ROMEOVILLE – State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) spoke at a press conference held by the Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project at the VNA Health Care Clinic on Monday morning alongside State Representative Dagmara Avelar, Congressman Bill Foster and Congresswoman Marie Newman to help bring attention to vaccination sites sponsored by the organization in Will County.

“The Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project has been working hard to expand vaccine accessibility here in Will County,” Connor said. “Their focus on our Black and Brown communities has been vital to ensuring vaccine equity in our district and I couldn’t be more grateful for their efforts to keep our community safe.”

The Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project was founded in 2010 and has grown into a well-known advocacy group for immigrant residents in Will and DuPage counties. The organization has been especially active during the COVID-19 pandemic by helping keep community members up to date on the latest information about the pandemic and fighting for vaccine access for communities of color.

“Members of the SSIP are doing the work that helps get us to the other side of this pandemic,” said Connor. “I am grateful we have their dedication as we all work to protect all members of our community.”

Those wishing to learn more about the SSIP and their vaccination sites can find them on Facebook or visit their site at www.ssipchicago.org.

SPRINGFIELD – Today the Governor signed a new law sponsored by State Senator Rob Martwick (D-Chicago) that removed a provision in Illinois law that allowed the City of Chicago to underfund the Chicago Firefighter’s Pension System for more than 40 years.

“By signing this legislation, Gov. Pritzker has once again demonstrated his commitment to fiscal responsibility and protecting future generations of middle-class Chicagoans from massive tax increases,” Martwick said.  “If we ever hope to right our financial ship, we must finally put an end to the irresponsible behavior that put us here in the first place.  This law simply ensures that the city confronts the true costs of its pension obligations and makes the difficult decisions it needs to make today.”

The law removes the birth date restrictions that could have prevented thousands of firefighters born after Jan. 1, 1966 from receiving a 3% non-compounded annual cost of living increase in retirement. Two firefighters could have started on the force the same day but received different benefits based on their dates of birth.

Under the measure, any Chicago firefighter who is eligible for benefits and reaches 55 years of age – no matter what year they were born – would receive the 3% increase. In practice, firefighters who were born after 1966 have received the cost-of-living adjustment, but this measure ensures every firefighter does by law.

While the city claims the law is a benefit enhancement, Martwick says that is not the case.  

“For 45 years, the city has given every firefighter a higher benefit than was written into the law. This change makes the law comply with those four decades of practice to ensure the city budgets the appropriate amount for that benefit.”

Martwick also pointed out that the benefit in question is substantially lower for Chicago Firefighters than it is for every firefighter in every town, village and city in the rest of the state, and remains lower even after the passage of this law.

“Chicago firefighters have one of the hardest jobs in the world, yet they have a lower pension benefit.  That remains fundamentally unfair,” Martwick said. “However, this law at least ensures that their retirement assets do not continue to be systematically underfunded by the City of Chicago.”

House Bill 2451 of the 101^st General Assembly has been signed by the governor and passed into law.

CHICAGO – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) is announcing that school districts in the 8^th Senate District will receive over $23 million in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want to thank our local teachers, parents and students for their work during the pandemic and our state and national leaders for making this happen,” Villivalam said. “This year posed challenges on our educators, and I am confident that these extra funds will help them succeed in the upcoming school year.”

The funding comes as part of the most recent federal COVID-19 relief packages. Schools, students and parents have overcome challenges that no one could have imagined before the pandemic began, including remote and hybrid learning, digital connection issues, new processes for receiving state and federal aid that normally flow through schools, and more.

Local school districts are set to receive the following amounts:

The majority of the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, which gives local schools a great deal of flexibility in how they can use the money over the next 3 ½ years. At least 20% of the funding must be used to address learning loss, but beyond that, school districts can use the money to address many different issues and costs. For example, it can be used to better equip schools for safe learning, to prevent layoffs, to address students’ social and emotional needs, to fund summer programs, or to ensure all students have access to reliable Wi-Fi and technology.

The State Board of Education, in collaboration with other state agencies that address education, has produced a guide for local school districts to help them decide how to best use their resources. While the guide and other state-sponsored services are completely voluntary, the state aims to support local districts during this difficult time.

In total, Illinois received nearly $7 billion to support local school districts.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman’s (D-Naperville) measure to remove an outdated law that prohibits drinking alcohol on trains, which hasn’t been enforced in nearly a century, was signed into law on Friday.

“When I learned people have technically been breaking the law by ordering drinks on the Amtrak, I decided it was time to remove that law,” Ellman said. “Responsible adults should be able to legally enjoy these types of drinks on a train, and now they can.”

House Bill 3878 of the 101^st General Assembly repeals the Railroad Intoxicating Liquor Act of 1911, which prohibits drinking alcohol on trains and around train stations, and gives conductors the ability to arrest violators and charge them with a Class C misdemeanor.

“Laws that aren’t generally enforced are still laws and technically still can be enforced,” Ellman said. “For years now, many trains have included alcoholic beverages on their menus. Now they won’t technically be breaking a law that was put in place during Prohibition.”

Ellman encourages people to use safe transportation, such as Metra, as an alternative to driving under the influence.

SPRINGFIELD – An initiative sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would ensure Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City would maintain its status as a safety net hospital was signed into law Friday.

“Illinois’ safety net hospitals are of vital importance to our community’s health and safety, especially during a pandemic, “Belt said. “Gateway serves thousands of people each year, and ensuring that it maintains its status as a safety net hospital has been one of my top priorities.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Sara Feigenholtz’s (D-Chicago) plan to allow third parties to deliver spirits and wine from package stores to adult consumers was signed into law Friday.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, more consumers than ever are taking advantage of grocery delivery options because they want to enjoy their favorite products – including spirits – from the safety of home,” Feigenholtz said. “This new law streamlines the delivery process for consumers and sets clear accountability standards for vendors meeting this demand.”

Feigenholtz sponsored Senate Bill 54 so that a person living outside of Chicago can order groceries – including alcohol – for home delivery from a store in Chicago without having to worry whether or not both local governments permit the delivery.

This new law allows retailers to utilize the services of a third-party facilitator by means of the internet or a mobile app to facilitate the sale of alcohol. Third-party facilitators are required to be licensed and must comply with recordkeeping requirements.

“Small businesses are the heart and soul of our community. This law will make it easier for suburban residents to patronize our local shops and businesses safely,” Feigenholtz said.

The governor signed the measure into law Friday, and it takes effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – Safer, more secure ways to cast ballots will soon permanently be in place across the state, thanks to a measure lead by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest).

“We saw during the November 2020 General Election how many people enjoyed having a more safe, accessible and easier way to vote,” Morrison said. “Just because the pandemic is winding down, doesn’t mean expanded voters’ rights have to. Let’s keep fighting for more inclusive and secure elections.”

The new law allows election authorities to establish permanent ballot drop boxes to accept vote-by-mail ballots and to accept mailed ballots even if they have insufficient postage.

LOCKPORT – State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) is announcing that school districts in the Joliet area will receive nearly $64 million in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Teachers and students both have worked incredibly hard to adapt to new methods of learning over the past year,” Connor said. “I know that this extra funding will give them the resources they need to continue moving forward.”

The funding comes as part of the most recent federal COVID-19 relief packages. Schools, students and parents have overcome challenges that no one could have imagined before the pandemic began, including remote and hybrid learning, digital connection issues, new processes for receiving state and federal aid that normally flow through schools, and more.

Joliet area school districts are set to receive the following amounts:

• Joliet Public School District 86 - $ 42,595,457
• Joliet Township High School District 204 - $ 14,782,792
• Channahon School District 17 - $2,115,173
• Laraway Community Consolidated School District 70C - $1,715,538
• Union School District 81 - $351,091
• Rockdale School District 84 - $837,369
• Chaney-Monge School District 88 - $1,436,211
• Elwood Community Consolidated School District 203 - $691,737

The majority of the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, which gives local schools a great deal of flexibility in how they can use the money over the next 3 ½ years. At least 20% of the funding must be used to address learning loss, but beyond that, school districts can use the money to address many different issues and costs. For example, it can be used to better equip schools for safe learning, to prevent layoffs, to address students’ social and emotional needs, to fund summer programs, or to ensure all students have access to reliable Wi-Fi and technology.

The State Board of Education, in collaboration with other state agencies that address education, has produced a guide for local school districts to help them decide how to best use their resources. While the guide and other state-sponsored services are completely voluntary, the state aims to support local districts during this difficult time.

“I’m glad that we’re able to give back to our school districts and our educators after such a harrowing and difficult year,” Connor said.

In total, Illinois received nearly $7 billion to support local school districts.