Kane County Reporter

Senate Republicans have successfully persuaded the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) to halt proposed budget cuts for the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled (IDD) community. The proposed cuts would have resulted in a reduction of 2.5 million hours of care provided by Direct Support Professionals (DSP) in group homes where approximately 10,000 adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities reside. This would have affected 90% of all group home residents and totaled nearly $90 million in cuts.

The strong bipartisan pushback from lawmakers, including every member of the Senate Republican caucus, led to a letter pleading with the Pritzker administration to call off the cuts. The administration has confirmed that the cuts will not happen until at least the end of the fiscal year. However, Senator Don DeWitte is committed to advocating for a permanent stop to the proposed cuts.

In other news, Senator DeWitte is encouraging the community to participate in the Valentines for Seniors program. The deadline for dropping off valentines, which will be delivered to seniors living in assisted living centers and nursing homes, is approaching. Senator DeWitte's offices in West Dundee and St. Charles are accepting cards and well-wishes, and there will be containers outside the offices for off-hours drop-offs. The deadline for participation in this heartwarming project is Wednesday, February 7.

Meanwhile, the discontinuation of the Invest in Kids scholarship program is causing private schools to close their doors. Four private schools, including Notre Dame Academy, St. Odilo, St. Frances of Rome, and St. Ann, have announced their closure due in part to the loss of the scholarship program. The Invest in Kids scholarship fund was created to provide a choice for low-income families in struggling school districts by offering them a chance to find schools that better fit their children's needs. Despite bipartisan support, Democratic leadership refused to allow a vote on legislation to extend the program. Senator DeWitte supported legislation to save the program and will continue to advocate for new legislation to restart it.

In an effort to highlight the history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois, the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force has been established. This task force, which includes members from various organizations and lawmakers, aims to create a cohesive statewide history of the Underground Railroad and develop new educational and tourism opportunities. A report on the task force's progress will be delivered to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1.

Lastly, the Illinois Department of Agriculture is offering Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grants to boost the middle sections of the food supply chain. These grants, totaling $6.4 million, will support the processing, manufacturing, storing, and transporting of non-meat food. The goal is to assist smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities. Applications for these grants will be available from January 22 to March 15.

For more information on any of these topics, please contact Joe at jmorano@sgop.ilga.gov or call Senator DeWitte's office at 847-214-8245.