SPRINGFIELD – The Senate Committee on Energy and Public Utilities heard from a variety of witnesses testifying about the Clean Energy Jobs Act — a measure championed by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) – in a subject matter hearing on Thursday.

“As Illinois begins to move away from coal and towards cleaner energy, it is important that we make sure everyone has a seat at the table,” said Castro, sponsor of Senate Bill 1718, also known as CEJA. “CEJA puts communities that have historically been disproportionately impacted by the dirty effects of the fossil fuel industry at the forefront of the new clean energy economy.”

CEJA is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to move Illinois toward a greener future by providing jobs in clean energy and shifting away from fossil fuels and other pollutant methods to help slow down the effects of climate change. One of the major goals of the legislation is to move the state toward 100% dependency on renewable energy by 2050.

CHICAGO — Responding to briefings on the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of vaccine access in parts of the 7th Illinois Senate District, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) has partnered with local organizations to help secure vaccinations for 200 residents in the communities at most risk of COVID-19 and thus far the worst access to shots.

Those set to receive the vaccine at two community sites tomorrow are primarily from the Rogers Park and West Ridge neighborhoods of the 7th Senate District, which data requested by Simmons showed have both endured high COVID-19 infection rates but have struggled to access vaccines.

“The 60626 ZIP code in Rogers Park and West Ridge is experiencing the most inequitable rate of COVID-19 infections right now in the district,” Simmons said. “And we know that in particular, securing vaccines has proven challenging for immigrant communities like the ones in this part of the city, who face everything from transportation issues to language barriers. I was moved to work with these local organizations to help set up appointments for 200 residents who face systemic barriers to accessing the vaccine equitably and who otherwise would not be likely to have access anytime soon.”

The vaccine appointments were booked with the help of the Ethiopian Community Association, Howard Brown Health Center and ONE Northside, working in coordination with Simmons’ office. Many vaccine recipients are members of Chicago’s Ethiopian community, immigrants and asylees, and other low-income residents who face barriers in accessing the vaccine. 

“To fight this virus, we need to view every community’s vaccination effort with equal urgency, and we need to meet people where they are,” Simmons said. “We cannot overcome COVID-19 if we leave communities like these behind.”

All appointments at both locations have been booked. The two events will be held tomorrow, April 9, at:

The Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago

5800 N. Lincoln Ave.

8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Howard Brown Health Center in partnership with ONE Northside

6555 N. Clark St.

2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest), who passed Illinois’ red flag law in 2018, commends President Joe Biden for his order for the U.S. Department of Justice to publish model red flag laws for other states to use as guides.

She released the following statement Thursday:

“In far too many mass shooting events that have taken place across our state and country, family members and friends of the shooter later identified they had threatening behavior, but the loved one didn’t know where to turn. Or, reports were made to law enforcement but there wasn’t a legal mechanism in place to get the weapon out of the hands of the perpetrator.

“We cannot idly sit back and watch innocent lives be reprehensibly taken in ways that could be halted. I commend President Biden for his broad effort to ensure the country begins to move forward with more comprehensive gun safety measures.”

SPRINGFIELD – Designs set to begin on the reconstruction of the long-in-disuse State Armory Building at Monroe and 2nd Street in Springfield, State Senator Doris Turner said the eventual return of the facility could be transformative for the capital.

“My hometown is full of historic moments, and I believe the speech Martin Luther King, Jr. gave at the Armory during the AFL-CIO convention in 1965 is one that definitely deserves this recognition,” said Turner. “This facility is not just a part of history, but also holds tremendous potential for the future of downtown Springfield, and I eagerly await its future reuse.”

Late last month, Senator Robert Peters and Turner introduced a Senate Resolution to commemorate King’s 1965 speech, in which he spoke about justice, democracy, and  organizational progress at the AFL-CIO convention Senate Joint Resolution 3 seeks to capture the essence of the building's impressive history by placing a bronze plaque at the renovated facility with words from Dr. King’s speech.

On Tuesday, the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) announced its selection of Tilton, Kelly + Bell, as the preferred architectural design firm for the renovation of the State Armory Building in Springfield. CDB will oversee the $122 million project’s design and construction. The administration has already released $12.2 million to begin the design and stabilization of the building which has sat abandoned since 2008.

The first phase of reconstructing the Illinois State Armory will include inspections and assessing its existing condition.

SJR 3 passed the Senate 53-0.

CHICAGO – State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) joined with several airline employees for a press conference Thursday to advocate for legislation that would give those employees the chance to use earned sick time to care for sick family members.

“Today marks the next step in our fight to make sure those hard working folks who go above and beyond to make travel seamless are able to use their earned sick time to help loved ones in need,” Hastings said. “This is, quite simply, the right thing to do for working families in Illinois.”

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is joining Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to urge the public to conduct transactions online when possible instead of visiting a driver services facility.

“Using the secretary of state’s online services can not only save you a trip to the facility, but also cut down on crowds and reduce the time it takes for visitors who need to do business in person,” Bennett said. “Until more people in our community are vaccinated, I encourage all drivers to utilize the online portal when possible so we can protect the staff and each other from the spread of COVID-19.”

Online transactions can be conducted at the secretary of state’s website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

The secretary of state offers a wide range of services online, including purchasing license plate stickers and renewing driver’s licenses and ID cards.

To renew license plate stickers online, residents will need a registration ID and PIN, which are located on the renewal notice and registration card – which most people keep in their vehicle’s glove compartment. Vehicle owners may then visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com and click on “License Plates Renewal” under Online Services.

“My goal remains serving the public to the best of our ability during the pandemic, and reducing facility wait times while prioritizing the health and safety of customers and employees,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “Those who conduct business online help shorten the line for those who must visit a facility.”

Bennett is also reminding motorists that all expired driver’s licenses and ID cards are now valid until Aug. 1, 2021. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits.

HIGHWOOD – To bring more attention to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ new online reporting system and what signs to look for to protect children, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is hosting a webinar next week with DCFS and the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center.

“The new online reporting system provides an easier and more efficient way to report child abuse and neglect,” Morrison said. “However, not enough people know how user-friendly the system is or when it should be used. My hope is this informational webinar will teach people about the signs of abuse and neglect, and when to make a report.”

Morrison is hosting a free virtual Lunch and Learn webinar to discuss the DCFS hotline and its new reporting platform. A representative from the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center will also be in attendance to discuss what the organization does and how each person can help make a difference in the lives of the state’s at-risk children.

It will take place Friday, April 16 from 1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom. The event is the second installment of Morrison’s new Lunch and Learn series – a monthly virtual event to teach Illinoisans more about the work state agencies do and show off the great local attractions Illinois has to offer.

“If the pandemic has done one positive thing, it has showed us how easy it is to connect with each other virtually from the comfort of our homes,” Morrison said. “It has been a pleasure connecting with people from across the state through these events, and I can’t wait to continue to meet and inform more people as the year goes on – even after the pandemic subsides.”

The webinar is free, but registration is required. To sign up, visit https://bit.ly/3sImYy0.

CHICAGO – After a year of social isolation, families could soon communicate with their loved ones in long-term care facilities through videoconferencing, social media and other technology thanks to a measure sponsored by State Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) that was approved in the Senate Health Subcommittee on Long Term Care and Aging Tuesday.

“Social isolation in nursing homes can affect residents’ long-term health and well-being,” Collins said. “It’s important that long-term care residents can communicate and spend time with family to prevent social isolation, even if they can’t see their loved ones in person.”

Under Collins’ plan, the Illinois Department of Public Health would require each long-term care facility to adopt policies to provide technology to residents, as well as staff training to prevent social isolation among residents.

This technology would give long-term care residents access to the internet, videoconferencing, social media or other means of communication, providing the opportunity to talk with loved ones, attend church and engage in recreational activities safely.

Collins was inspired to sponsor the measure, an initiative of AARP, after many long-term care residents experienced severe social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic has shown us that isolation from others is challenging, but there are lots of ways to stay connected virtually,” Collins said. “In this day and age, being able to talk to a loved one in a long-term care facility should be effortless.”

Senate Bill 2137 will be heard by the Senate Health Committee.