PARK FOREST – The Indigo Nation Homeschool Association in Park Forest has been selected to receive a grant to help students go on field trips to learn more about biodiversity in Illinois, and State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) extends his congratulations. 

“This grant program is a tremendous opportunity for kids to get excited about science,” Joyce said. “We have great natural resources in this state and I’m glad to see the Indigo Nation Homeschool Association will be receiving a grant.”

This year, the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program awarded 37 field trip grants totaling $34,000 across the state. This program allows Illinois teachers to apply for funds to take students on a field trip to study Illinois’ natural resources. As a result of the program, more than 2,000 students will visit state parks, museums and other natural resource locations in the coming school year to gain hands-on experience with nature and conservation in Illinois.

The program began in 2001 and has awarded over $1.3 million to nearly 120,000 students. More information about the grant program is available from the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources Division of Education at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 217-524-4126. A full list of this year’s grant recipients can be found on IDNR’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – A mother of three is out shopping when the inevitable happens: one of her young boys needs to use the restroom. It’s at that moment when she’s faced with the reality of having to choose between taking her sons into the women’s restroom or taking herself and her daughter into the men’s.

It’s this kind of everyday situation that led State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) to file a measure to allow a multiple-occupancy restroom to become an all-gender restroom.

“This proposal simply calls for the needed privacy safeguards to make these restrooms work for anyone,” Bush said.

In January 2020, it became law that all single occupancy public bathrooms in Illinois become gender neutral.

Senate Bill 457 simply expands on that law. However, the legislation is permissive – gender specific multiple-occupancy restrooms are still allowed. Moreover, multiple-occupancy all-gender restrooms will have to meet additional privacy safeguards. Any restroom designated for all genders must have specified signage and floor to ceiling stall dividers.

“People who have disabilities, older adults, or anyone else who needs the help of someone of another gender can receive the assistance they need without having to search for a single occupancy restroom,” Bush said. “Or, think about the moms accompanying young boys, dads with young girls and parents with multiple kids. It’s easy to be unsure which restroom they should use.”

The measure was filed last month and Bush hopes to present it in committee soon.

SPRINGFIELD – Taylorville Memorial and Hillsboro Area Hospital are expected to receive additional COVID-19 vaccines as part of the Safety Net Direct Vaccine Allocation Pilot program. The plan, spearheaded the Illinois Department of Public Health, declared on March 3, 2021, which five federally qualified health centers and four safety net hospitals would be selected in the first round.

“The medical teams and staff at both Taylorville Memorial Hospital and Hillsboro Area Hospital have been working diligently to improve the health of the people within their communities and this substantial increase in the COVID-19 vaccine supply is urgently needed,” said Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield).

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is announcing that Winnebago County will receive over $4.5 million in funding for local transportation projects through the Rebuild Illinois statewide construction program.

“This funding demonstrates the state’s continued commitment to local roads and bridges in the Rockford area,” Stadelman said. “When Rockford’s infrastructure improves, so does our local economy.”

Rebuild Illinois has allocated $1.5 billion in funding specifically for municipal- and county-level projects. Infrastructure investments improve safety, quality of life and the economy, which contributes to the revitalization of communities across the state.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to help provide immediate relief to bars and restaurants that are struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) moved a measure through the Senate Wednesday to bolster the hospitality industry.

“The hospitality industry is struggling, and this plan brings them relief,” Feigenholtz said. “We have to pull every lever we can to keep doors open and cash flowing for our independent restaurants and bars. The industry can’t wait.”

The legislation is known as the Hospitality Recovery Act, and it makes several changes intended to help give a boost to struggling businesses in the restaurant and hospitality industry. It extends the sunset on cocktails-to-go until 2024 and allows single servings of wine to be available for delivery. It also creates several new provisions, such as flexible sales tax payments and allowing retailers to purchase inventory with credit cards.

“The restaurant and bar industry employs nearly 590,000 people in Illinois. Over 120,000 of those jobs have been lost since the beginning of the pandemic,” Feigenholtz said. “Jobs have to come back to this industry, which is comprised of 63% minority workers who are struggling with feeding their families and paying their bills.”

Senate Bill 104, which comes as a follow-up to a similar Feigenholtz-sponsored measure from the previous General Assembly, received unanimous support as it passed the Senate. It will now head to the House of Representatives.

SPRINGFIELD – Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement after Congress passed a $1.9 trillion federal COVID relief package: 

“I am glad to see the Biden administration recognize the need states and local governments have for relief in the face of this unprecedented crisis.

“The funds Illinois is receiving will help us distribute vaccines, support local health departments, safely reopen schools and provide direct relief to the hardest hit families.

SPRINGFIELD – To assist military personnel and their spouses, Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) is spearheading a measure to waive application and examination fees for professional and occupational licenses through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

“Members of our military and their families give up so much to serve our country,” said Cullerton, who serves as the chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs committee. “By waiving the fees for applications and exams for professional licenses, we hope to support them in advancing their careers outside of the military.”

Bush measure would allow campaign funds to be used for child care

SPRINGFIELD – Running for elected office calls for a lot of long days, late nights and busy weekends. It can be discouraging for people with children – especially single parents – to chase their desire to serve their communities.

To enable more women – and all parents – to seek public office, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is leading a movement to allow campaign finances to pay for child care.