Last Friday, I was pleased to join Governor Pritzker with Aurora and other area advocates and professionals to announce $1.6 billion in federal aid to increase access to high quality early childhood education and child care.

Child care providers will receive $140 million in direct grants in coming weeks, and the administration announced a network of early-childhood planning councils to launch statewide.

Child care providers have been among the hardest hit during the pandemic. It’s been helpful to provide some financial relief, and now to receive this federal funding as well. They will continue to need support to help us ensure all families have access to affordable, reliable child care.

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SPRINGFIELD – After an October report from ProPublica revealed allegations of abuse and neglect of children at the Aurora Chicago Lakeshore Hospital, concerns were heightened about coordination between the Department of Children and Family Services and other state agencies.

State Senator Linda Holmes’ (D-Aurora) House Bill 831 requires better reporting to rectify those cases by require DCFS to notify the Director of Public Health and the Director of Healthcare and Family Services when they occur.

“After DCFS found neglect and sexual abuse by staff, as well as failure to provide a safe environment and to monitor these children’s care and medication at this psychiatric hospital, it became obvious more oversight is needed to prevent this from happening,” Holmes said. “Federal and state investigations have revealed these tragedies and we must do everything we can to stop it.”

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) has passed legislation in the Senate to address a number of issues regarding animal shelters and foster groups, licensing fees and feral cat programs.

Senate Bill 61 increases licensing fees and fines under the Department of Agriculture for the first time since 1971. It also changes rules regarding adopted dogs and cats and the facilities that provide foster homes and transport pets for adoption.

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SPRINGFIELD – Right now, a state agency can overturn a local school board’s decision to deny a charter school application in their school district. Under a proposal from State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), that decision would remain in local hands.

Senate Bill 1226 would change the charter school application process to abolish the State Charter School Commission and ensure locally elected school boards and parents would decide if a charter school is good for their community. The plan puts all existing charter schools authorized by the commission under the authority of the Illinois State Board of Education beginning June of 2020.

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