CHICAGO – Six school districts will receive more than $6,000 in grants through the Illinois Secretary of State’s School Library Grant program, Senator Rob Martwick announced today.

“Our school libraries have a phenomenal impact on our student’s academic achievements,” said Martwick. “This grant program will allow our libraries to help train our children to compete for jobs in a global economy.”

The grants, which are issued by the Illinois State Library, allow public schools to improve technology by purchasing new computers or improving Wi-Fi connectivity, acquire books, educational CDs and DVDs, and library subscriptions to electronic resources.

“Today’s students not only need to be good readers, but also be able to evaluate and use information to develop cognitive skills,” said Martwick. “Our schools have amazing librarians who are helping educate the minds of the next generation. This grant will help aid them in continuing their mission and training the future leaders of our great state.”

Information about the grant program can be found at: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/grants/schoolpercapgrant.html.

Schools receiving school library grants include:

• East Maine School District #63— $2,046
• Schiller Park School District #81— $970.50
• Board of Education District #80— $787.50
• Union Ridge School District #86— $750
• Ridgewood Community High School District #234— $750
• Pennoyer School District #79— $750

WAUKEGAN – State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) applauded Medline Industries’ decision to temporarily close its Waukegan sterilization plant while working to decrease ethylene oxide emissions.

“It’s clear just how dangerous exposure to ethylene oxide can be,” Link said. “I’m glad to see that Medline is taking the health consequences of people who live near the plant seriously.”

The company announced Tuesday that it will temporarily halt sterilization operations at the Waukegan facility to install nearly $10 million worth of upgrades to comply with new state laws regulating ethylene oxide.

SPRINGFIELD - Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) released the following statement regarding reports that fewer than 600 non-citizens were added to voter rolls due to administrative error:

“There is absolutely no room for administrative error when it comes to properly conducting our election system. Democrats and Republicans came together and unanimously approved automatic voter registration, and we expect it to be done correctly. We need a gaugeable plan of action from the Secretary of State’s office to make sure such errors never happen again. If it takes a Senate committee hearing to get those answers, that’s the course I’ll pursue.”

SPRINGFIELD – After representing the people of Oak Park and the state of Illinois for more than 17 years, Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) looks forward to serving as the 39th Senate president, and thanks his colleagues for recognizing his legislative accomplishments and for believing in his ability to lead the chamber.

“The Senate is a collection of diverse views and diverse experiences but consistent purpose—to best represent the citizens who send us to the Capitol, to collaborate, to compromise, and to create better opportunities, better outcomes, and greater faith in the honor and integrity of our state,” President Harmon said.

Senate President Harmon was first elected to the Senate in the fall of 2002, and has since promoted a progressive agenda based on his commitment to social justice and public service. In 2011, former-Senate President John Cullerton appointed him president pro tempore, offering Harmon a key role in shaping policy and moving legislation through the Senate.

Ethics commission considers full disclosure of lobbying

CHICAGO — Across Illinois on a daily basis, people are likely being paid to lobby governments without ever having to register as lobbyists or disclose any information.

It’s a reality that emerged Wednesday from the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform. Illinois state government, the city of Chicago and Cook County are the main entities that require lobbyist registration and disclosure. But there are hundreds of units of local government throughout Illinois. By and large, those entities have no such lobbying requirements.

“I think it’s naïve for anyone to think those are the only three places where lobbying is going on,” said Senator Elgie R. Sims, a joint commission co-chair. “If the public has the right to know in these jurisdictions, why shouldn’t it know everywhere else? We need a more holistic approach to lobbying throughout Illinois, because it seems to me there’s a lot probably going on in the dark right now.”

Read more.

New law allows earlier access to senior tax break

SPRINGFIELD — A new measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that would accelerate access to a property tax break for seniors was signed into law Tuesday.

“This bill is an opportunity to test a more efficient process while still providing the same or better level of service,” Ellman said. “This particular example prioritizes the needs of seniors on fixed-incomes and ensures awareness of relief programs available to our older population. I will continue to seek more efficient processes that serve Illinoisans.”

Read more.

Castro wants to close legislative pay loophole

SPRINGFIELD — A loophole in legislative pay law allowing legislators to receive an entire month’s pay despite not serving the full month would be closed under a proposal by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin).

“In any other job, a person would not be compensated for an entire month if they only worked one day,” Castro said. “This is a glaring loophole that has been exploited far too many times at the taxpayers’ expense, and I’m sick of it. It needs to be closed.”

Read more.

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SPRINGFIELD – To invest in water system improvements in the community, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development has awarded the City of Farmington $500,000 in the form of Community Development Block Grant, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) announced today.

“Thanks to this program, Farmington is at long last being given a chance to make necessary upgrades to outdated water infrastructure. I’m excited to follow this project’s development,” Koehler said.

The Community Development Block Grant program is a federally funded initiative designed to support community development activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development.

AURORA – Illinois became the 37th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in 2018, and State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) is pleased the Virginia legislature ratified the ERA today. This brings the total number of states to ratify to 38 -- the threshold necessary for it to be included in the U.S. Constitution -- and it sets the stage for all 38 states to call for a historic constitutional convention.

“This is a good day,” Holmes said. “It is frustrating that there are still several hoops to jump through to actually get the ERA over the finish line, but we will keep working to enshrine the simple concept of equality in our nation’s Constitution, as it should have always been.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Heather Steans issued the following statement on news that Virginia today became the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment:

“Virginia’s historic action today, a century after the ERA was introduced and women gained the vote, should tell us that the time is long overdue for this to become the law,” Steans said. “The idea that our government should not have the power to discriminate against on the basis of sex should not be controversial. Because of the time that has passed, there remains work to be done, but the American people have spoken loud and clear: It’s time for the Equal Rights Amendment.”