Kane County Reporter

Last Tuesday, Senator Don DeWitte joined the Illinois Manufacturing Association (IMA) and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to unveil the IMA's 2024 legislative agenda. The agenda focuses on strengthening Illinois' workforce, advancing cutting-edge technology, and supporting the state's clean energy goals.

One of the key bills in the IMA package is Senate Bill 163, which Senator DeWitte proudly serves as the Chief Sponsor. This bill aims to make the temporary Research & Development Tax Credit in Illinois permanent. Senator DeWitte emphasized the importance of this bill in addressing the job vacancy issue in the technology field and fostering innovation in the state.

"The R & D credit sunsets every five years, which creates a level of uncertainty and a lack of predictability. We need a permanent- or at least a long-term- extension and modernization of the program to ensure we are fostering the most innovative ideas in our state," said Senator DeWitte.

In addition to SB 163, the IMA package includes measures to help with student loan repayment, provide scholarships for high school students, offer research and development tax credits, and pilot a program that offers free childcare on-site at manufacturing facilities. The goal is to attract students and adults into the technology field and address the job vacancy issue from multiple angles.

Senator DeWitte also highlighted the need to support businesses that have already invested in Illinois. He mentioned the Governor's $1 billion "business closure fund" to attract new business investment and emphasized the importance of incentivizing existing businesses to stay and grow in the state.

In another news, Senator DeWitte, along with three of his Senate Republican colleagues, held a press conference to bring attention to the misplaced priorities of healthcare costs. They raised concerns about noncitizens receiving healthcare at nearly no cost while Illinoisans continue to pay hefty premiums and co-pays for the same services.

"We explained how the free healthcare for noncitizens program has ballooned from an estimated $2 million to over $1 billion in just a few years, and drove home the point that Illinois taxpayers are not only paying premiums and co-pays for their own health insurance, but the taxes they pay are also covering the cost of healthcare for the hundreds of thousands of noncitizens that have come to Illinois," said Senator DeWitte.

Senator DeWitte, who is a member of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), also highlighted the discrepancies in the co-pay system. Despite the Governor's announcement that co-pays are back, it was revealed at a JCAR meeting that managed care providers can decide whether or not to charge co-pays. Mandatory co-pays will only exist for overnight hospital stays and surgical procedures.

In response to mishandling of human remains at a funeral home and crematorium in Carlinville, Senator DeWitte and his Republican colleagues have filed legislation to prevent such incidents in the future. Senate Bill 3263 would make it a Class 4 Felony to knowingly and intentionally provide inaccurate documentation of the identity of human remains, store human remains in violation of Illinois law, or provide misidentified human remains.

Moving on to community initiatives, Senator DeWitte and his staff delivered about 4,000 valentines to seniors in nursing homes and assisted living centers in the 33rd Senate District. The gesture was well-received and brought smiles to the faces of the seniors.

Additionally, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has partnered with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) to launch the "Made in Illinois" grant program. This program will provide up to $50,000 in matching grant funding to small and mid-sized Illinois manufacturers, helping them meet market demands and expand their businesses.

As February is Black History Month, Senator DeWitte highlighted the positive contributions African Americans have made to the country and state. He mentioned the official recognition of Black History Month by President Gerald Ford in 1976 and the annual endorsement of a specific theme for the month. This year's theme is "African Americans and the Arts".

Lastly, the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) and Google Public Sector are partnering to create the Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation (BEACON) program. This program aims to centralize behavioral and mental health resources for Illinois youth and will utilize Google's cloud for secure and accessible information. The program will benefit children and families connected to various departments, including the Department of Public Health, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Department of Human Services.

With these legislative initiatives and community efforts, Senator Don DeWitte continues to work towards a better Illinois for its residents.