SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) released the following statement after the Senate’s approval of a budget for Fiscal Year 2024 and revenue package:

“An additional pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zone will be coming to the City of Joliet to revitalize the area – something I strongly advocated for. Joliet will see a significant growth in the local economy and the revitalization will bring life to historic buildings, boost property values and more.

“As chair of the Senate Appropriations-Education Committee, I was a voice at the table for our teachers, students and educational professionals. Getting students in the classroom at an early age sets them up to be lifelong learners. Continuing our duty to fund the evidence-based funding model is crucial for schools to have the resources needed to provide a quality education and for teachers to be able to adequately and efficiently do their jobs.”

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to recognize and honor Illinois veterans, State Senator Loughran Cappel led a measure that would allow the Secretary of State to issue United States Submarine Veterans special license plates.

“After hearing from a number of constituents, I saw the reason this was important to submarine veterans,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “We have to honor the sacrifices all our veterans have made and this is one way we can show our support.”

House Bill 1581 would allow the Secretary of State to issue United States Submarine Veteran license plates to Illinois residents who served in the United States Navy as a submariner. New York and Connecticut offer similar submarine service license plates.

The Illinois Secretary of State's Office offers a number of different specialty license plates. Requests for these license plates can be accepted at Driver Services Facilities.

“Our armed forces uproot their lives, leave their families and head off to fight for our country and we can’t thank them enough for that,” Loughran Cappel said.

House Bill 1581 passed the Senate with bipartisan support.

SPRINGFIELD – To increase access to state resources, State Senator Loughran Cappel passed a measure through the Senate that would create a program for grandparents raising their grandchildren in Will County to have a better understanding of what state programs are available.

“Grandparents frequently assume the role of raising their grandchildren,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood).  “However, many people are unaware of the various resources available to them. This initiative aims to simplify the process and provide caregivers with a local point of contact to access the resources they need.”

House Bill 780 would create the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Pilot Program in Will County. The measure would require the Senior Services Center of Will County to designate an intake coordinator to collect resources offered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Human Services, Department on Aging, Department of Healthcare and Family Services and State Board of Education, and provide coordination and education services at Senior Service Centers to serve Will County residents.

Loughran Cappel’s measure requires the intake coordinator to be knowledgeable about the Extended Family Support Program, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, Children’s Health Insurance Program and be a designated point of contact at each agency within 14 days of appointment.

An annual report would be required to be submitted to the General Assembly including the number of families who received referrals to relevant services, specific services each family was referred to and received, and related information regarding frequency of calls and visits to the coordinator's office in the previous calendar year.

“Together, Leader Natalie Manley and I worked to increase access to resources so Will County residents can better understand what is available for those who are raising their grandkids,” Loughran Cappel said.

House Bill 780 passed the Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure Crest Hill residents have clean drinking water, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel spearheaded a measure that would construct a Lake Michigan water receiving station, which passed the Senate Thursday.

“We have to provide residents with clean drinking water,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “This is necessary for Crest Hill to have access to Lake Michigan’s water supply. This is an easy solution that would have a lasting effect on the city.”

Crest Hill's switch to Lake Michigan as a source of treated water supply needs to be finished by the end of 2029. The new water supply operation would be able to serve both the city's water system pressure zones and would be capable of meeting all of its water supply needs.

House Bill 2097 would authorize the City of Crest Hill to buy the land that would be used in the construction of a Lake Michigan water station. The proposed site for the water receiving station is on land owned by the Illinois Department of Corrections, which is near the city's largest water customer, Stateville Correctional Center.

“My top priority is addressing the local issues that affect our community,” Loughran Cappel said. “The residents of Crest Hill deserve to have clean drinking water.”

House Bill 2097 passed the Senate and now heads to the governor’s desk.