ANTIOCH, IL – State Sen. Michael Bond (D – Grayslake) and Antioch Mayor Larry Hanson announced today that they have secured more than half a million dollars in emergency road funds to repair crumbling, poorly engineered streets in an Antioch subdivision.

The Illinois Department of Transportation recently signed off on the $661,000 grant, which will be used to repair and replace streets in the Woods of Antioch subdivision. The concrete streets have been crumbling for three years because of a design flaw that allows rain to seep under the pavement and wash away the road bed.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - State Senator John Sullivan (D - Rushville) and State Rep. Rich Myers (R – Macomb) sponsored legislation that will speed up and streamline drainage district projects by raising the cost threshold for the competitive bid process. Governor Pat Quinn signed the bill into law on Monday.

Springfield, IL-State Sen. Michael Bond (D-Grayslake) announced today that the state is moving forward on a major reconstruction project along Illinois Route 83 in Lake County.

Springfield, IL - Legislation sponsored by State Senator Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) that will help restore abandoned buildings in Illinois so they can be used for business purposes has been signed into law.

Chicago, Illinois - Illinois Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-12) and Illinois Rep. Daniel J. Burke (23d. District) worked tirelessly in the General Assembly’s spring session to successfully secure important and needed funds for schools in the Southwest Side of Chicago through “Illinois Jobs Now!” the capital improvement plan that provides many long-awaited improvements to our bridges and roads, transportation networks, schools and communities.

El Senador Martín Sandoval (D-12), Presidente del Comité de Transporte del Senado de Illinois y el Alcalde de la Ciudad de Berwyn Robert J. Lovero, inspeccionan los preparativos del proyecto de repavimentación de un tramo de la calle 26, entre las avenidas Cicero y Harlem, uno de cuatro planes de obras públicas asignados en Berwyn gracias en parte al paquete de estimulo económico federal “America Recovery and Reinvestment Act”. “He trabajado arduamente con el Senador Sandoval para traerle estos fondos federales a Berwyn,” dijo el Alcalde Lovero. “Era urgente iniciar de inmediato la repavimentación de amplios tramos de las calles 25 y 26, de East Ave. y de Roosevelt Road, a un costo de más de $5 millones de dólares.”

Para el Senador Sandoval este es un claro ejemplo de colaboración que beneficiará ampliamente a los residentes de ese suburbio. “El Alcalde Lovero colaboró intensamente conmigo para asegurar que el Departamento de Transporte de U.S. tuviera estas obras en su lista de prioridades y que pronto serán toda una realidad” dijo el Senador Sandoval.

Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-12), Chairman of the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee, and Berwyn Mayor Robert J. Lovero paused while inspecting the soon-to-start resurfacing project on a stretch of 26th Street, between Cicero and Harlem Avenues, one of four infrastructure plans slotted for Berwyn brought in part through the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act”. “I have worked with Senator Sandoval to ensure that federal dollars return to the City of Berwyn. The $5 million resurfacing projects on 25th and 26th streets, Roosevelt Rd. and East Ave. were long overdue,” said Mayor Lovero. For Senator Sandoval these exemplify a fruitful collaboration to benefit everyone in that suburb. “Mayor Lovero has dedicated many days working tirelessly with me to assure that the U.S. Department of Transportation would prioritize these important projects,” said Senator Sandoval.

The other day, I heard on the news that several Illinois soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan. This sad occurrence has become all too common. I only hope that we will never get used to hearing that the brave men and women who defend our country and its interests have been killed in the line of duty. We need to do everything we can to honor members of the military and to assist them once they become veterans. 

One way we assist our retired soldiers is by providing veterans’ homes that make the waning years of their lives easier and more comfortable. I am proud that we have a veterans’ home here in Southern Illinois in the city of Anna. This modern, well-maintained facility has been open for more than a decade. It has 50 beds and a staff that is qualified to provide nursing care and trained to look after the special needs of veterans. Though residents are required to pay a monthly fee, it is based on their income, ensuring that all veterans have the opportunity to receive the care that they need. Getting these soldiers the care they need at an affordable cost and allowing them to stay close to home in Southern Illinois is the least we can do for the men and women who risked their lives to defend our freedom.

Springfield, Illinois - State Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) commended the Governor’s decision to sign the capital bill into law.

"This legislation includes not only bridge and road projects, but also dollars for public transit, education, community development and environmental projects," said Munoz. "Illinois has not had a capital bill in over ten years and these funds will allow us to make the infrastructure improvements that are necessary to improve our economy and put people back to work."

SPRINGFIELD, IL –State Sen. John Sullivan (D-Rushville) announced this week that the state’s first comprehensive capital construction plan in a decade has been signed into law. The roughly $30 billion spending plan will put thousands of people back to work and pour billions of dollars into repairing Illinois’ aging schools, roads, bridges, water and sewer systems and more.