Ventura advances bill to bring economic, environmental benefits to area

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura spearheaded new legislation that would lift the limits on hydropower plants.

Currently Illinois is ranked 46th in the nation when it comes to hydropower. With Senate Bill 1474 passing the Energy and Public Utility Committee Thursday, Ventura hopes to advance Illinois’ renewable energy sector.

“By having hydropower in our communities, we can increase jobs, lower the price of energy and protect our planet,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Supporting hydropower today will allow Illinoisans to reap economic and environmental rewards for decades to come.”

Under Ventura’s measure, the Illinois Power Agency would be required to procure a percentage of its renewable energy credits from hydropower dams. This would help increase the use of this renewable energy source, while also promoting environmental conservation by using dams that already exist.

This initiative is aimed to support hydropower dams across the state including the Kankakee Hydropower Dam, the Wilmington Dam, and the Brandon Road Lock and Dam.

“This legislation addresses the energy problem across the state,” said Ventura. “Illinois struggled to generate base load capacity so the cost of electricity doubled for hardworking families. Expanding renewable energy, especially base load capacity, through clean and affordable hydropower is crucial for Illinois to meet the demands of the future.”

Senate Bill 1474 passed the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee on Thursday and awaits further consideration before the full Senate.

Ventura to introduce new science criteria for elementary schools

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura is championing new legislation to establish the Science in Elementary Schools Task Force in Illinois.

“Science is just as essential as language arts and math, that’s why teaching accurate information daily that’s both useful and human centered can create a baseline for higher education in the sciences,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “By establishing the standards in this task force, my goal is to ensure future generations know about the human body and how it relates to the environment and vice versa.”

The task force will identify age-appropriate education to add to current curriculum for anatomy, physiology and nutrition.

The proposed additional curriculum aims to empower students with the knowledge to understand their own bodies and care for their health.

“With other states taking away knowledge from their educational systems, we hope to empower students with as much information as possible,” said Ventura.

Senate Bill 2354 passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday and now heads to the Senate floor.

Ventura: $1.5 million investment coming to local parks

JOLIET – With support from State Senator Rachel Ventura, Woodridge Park District, the Village of Shorewood and Channahon Park District are set to receive $1.5 million for land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects.

“As a former naturalist and former vice president of the Will County forest preserve, I can’t understate the importance of our outdoor spaces enough” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “When we put our planet first, we grow a community that will stay resilient for years to come.”

Nearly $60 million in grants were awarded to 118 local parks across Illinois through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants, administered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This announcement includes the largest round of grants in the 36-year history of the program.

The Village of Shorewood will receive $600,000, Woodridge Park District will receive $600,000 and Channahon Park District will receive $300,000 to acquire and develop land for public parks and open space. OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that has become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois.

Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website for more information on the OSLAD grants.

Ventura moves to end fake ‘final notice’ mailings

• SB 1440
• Consumer protection

SPRINGFIELD – To end the misleading practice of fake “final notices,” State Senator Rachel Ventura advanced legislation from the Senate Judiciary Committee that requires senders to clearly post the intention of their mailing.

“Seniors and first-time homebuyers are often the victims of these misleading mailers,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “We must end this dishonest business practice so that no one is tricked into purchasing goods or services they don’t need.”

When someone buys a car or home in Illinois, “final notice” letters regarding warranties, protection plans and insurance are often mailed out by third parties to scam recipients into providing information or buying products under the guise of maintaining their home or vehicle. Ventura’s legislation amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to require that senders clearly state that their mailing is not a bill but rather a solicitation of services.

Senate Bill 1440 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday and awaits further consideration before the full Senate.