SPRINGFIELD – In response to the hard hitting impact of the pandemic, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) crafted, sponsored and passed a relief package to provide a lifeline to a struggling industry.

“In May, we passed a bill allowing cocktail delivery for the bar and restaurant industry, which helped them recoup some of the lost income caused by COVID-19,” Feigenholtz said. “Today we extended this ability to other retail establishments. Alcohol sales make up a large portion of revenue for our eating, drinking and retail establishments."

House Bill 3393, known as the COVID-19 Hospitality Recovery Act, extends the quickly-approaching sunset on cocktail delivery, permits retailers to use credit cards for payment to distributors, and crafts a limited exemption on indirect donations for not-for-profit entities of fixtures and equipment. The package also clarifies laws around permitted delivery.

“These are common sense policies crafted with a great deal of input from industry stakeholders,” Feigenholtz said. “When this legislation becomes law,  it will provide restaurants, bars and retailers with additional tools for cash management, as well as flexibility to indirectly accept items such as tents, warmers and other equipment needed to attract customers to outdoor dining.”

The package passed the Senate with unanimous support, and will be sent to the House for a concurrence vote.

CHICAGO – To expand access to dental care, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) joined the dental team at Illinois Masonic hospital at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new mobile dentistry van. Feigenholtz successfully fought for funding in the state budget to make the new van a reality.

“Oral hygiene and dental health is an important part of a person’s health care, but often is overlooked,” Feigenholtz said. “Dental visits are often expensive and not always covered by insurance. This new mobile unit will provide comprehensive and affordable dental care to adults and children that have traditionally experienced barriers to care.”

CHICAGO – August marks 100 years since the 19^th Amendment was added to the United States Constitution, granting suffrage to women. State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), who currently serves as President of the Women’s Network of the National Conference of State Legislatures, moderated an NCSL event today celebrating a century of women’s enfranchisement.

“The recognition of the 19^th Amendment is arguably one of the most important events in our country’s history, and the hundredth anniversary marks a landmark moment for women,” Feigenholtz said. “It reflects how far we have come and the work that is still ahead.”

CHICAGO – Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced a plan to deploy agents from the Department of Homeland Security to Chicago to respond to local unrest.  State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“The president continues to wreak havoc and chaos across our country by determining that Homeland Security agents should be sent to Chicago,” Feigenholtz said. “There is no way to identify them, no specific purpose for their deployment, and they have no business coming to our city. The Trump administration’s actions provide nothing more than an endless list of failures since the day this administration began.”

The news comes just days after federal agents were deployed to Portland, Oregon. Quickly, footage of these agents using excessive force on protesters surfaced, leading many to fear similar acts of violence may occur in Chicago.

“If the president is truly concerned about the well-being of Chicago residents, then he should do something to address the public health crisis we’re currently facing instead of risking further serious injuries by sending in federal agents,” Feigenholtz said.

The Trump administration has not released any information about when the deployment of federal agents is scheduled to occur.