AURORA – Senator Linda Holmes will lead a subject matter hearing in the Senate Labor Committee this week to learn about the status of several Unemployment Insurance issues plaguing the Illinois Department of Employment Security in the last year. Their handling of an unprecedented flood of claims in the last year, when more than 1 million Illinoisans lost their jobs, overwhelmed the department.

“Our working group on this major issue has been investigating this since shortly after the pandemic began,” Committee Chair Holmes said. “We’ve had input from colleagues and the hundreds of constituents who’ve contacted us about their difficulties getting payments, navigating the website or getting a call back from IDES.”

The public and lawmakers continue to express concerns about claimants being able to reach and receive assistance from the agency with their unemployment claims, as well as to get their payments. Illinois is also one of many states dealing with a wave of fraudulent activities, and the agency is seeking to implement tougher security measures to ensure claims are only paid to verified recipients.

AURORA – With the 102^nd General Assembly now underway, State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) will continue to serve as Assistant Majority Leader of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus.

“I am pleased to serve as part of Senate President Don Harmon’s leadership team as an Assistant Majority Leader for the Senate Democratic Caucus,” Holmes said. “The challenges we face this year offer opportunities for us to set policies to bring our state’s health and economy back on track, as well as address the issues my constituents in the 42nd District care most about.”

AURORA – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) is pleased to announce the Fox Valley Montessori School in Aurora has received an Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Grant to fund a pollinator garden at the school.

“This is a great way of combining learning about Illinois habitats and repairing the fragile state of our pollinators’ habitat by letting kids get their hands dirty and enjoy some fresh air,” Holmes said. “Learning how pollinators are vital to our food supply is an important part of understanding how each of us can have a positive impact on our environment.”

The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Fund (ICF) to support the development or enhancement of wildlife habitat on the school grounds or other public places. Projects funded by these grants are meant to teach children that their actions can make a difference in the world while increasing the use of native plants in Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law takes effect Jan 1, 2021 to prevent pharmaceutical and insurance companies from continuing to excessively profit off Illinoisans who manage their diabetes with insulin.

Co-sponsored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), Senate Bill 667 makes Illinois the second state in the nation to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $100 per month for all patients using a state regulated insurance plan, regardless of the supply they require. 

“This law challenges corporate greed and ensures people with diabetes don’t pay unfair prices for a medication they cannot live without,” Holmes said. “I am ready to work with my colleagues in the upcoming legislative session to continue to reform prescription drug pricing and reduce patients’ out-of-pocket costs.”