Manar welcomes Solar Car champs from Pana High School

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) welcomed the 2019 Pana Solar Car Team to the Illinois State Capitol today to showcase their car and be recognized before the Illinois Senate.

After months of designing and building a roadworthy solar-powered car, the from Pana High School captured a national championship at the 2019 Solar Car Challenge this summer at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Led by senior Lucas Duduit, the rest of the four-member team consisted of sophomores Boone Elledge, Jessica Pollman and Katelyn Townsend.

“This team exemplifies just how remarkable and innovative our students can be when given the appropriate tech resources and instruction,” Manar said. “It’s my privilege to welcome them to the Senate.”

Manar presented each member of the team with a congratulatory certificate for their success as national champions on behalf of the Illinois Senate.

Link passes measures to ban public use of e-cigarettes

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) that would ban public consumption of e-cigarettes passed the Illinois state Senate Tuesday.

“It’s only fair that we treat these products the same way we treat cigarettes,” Link said. “It’s still unclear what the health effects of these devices are and people shouldn’t be forced to be exposed to them in public places if they don’t want to.”

According to the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention, there have been more than 1,600 cases of vaping-related ailments reported, including 34 deaths across 24 states.

Senate Bill 1864 would expand the Smoke Free Illinois Act by prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes and other alternative nicotine products in public places, places of employment and within 15 feet of building entrances.

The measure could also help curb youth-cigarette use.

Read more: Link passes measures to ban public use of e-cigarettes

Harris fights to protect the rights of student athletes

SPRINGFIELD – Student athletes at Illinois colleges and universities would receive compensation from the use of their name, image or likeness under a measure sponsored by Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey). Currently, college athletes cannot receive compensation for participating in the sports other than scholarships.

"I played college football for four years, and I remember the many times when my family couldn’t afford things we needed and wanted," Harris said. "However, on game days, the stadiums were packed, and the university was making millions of dollars."

Senate Bill 2278 would also prohibit athletic association or conference from preventing a school or a student from participating in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and will not affect the student's scholarship eligibility. Ultimately this measure will ok student-athletes to generate profits for themselves through the use of their names and likenesses, such as in video games.

Read more: Harris fights to protect the rights of student athletes

Manar plan to cap insulin costs passes committee

SPRINGFIELD – An initiative to reign in the soaring cost of insulin for diabetes patients moved forward today.

Senate Bill 667, sponsored by State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), would cap co-payments for insulin at $100 per month for all patients regardless of the supply they require. The cap would only apply to commercial insurance plans regulated by the state. The legislation was approved 15-3-1 by the Senate Insurance Committee.

“For over a million Illinois residents, insulin is an absolute necessity. Without it, they will die,” Manar said. “Pharmaceutical companies are leveraging that fact in order to maximize profits. It’s time we hold them accountable.”

The price of insulin has drastically increased in the United States in the past several years. According to a 2016 analysis, the price of the drug tripled between 2002 and 2013.

1.3 million Illinoisans are living with diabetes and rely on insulin to manage their blood sugar levels. Price increases have left many of them struggling to pay for the drug and at risk of deadly consequences.

Read more: Manar plan to cap insulin costs passes committee