Stadelman bill protects DNA test results

Illinois residents’ genetic testing results will be protected thanks to legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman. Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, companies that provide direct-to-consumer commercial genetic testing such as ancestry.com and 23andMe no long can share test results with health or life insurance companies without the consumer’s consent.

"It is important for our laws to keep up with advances in technology," Stadelman said. "Genetic testing has become more affordable in recent years, and people deserve to have their privacy protected."

The number of people who have had their DNA analyzed with direct-to-consumer genetic genealogy tests more than doubled during 2017 and exceeded 12 million in 2018. Last year, an estimated 1 in 25 American adults now have access to personal genetic data.

New law opens minority business access to state construction jobs

Minority owned business will be required to be included in statewide construction projects under legislation passed in the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker earlier this month.

The new law requires the Department of Management Services (CMS) to automatically certify companies as Business Enterprise Program companies if they are registered with the city of Chicago, Cook County or any other jurisdictions with equal or greater requirements for certification as having minority or female ownership. CMS also now must create a model disparity study to be used by units of local government to examine their total number of minority owned companies and find ways to increase those numbers.

Senate Bill 177 also makes changes to the Illinois Apprenticeship Initiative by requiring contractors to utilize apprentices from the Illinois Pre-Apprenticeship Program on public works capital projects. Under the measure, participants of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program would receive a stipend or compensation while in the program.

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Congratulations to Peter and Heather Provenzano and everyone involved with development what's to be known as Hotel Kate in the former YWCA building on South Madison Street across from the Sports Factory.

The hotel's namesake is Rockford suffragist and Renaissance woman Kate O'Connor, who happens to have been the great-great aunt of former State Rep. John Hallock.

State makes good on financial commitment to Machnesney Park

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced this week that the state is reimbursing the Village of Machesney Park for a boat ramp built on the Rock River in 2015.

“This payment, of course, should have occurred long ago," Stadelman said. "But the release of the funds now proves Illinois is turning a fiscal corner and finally keeping its promises to communities like Machesney Park.”

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza issued a check for $200,000 to reimburse Machesney Park for a grant awarded in 2014 under the state's Boat Area Access Development Program but frozen after Bruce Rauner became governor in 2015. According to Machesney Park Mayor Steve Johnson, the ramp has lived up to the intent of the state's grant program, which was to improve access to Illinois' lakes and rivers. The ramp provides the added benefit of helping law enforcement respond more quickly to emergencies.

“The boating public and first responders have really appreciated the boat launch, as shown by the amount of use it gets,” ohnson said. “It would not have happened without the 50-percent grant funding by the state, and we appreciate Senator Stadelman’s help in seeing the final payment through to us.”

 Stadelman urges Goodwill grads to keep believing

Citing the early life and career disappointments of Abraham Lincoln, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Walt Disney, Lucille Ball and Dr. Suess, State Senator Steven Stadelman commended young adults who earned their GED through Goodwill and encouraged them to continue to invest in themselves.

Lincoln famously failed in business and lost eight elections before becoming president, Stadelman noted, and Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Disney, Oprah and Lucy all were dismissed as no-talents early in their careers, and Dr. Suess saw his first book rejected by 27 publishers.

"Our lives are richer because they believed in themselves," Stadelman told Goodwill's fifth and largest GED class at Veteran's Memorial Hall. "Always believe in your abilities even when others don't. Our community is held back by its comparative low education level. Each of you, in bettering yourself, makes our commuity a better place to live."

Pictured below are three of the 22 graduates: Dylan Farr, Efrain Dominguez and Pricilla Outcalt, who worked toward her diploma for 30 years.

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Shoutout to Albert Cheeks Riley Jr. for the photos of the charity basketball game earlier this month. I had a blast and, just as importantly, didn't tweak a knee or ankle!

Enjoyed talking with ESL students at Rock Valley College! Thanks Bonnie Jensen for the invite!

Rockford – On Tuesday, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) announced that the state is finally reimbursing the Village of Machesney Park for the boat ramp built on the Rock River back in 2015.

“Frankly, this should have happened earlier,” Stadelman said. “This is proof that Illinois is turning a fiscal corner and is finally keeping its promises to communities like Machesney Park.”

The original state grant for the dock was announced back in 2014 and was built the following year. Unfortunately, the reimbursement for the grant was frozen by former governor Bruce Rauner.

The boat ramp has improved public access to the Rock River and helped law enforcement to respond more quickly to emergencies.

“The boating public and first responders have really appreciated the boat launch, as shown by the amount of use it gets,” said Steve Johnson, mayor of Machesney Park. “It would not have happened without the 50% grant funding by the State, and we appreciate Senator Stadelman’s help in seeing the final payment through to us.”

The dock was part of the state’s Boat Area Access Development Program, which aimed to improve access to Illinois’ lakes and rivers. According to local officials, the dock has change the way emergency personnel have been able to rescue people and prevent additional accidents on the River.

The $200,000 check from the office of Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza was officially issued last Thursday, December 5.

Insulin cap awaits governor's signature

Diabetics won't be ravaged by out-of-pocket costs for life-saving prescriptions once Gov. JB Pritzker signs a bill co-sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman to cap the price of insulin in Illinois at $100 for a 30-day supply. Pritzker has expressed support, calling the legislation "a bold action to protect our residents' health" when the bill passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly last week.

"Illinois continues to be a leader in ensuring health care is a right and not a privilege," Priztker said. "This is an important step forward for lowering health care costs."

Stadelman, who has a diabetic teenage son, argued that capping costs to make insulin affordable will save money in the long run because diabetics won't be inclined to ration insulin, causing serious damage to their health from unstable levels of glucose in their blood.

Women's Wellness Fair another success

Women received influenza immunizations, massage and reflexology demonstrations and learned about health issues ranging from breast and cervical cancer to skincare and aromatherapy at State Senator Steve Stadelman's fifth Women's Wellness Fair at Riverfront Museum Park.

Thirty vendors provided services and information Saturday that focused on women, though men were invited to attend and did. Stadelman organizes the free event as an opportunity for women and men to access health care they may not otherwise be able to afford and to take time to pamper themselves before the holiday rush. Guests enjoyed refreshments and music by the harp and flute duo Emerald Wind.

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 Ethics reform bill would improve transparency in lobbying

State Senator Steve Stadelman is pushing for new ethics reforms in the wake of scandals surrounding numerous Springfield lawmakers in recent months, passing legislation in the Illinois General Assembly last week.

Senate Bill 1639, co-sponsored by Stadelman, takes aim at the practice of state lawmakers lobbying local units of government by requiring:
• state lobbyists to disclose any units of local government they also lobby,
• state lobbyists to disclose any elected or appointed offices they hold,
• lobbying firms that contract out other lobbyists to disclose who is lobbying for each business or other client,
• the Secretary of State to improve the Illinois lobbyist database, integrating new provisions and making the system easier to search and navigate.

The proposals now head to the governor for his signature.

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Hanging out and sharing snacks with 3,4 and 5 year olds at Nashold Early Childhood Center. Great to see how their teacher Andrew Fruth Andy Fruth and school staff help students every day. Obviously, the little boy in front (left photo) found something much more interesting than me. ?

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