BELLEVILLE – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) was joined by Governor JB Pritzker on Friday to announce a $7.5 million investment from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to build an advanced manufacturing training academy on Southwestern Illinois College’s Belleville campus to help train Illinoisans for new manufacturing jobs.

“I’m thrilled that SWIC was chosen for this project,” Belt said. “This equity-based program will provide residents with opportunities to develop specialized skills for careers in manufacturing.”

The funding will be used to create a new manufacturing training center on SWIC’s Belleville campus with new computers and other specialized equipment to prepare local residents for careers in electricity and welding.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would allow most major Illinois airports to directly receive and spend federal funding passed the State Senate on Thursday.

The measure would allow Illinois airports that have 10,000 or more patrons per year to directly receive and spend federal funding. Under the current law, federal funding goes to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s aeronautics division to distribute to airports across the state, with the exception of O’Hare and Midway International Airports in Chicago.

“This measure will give most major airports in Illinois the authority to make their own financial decisions,” Belt said. “It will reduce unnecessary work at IDOT and help reduce the backlog on airport improvement projects.”

Currently, IDOT must approve all planning, construction, development and improvements to hangars. The approval process for these contracts is backlogged, and this measure would take the pressure off of IDOT and allow individual airports to move forward with projects on their own timelines.

“Larger airports in this state have the staff and resources necessary to manage their own funding,” Belt said. “Allowing larger airports to make their own decisions will speed up the approval process for our smaller airports as well, benefitting airports of all sizes.”

Senate Bill 1232 passed the Illinois Senate with a vote of 52-1 and now heads to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – An initiative sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would ensure all eligible employees are paid prevailing wage and create a more transparent Illinois Department of Labor passed the State Senate on Thursday.

The Prevailing Wage Act requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers, workers and mechanics employed on public works construction projects no less than the average rate for the same work in the county where the work takes place.

The initiative would require IDOL’s electronic database of payroll records to be listed by the middle of each month and searchable by the public, ensuring compliance with prevailing wage laws.  

“The government shouldn’t be involved in underpaying construction workers,” Belt said. “We owe it to the public to generate good paying jobs and guarantee government construction projects are done the right way.”

Though IDOL is already required to maintain a database of payroll records to ensure workers are actually being paid the prevailing wage, Belt’s legislation would make it public.

“This added transparency would help make sure these employees are receiving the wage they deserve,” Belt said.

Senate Bill 1767 passed the Illinois Senate with a vote of 42-11 and will now head to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) recently honored 258 St. Clair County high school students who were named 2021-22 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in approximately the top 10% of the state’s high school seniors from 676 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on a combination of standardized test scores and class rank or unweighted GPA at the end of the student’s junior year. ISAC works in conjunction with the students’ high school guidance counselors to determine the winners.

“The last two school years have been hard on students, school staff and parents,” Belt said. “No one could have predicted a global pandemic disrupting all of our lives, and that’s why I’m so proud of these students,” Belt said. “Not only did they performed academically, but they had to perform mentally and emotionally as well. It takes a lot of courage and discipline to achieve what these students have achieved with hybrid and remote learning.”

The scholars from St. Clair County include students from nine area high schools: O’Fallon Township, Althoff Catholic, Belleville Township East, Belleville Township West, First Baptist Academy, Freeburg, Lebanon, Marissa Junior/Senior and Mascoutah high schools. 

SPRINGFIELD – A measure introduced by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would require the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to fly the United States, Illinois and prisoner of war/missing in action flags at all state parks passed the State Senate on Friday.

“These flags are representations of our state and nation, as well as a reminder of the sacrifices service members have given to protect the freedoms we have today,” Belt said.

The measure would require IDNR to fly a United States, Illinois and POW/MIA flag at all state parks within five years after it is signed into law. Additionally, the legislation would allow for groups and individuals to donate resources to the department’s Special Projects Fund to cover the cost of implementation.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would require the Illinois State Board of Education to create an unused food program for schools passed the State Senate on Thursday.

“No child in Illinois should go to bed hungry,” Belt said. “This program will build on the success of the free lunch and breakfast program the state already has in place.”

The program would allow public schools to provide their leftover food to students who already receive free or reduced lunch and breakfast. Like the free lunch and breakfast program, the food must be free to the students.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure introduced by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would simplify the certification process for certified nursing assistants working at the Illinois Department of Corrections passed the State Senate on Wednesday.

“Being a nurse is admirable,” Belt said. “They have fearlessly served the residents of Illinois during this pandemic, and now it’s time we serve them.”

The measure would make it easier for CNAs working for IDOC to keep their certification while working for the department. By categorizing IDOC as a health care employer, it would allow CNAs to maintain their certification while working there.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, if a CNA has a gap of at least two years without employment by a health care employer, they will lose their registration status and no longer be listed on the Health Care Worker Registry. Currently, IDOC is not considered to be a health care employer, meaning that CNAs working for the department as a CNA for more than two years will lose their registration.

Right now, a CNA working for IDOC has to work a second job for another health care employer in order to maintain their certification. By modifying the act’s definition to include IDOC as a health care employer, CNAs employed by the department would no longer face this barrier.

“Right now, the Department of Corrections is not considered to be a health care employer,” Belt said. “This simple change will remove an unnecessary barrier for nurses serving their state.”

Senate Bill 1771 passed the Illinois Senate without opposition and now heads to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – To enhance employment opportunities for women, minorities and people with disabilities in the state of Illinois, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) passed legislation in the Senate Wednesday to change the job interview process at state agencies.

“More diverse state agencies not only benefit our government and the people they serve, but they help create a more inclusive Illinois,” Belt said. “The workforce of state agencies should reflect our diversity.”

The measure would create the Equal Opportunity Employment Interview Initiative and require state agencies to implement hiring goals for certain target groups, including women, minorities and people with disabilities.

During a multiple stage or panel interview process, if an applicant has a disability or identifies as a minority, a woman, or bilingual, state agencies would have to assign an interviewer who represents the same group.