive,” Belt said. “Please consider dropping off toys to help struggling families this holiday season. It’s important to give back to those in our community who need it the most.”

The toys will be collected through Dec. 10. Toys for children of all ages can be dropped off at Belt’s office, located at Kenneth Hall Regional Office Building #10 Collinsville Ave., Suite 201A in East St. Louis. Residents can drop off toys Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Call for Help, Inc., a local organization which will receive the donated toys, works to change lives by giving people skills and support that empower them to overcome emotional and physical crisis. The organization serves the Greater Metro East and surrounding areas to end homelessness, poverty and violence.

If residents have questions about the toy drive, Belt urges them to contact his office at 618-875-1212 or Greenwood’s office at 618-646-9557.

ELGIN – Tuesday marked an important announcement from the White House about new commitments to support safe pregnancies and childbirth, an issue for which State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) has been a longtime advocate.

“Study after study have shown that Black mothers face disproportionate risks during and immediately following birth,” Castro said. “This last legislative session, I championed a law to help address that, and I am glad to see this issue being highlighted at the federal level.”

Public Act 102-0665, a Castro-sponsored measure that was signed into law in October, provides support for pregnant and new mothers for pregnancy-related conditions, including mental health and substance use disorders by requiring private insurance plans to cover postpartum complications up to one year after delivery.

Tuesday’s announcement from the White House designating the day as a Maternal Health Day of Action addresses ways that federal and state governments can help mothers stay healthy during and after pregnancy, including an investment of over $3 billion from the Build Back Better Act to go toward maternal health funding.

Additionally, it encourages the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to release new guidance on postpartum care and create a proposal for the establishment of a “Birthing-Friendly” hospital designation. 

“Illinois leads the way in supporting new mothers, especially Black mothers who have long faced difficult disparities in the health care system,” Castro said. “This announcement from the White House will build on the work we've done already and shine a brighter light on what still needs done.”

In addition to her work on Public Act 102-0665, Castro also advocated for extending Medicaid coverage for new mothers from 60 days postpartum to one year, something the White House will begin encouraging following Tuesday’s announcement.

DANVILLE – To help folks stay warm during the cold winter months, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) and Robinson Chiropractic are collecting socks to benefit area shelters through Thursday, Dec. 23.

“The holidays are a time when we tend to be thinking of people that are in need in our community,” Bennett said. “I encourage people to consider helping folks in our shelters by donating a pair of new socks to help them keep warm.”

Worn-out or ragged socks put people at serious risk of foot disease and, during the winter months, in severe danger from the cold. As a result, new socks are greatly needed by those experiencing homelessness — but they are the least donated clothing item at homeless shelters.

Community members are encouraged to donate brand new socks for men, women and children at the collection locations below:

• Bennett’s District Office located at 201 N. Vermilion St., Suite 323 in Danville
  • Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Robinson Chiropractic located at 3595 N. Vermilion St. in Danville
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Thursday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Robinson Chiropractic located at 111 N. State St., Suite C in Westville
  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8 a.m. to noon; 1:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 1:30-6 p.m.
  • Friday: 8 a.m. to noon

Collection boxes will be located outside of each office and donations will benefit Crosspoint at the Y Homeless Program, Danville Rescue Mission and Fair Hope Children’s Ministry.

For questions or additional information, contact Bennett’s office at 217-442-5252 or Robinson Chiropractic at 217-442-2273.

HIGHWOOD – Children in foster care will soon be wearing new pajamas thanks to the many community members and partners who donated to Senator Julie Morrison’s “Sweet Dreams” pajama drive.

“During this giving season, our community stepped up to donate nearly 800 pajamas. Adding the scarves, gloves and socks, more than 1,800 items were donated to keep kids in need warm this winter,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Because of the generosity of so many donors, children in foster care will have new pajamas and cold weather accessories to keep them warm.” 

In Illinois alone, more than 21,000 youth are in foster care are removed from their homes with only the clothes they were wearing at the time. As residents learned this, they were moved to participate.

A child who had a birthday party requested guests bring a donation to the drive. Businesses served as collection sites so people could donate at locations convenient to them. A knitting and crocheting group created handmade hats, mittens, and scarves specifically for the drive. Local organizations across the area, including libraries, service organizations, private businesses, and churches partnered with Morrison. Through this community-wide effort, Morrison’s office was able to collect hundreds of items from people and groups throughout the district she represents.

“Working together with Senator Morrison to collect items to help those in need is something the Northbrook Public Library was excited to participate in,” said Kate Hall, the library’s executive director. “The Northbrook community brought in many donations. We were happy to serve as a collection point and to help get the word out about this caring initiative.  When units of local government work with our elected officials to help our communities, we are all the stronger for it.”

The items collected will soon be distributed by caseworkers to children in the state’s foster care system.

“The pajama drive wouldn’t have been successful without the thoughtfulness of residents and the kind community partners who opened their doors for donations,” Morrison said. “Hundreds of children living apart from their families during the holidays will be the recipients of our neighbors’ generosity. Thank you to each and every one of you who dropped off pajamas, socks, and mittens.”