PARK FOREST— To encourage young people to continue learning this summer, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is encouraging kids to participate in his Summer Book Club for children and young people who live in the 40^th State Senate District.

“The purpose of this reading club is to inspire our youth to read during the summer when school is out,” Joyce said. “This book club also offers a completion incentive, giving kids something to work toward during the summer months.”

The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books on a form and return the form to Joyce’s office by Aug. 11. Participants will receive a gift card and certificate from Senator Joyce. 

“This Summer Book Club makes reading fun and promotes lifelong learning,” Joyce said. “I am encouraging young readers to set aside 10-15 minutes a day to read and make it a part of their summer routine.”

To receive a book club form, visit SenatorPatrickJoyce.com to download and print the form, or call Joyce’s office at 708-756-0882 to request a copy by mail.

Joyce urges interested residents to call his office with any additional questions.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) celebrated the signing of an expansion to Ashley’s Law allowing designated caregivers at summer camps and other park district programs to administer medical cannabis products.

“Ashley’s Law was so important to making sure students are able to get the medication they need,” said Castro, who sponsored the original law. “This expansion will make sure they get continued care during the summer months, and I am happy to see it signed into law.”

Ashley’s Law passed in 2018 in response to the case of an 11-year-old student being denied use of medical cannabis prescribed to her to alleviate symptoms of leukemia treatment. Although she was a qualified medical cannabis patient, previous state law prohibited her use of medicinal cannabis on school grounds.

NAPERVILLE – Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) and Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) will be hosting a free Mental Wellness Fair on Monday, July 19 to help local residents access important mental health services.

“This past year was tough on many of us,” Holmes said. “It is essential that residents have the information required to address their mental health needs and find tools to make adjustments in their lives.”

The mental wellness fair will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Neuqua Valley High School, located at 2360 95^th St. in Naperville. Several groups will be present at the fair to address residents’ specific mental health needs, including:

• 360 Youth
• Connect For Life
• Family Focus
• IL Department of Human Services
• Linden Oaks
• Metro Family Services
• Mutual Ground
• NAMI DuPage
• Samara Care
• Congresswoman Lauren Underwood’s Office
• Will County Office of Substance Use Initiative

“Ensuring that people have access to mental health services is incredibly important,” Ellman said. “This event offers a great opportunity to connect with incredible organizations offering helpful and even life-saving resources right here in our community.”

Attendees will be required to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status, and social distancing guidelines will be in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For more information, residents can reach out to Leader Holmes’ office by visiting her website or calling 630-820-8650. Senator Ellman’s staff is also available through her website or by calling 630-601-9961.

Illinois bond rating receives second upgrade this month

SPRINGFIELD – For the second time this month – and the first time in 20 years – Illinois’ General Obligation bond rating has received upgrades from two of the nation’s primary credit rating agencies – a move Senate President Don Harmon calls a result of stability and responsibility.

“This is further proof we are on the right track in balancing our fiscal realities with the real-world needs of working men and women,” said Harmon (D-Oak Park). We are moving Illinois forward by paying our debts while at the same time investing in education, health care, child care and other key programs people need to get ahead.”

Read more.

Gillespie expands Medicaid coverage, increases access to vaccines

DOWNERS GROVE – To help communities get vaccinated, a measure sponsored by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) to increase the Medicaid reimbursement rates for immunizations and expand coverage was signed into law last week.

“As communities prepare for a safe reopening this summer, making sure everyone is vaccinated is critical,” Gillespie said. “This measure ensures that families who use Medicaid have the same access to vaccines.”

Read more.

Simmons announces new health care collaborative on Chicago's North Side

CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker recently announced funding for equity-focused health care collaboratives across Illinois, a move State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) applauds. The Chicago North Side Collaborative will help increase health care equity for lower-income and BIPOC residents in the area – particularly in the LGBTQ and Asian American communities.

“This initiative should help provide more 7th District residents with a pathway to specialty care who otherwise have been very poorly served by our healthcare system,” said Simmons, who represents much of the collaborative’s coverage area. “This collaborative is intended to help ensure more residents get the full scope of care that they need. I look forward to seeing how these partnerships work over the coming months and years to start closing the gaps in access to specialty care for our residents who need much better and more comprehensive treatment than they have received.”

Read more.

In case you missed it

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Senator Rachelle Crowe, Glen Carbon: Crowe highlights new law expanding access to behavioral health resources | Advantage News

Senator Patrick Joyce, Essex: Joyce to host driver services pop-up in South Wilmington | Daily Journal
 

We're hiring

The Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus is hiring a graphic designer to help design infographics, newsletters, brochures and more. Interested in working in the fast-paced, deadline-driven environment? Learn more and apply today here.

Copyright 2021 - Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus - All Rights Reserved

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor Pritzker signed the TEAACH Act (Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History) into law on Friday. The bill will make Illinois the first state to require a unit of Asian American history to be taught in public elementary and high schools.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes and attacks on Asian Americans rose across the country, prompting advocacy groups and organizers to develop and champion this legislation over the past year.

The historic bill was introduced by State Sen. Ram Villivalam and State Rep. Jennifer Gong Gershowitz, and was championed by Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago and a coalition of more than 35 organizations.

SPRINGFIELD – For the second time this month – and the first time in 20 years – Illinois’ General Obligation bond rating has received upgrades from two of the nation’s primary credit rating agencies – a move Senate President Don Harmon calls a result of stability and responsibility.

“This is further proof we are on the right track in balancing our fiscal realities with the real-world needs of working men and women,” said Harmon (D-Oak Park). We are moving Illinois forward by paying our debts while at the same time investing in education, health care, child care and other key programs people need to get ahead.”

The latest upgrade comes from S&P Global Ratings, which comes as the state trimmed down its bill backlog from $16.7 billion to $2.9 billion in a course of just a few years.

Measure paves the way to more efficient patient care

SPRINGFIELD – A bill sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) that allows Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to attest to their completed clinical hours was signed into law Friday.

“Our allied health care workers are stretched to the limit—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Feigenholtz said. “This new law will assist Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who have completed their clinical training hours to self-attest and eliminate delays that some APRNs have been experiencing.”

Senator Feigenholtz was the chief sponsor of the original Full Practice Authority law, passed in 2017, and took the lead on this important follow-up legislation.

SPRINGFIELD – The secretary of state will be required to publish publicly-accessible data on a daily basis under a new law sponsored by State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) and signed Friday.

“Illinois is the only state that does not offer its business data for free online,” Connor said. “This legislation will bring us into the 21^st century and will substantially increase our transparency and efficiency as a state.”

Under the new law, the secretary of state will be required to publish a daily list of all newly formed corporations, both business and non-profit, chartered on that day. The list will be made available as open data and accessible to the general public.