Welcome to Illinois State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel Legislative Website

Loughran Cappel: Historic education reform a win for students and teachers

: Category: Press Releases; Thursday, January 14, 2021 09:33 AM

SPRINGFIELD – This week’s lame duck session was a win for students and teachers with the passing of the Black Caucus’s education pillar and legislation restoring collective bargaining rights to Chicago teachers. With her background in education, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D- Shorewood) is especially proud to have been a part of such monumental votes.

“As a mother and former teacher and school board member, I’m proud one of the first votes I cast was to improve our school system for all children,” Loughran Cappel said. “Ensuring every child has the tools they need to success in their education is one of my top priorities.”

The education reform measure, part of the Black Caucus’s plan to improve conditions for minorities and low-income families touches on early childhood, K-12 and higher education. It includes measures to expand high school graduation requirements to include two years of laboratory science and foreign language and to improve curriculums teaching about minority groups and civil rights.

Loughran Cappel sworn in for first full term as senator

: Category: Press Releases; Wednesday, January 13, 2021 09:27 AM

PLAINFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D- Shorewood) was sworn in to the 102^nd General Assembly as state senator for the 49^th District Wednesday.

“I am excited and humbled to continue representing the 49^th District in Springfield,” Loughran Cappel said. “As we begin the next legislative session, especially in these unprecedented times, I am ready to fight to ensure the people in my community have the resources they need to be healthy and successful.”

Before being elected to the Senate, Loughran Cappel served the community as a special education teacher, a school board member and a volunteer at various organizations throughout Will County.

Loughran Cappel applauds legislation banning seclusion of students in school

: Category: Press Releases; Tuesday, January 12, 2021 10:55 AM

PLAINFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D- Shorewood) was proud that one of her first votes was to prohibit school district employees and independent contractors from disciplining children by secluding them in a locked or unlocked space.

“Studies show that isolating students as punishment does not change behavior,” said Loughran Cappel, who served on the Joliet Township High School Board, including its discipline committee. “This legislation will protect our students from the harmful mental health effects of seclusion rooms.”

Specifically, the legislation would ban all isolated seclusion practices and ban the use of physical restraints that could impair a student’s ability to breathe or speak normally. It would still allow for time outs with a trained adult in the room with an unlocked door for therapeutic reasons or to protect the safety of students and staff.

Loughran Cappel urges businesses to apply for BIG program grants by Dec. 15

: Category: Press Releases; Friday, December 11, 2020 02:56 PM

PLAINFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D- Shorewood) is encouraging businesses to apply for Business Interruption Grants before the Tuesday, Dec. 15 deadline.

“COVID-19 has hurt our local businesses and left many unsure of their future,” Loughran Cappel said. “The BIG program is helping relieve some of that stress on businesses by assisting with costs like retaining employees and keeping the lights on.”

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is providing $220 million in funding for small businesses through the BIG Program and has already begun to issue awards for the second round of grants. Businesses can use funding from these grants to cover expenses like payroll costs, rent, utilities and other operating costs.

Welcome

Thank you for visiting my website.

I am proud to serve as the State Senator from Illinois’ 49th District. I hope you’ll find this site a useful resource in keeping up to date with what’s happening in our district and in Springfield. Please contact either of my offices with questions or ways I can better serve you. It is my honor to represent you in Springfield.

Sincerely,

signature of State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel