Loughran Cappel appointed chair of Senate Education Committee for 104th General Assembly

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, a passionate advocate for quality education and former educator, has been appointed to serve as chair of the Senate Education Committee for the 104^th General Assembly.

“I understand firsthand the challenges both teachers and students face in schools and how essential it is to invest in our education system,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “I am committed to ensuring our policies reflect the needs of both students and educators to build a brighter future for all communities.”

Loughran Cappel entered the professional world as a special education teacher. In 2015, Loughran Cappel became a union representative for her school’s teacher’s union — AFT-IFT Local 604 — to support other educators and help them have meaningful careers. In 2017, she served on the Joliet High School Board where she worked to improve school safety and technical problems within the district.

Loughran Cappel served as chair of the Senate Appropriations-Education Committee during the 103^rd General Assembly.

“Since joining the Senate, I have been a passionate advocate for educators and children, and I’m looking forward to continuing my work in my new position as chair of the Education Committee,” said Loughran Cappel.

Loughran Cappel will serve in this position throughout the 104^th General Assembly.

Loughran Cappel sworn in to continue fight for education, working families

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel was sworn in to office Wednesday for her third term in the Illinois Senate.

“Since I became state senator, I’ve fought for much-needed infrastructure improvements, lower property taxes for homeowners and worked to improve educational policy,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “I know there are opportunities to build on our progress of making Illinois the best place to work, live and raise a family. I’m confident we can reach our goals by working together across party lines on common-sense solutions.”

Loughran Cappel, a lifelong resident of Will County, has represented the 49^th District since her appointment in 2020. The district includes parts of Will and Kendall counties, including Bolingbrook, Plainfield and Joliet.

During her time in the Senate, Loughran Cappel has worked to tackle the ongoing teacher shortage, support small businesses across the state, prioritize working families and advocate for students, educators and veterans.

Loughran Cappel is well-known for her constituent services and strives to keep residents updated with helpful information and resources. She encourages people to reach out to her office at 815-267-6119 or SenatorLoughranCappel.com/ContactUs with questions or concerns.

This week marks the start of the 104^th General Assembly.

Loughran Cappel announces $260,000 grant awarded to Plainfield Park District

PLAINFIELD — The Plainfield Park District received a $260,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant to help continue its ongoing improvements to Plainfield Park District, thanks to strong support from State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

“This funding will enhance the Plainfield Park District,” said Loughran Cappel (D- Shorewood). “Making improvements to parks in the community makes it a better and more appealing place for all to enjoy.”

For the third year in a row, Loughran Cappel supported funding for economically distressed communities, resulting in 29 underserved locations receiving $17.3 million in grants from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, program.

OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that helps communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. It’s become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois. Since its establishment, OSLAD has awarded $640 million for park projects throughout Illinois.

More than $55.2 million in state grants are being awarded for 100 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities.

Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website for more information on the OSLAD grants.

Loughran Cappel kicks off annual Toys for Tots drive

CREST HILL – With the holiday season upon us, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel is collecting toys for children across Will County.

“We often take for granted our ability to give and receive gifts during the holidays – but the reality is, hundreds of children in our community go without them each year,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “This season, let’s not only think about our own families but the families around us, too. Help us out by donating toys to the kids who need it most.”

Loughran Cappel’s office – located at 20660 Caton Farm Road, Unit D in Crest Hill – will serve as a Toys for Tots drop-off location now through Dec. 12. Residents are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys for kids of all ages. The toys will be gifted to children in need throughout the holiday months.

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute toys as Christmas gifts to children in the community.

For more information, call Loughran Cappel’s office at 815-267-6119.