Aurora, Ill. - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) has released the following statement after hearing the news of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka passing today:

“I’m saddened to hear of President Trumka’s untimely passing, and my heart is not just with his immediate family but also with the millions of working people throughout the U.S. who have lost his leadership and his advocacy for them.

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) has been selected to be part of the ninth annual Edgar Fellows Program out of a pool of 187 nominees from all levels of government, nonprofit organizations, and the business world.

“The names of those chosen as this year’s Edgar Fellows have been released, and I am incredibly honored to be among them,” Ellman said. “I look forward to experiencing the program with this class, and I expect to learn a lot.”

CHICAGO – Health screenings, giveaways, live entertainment, and family activities will be available at this year’s Family Health & Fitness Fair, hosted by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago).

Held at the Illinois Institute of Technology for the seventeenth year in a row (minus last year due to COVID-19) this grand event will feature free immunizations, school supplies, and haircuts. More than 50 vendors will participate, which is the most in the event’s history.

­CHICAGO – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka today:

“My heart is heavy with the loss of Richard Trumka. Millions of working people across the nation are grieving, as we have lost a pillar of the labor movement.

“Richard Trumka was a devoted fighter for working people who knew that when we stand together, we can make life better for ourselves and each other. His passing will be felt deeply by those in the AFL-CIO and all our brothers and sisters in labor.”

EDWARDSVILLE – Feminine hygiene products will be required at homeless shelters for all who need them, thanks to a measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) that was signed into law today.

“I cannot personally imagine the indignity of having to use some other item as a makeshift sanitary product, but I believe people who have already been deprived of so much should not have to suffer that, too,” Belt said. “These are essential products for health, safety, and cleanliness, and we need to treat them as such when we supply our homeless shelters.”

WAUKEGAN – Over 26,000 lives have been lost to gun violence in the U.S. so far in 2021, a shocking statistic that motivated State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) and her Youth Leadership Advisory Panel to take action.

Together, Johnson and the student-run panel will host a Gun Violence Awareness Roundtable on Tuesday, Aug. 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Clearview Park, located at 1523 N. McAree Road in Waukegan.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans will be able to purchase menstrual hygiene products with federal and state food assistance program benefits under a new law sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago).

“Benefits programs aren’t living up to their full potential until they cover necessary menstrual hygiene products,” Villa said. “Increasing the accessibility of menstrual hygiene products for low-income Illinoisans is essential to combatting period poverty across our state.”

RANTOUL – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) and his staff will be at the Rantoul Public Library, located at 106 W. Flessner Ave., on Wednesday, Aug. 11 from noon to 1 p.m. to kick off his monthly Rantoul office hours.

“The goal of these remote office hours is to give local residents an opportunity to share their concerns and opinions with me, and to ensure state services are easily accessible to everyone,” Bennett said. “I look forward to meeting with everyone who attends.” 

Bennett’s staff will host regular office hours in Rantoul the second Wednesday of every month to meet with community members and assist with state and local services.

These office hours serve as an opportunity for constituents to speak directly with Bennett’s staff to receive help with casework and other issues at the state level.

Bennett will also host office hours on Sept. 8 and Oct. 13 in Rantoul. To stay up to date on events Bennett’s office is hosting this fall, residents can visit SenatorBennett.com.