ROMEOVILLE – State Senator Rachel Ventura along with Will County Board Member Destinee Ortiz have raised concerns about a zoning map amendment and five variances for a proposed heavy crude oil pipeline and barge terminal currently being considered by the Will County Board.

“We have the largest inland port in the state,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “If there was an oil spill, we’d have to shut down the locks to drain it out. It would be devastating for our local economy.”

The Will County Board is taking up a proposal on Wednesday that would allow Ducere to open an oil pipeline terminal next to the Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve. If approved, the port would see oil exporters from Canada ship their cargo through Illinois to other states.

There has been a history of oil spills in Romeoville and in 2010, the Will County State's Attorney was forced to sue Enbridge — the pipeline company where Ducere will get their oil from — for cleanup costs associated with the Romeoville oil spill that devastated the community.

“Expanding pollution projects in this area is counterproductive to the state's goals,” said Ventura. “Bringing crude oil onto an Illinois waterway just to get to another state puts all Illinoisans at risk.”

The Ducere project is a barge petroleum loading terminal over the Des Plaines River that will allow oil from Enbridge to split off before CITGO's local refinery and send to Louisiana where companies like Shell use cheaper labor and do not pay union wages.

The map amendment will come before the full board for a vote on Wednesday, July 19 at 9 a.m. at the Will County Office Building in Joliet. Ventura and Ortiz are encouraging residents to contact their board members before the meeting to urge them to vote no on this proposal.

Ventura and Ortiz additionally went on WJOL, a local radio station to call for a public hearing on the issue before a vote is considered, interview which you can listen here.

JOLIET – Senator Rachel Ventura was appointed to serve on the Council of State Governments Intergovernmental Affairs Committee.

“This appointment will better position me to serve my colleagues in the senate and better advocate for residents of the 43rd District," said Ventura (D-Joliet). "My background working at different levels of government has prepared me for this new role.”

Ventura previously served as a Will County Board Member and as an employee for Joliet Township. Additionally, she also served as Vice President of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Ventura hopes to utilize this new role to benefit the 43rd District and Illinois overall, providing key insight on topics such as environmental issues, taxes and criminal justice reform.

The CSG Intergovernmental Affairs Committee is the primary body setting the state - federal relations agenda for CSG. Additionally, it is a bipartisan committee comprised of officials from all three branches of state government, as well as CSG Associate members.

“Senator Ventura brings a new voice and wealth of experience to CSG,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, who appointed Ventura to the CSG post. “I look forward to seeing her work.”

All committees will meet during the 2023 CSG National Conference, which is scheduled to be held Dec. 6-9 in Raleigh, NC.

JOLIET – State Senator Rachel Ventura successfully secured a $250,000 appropriation in Illinois’ 2024 state budget to support Habitat for Humanity's Neighborhood Revitalization effort in the Fairmont Neighborhood of unincorporated Lockport. This partnership aims to foster community growth, improve living conditions, and provide quality affordable housing for residents in need.

“By focusing on quality, sustainability, and community engagement, this collaboration will provide a brighter future for families in Fairmont,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “These dollars will help residents in the 43rd District prosper and flourish in life, and I look forward to working with Will County and Habitat for Humanity to make this revitalization project come to life.”

Neighborhood revitalization is a comprehensive approach that focuses on transforming communities by addressing the critical needs of residents. Will County Habitat for Humanity has built a successful model that involves strategic collaborations and active engagement from local organizations, businesses, and residents, working together to create sustainable, safe, and vibrant neighborhoods.

Partnering with the Fairmont Neighborhood community and other stakeholders, they will pursue a variety of initiatives and projects over the next five years to revitalize the area and uplift the lives of its residents. The boost of funds secured by Senator Rachel Ventura will help kick start the early stages of this effort. Habitat will continue to build and repair homes as a crucial component of this endeavor and recently acquired six scattered site properties. They are currently in the process of obtaining an additional 18 sites to construct much-needed quality homes in the neighborhood.

JOLIET – To emphasize the importance of learning throughout the summer, State Senator Rachel Ventura is hosting a Summer Book Club.

“By reading throughout the summer, students can improve their reading level while not in school,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This is a great way to keep kids actively learning. Developing a love of reading at a young age is key to a child's development and to increase their desire to read.”

The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books on a form and return the form to Senator Ventura’s office by Aug. 18.

Every child who completes the Summer Book Club will receive a gift card and a certificate from Senator Ventura.

Ventura encourages residents of the 43rd District to participate in the program and visit their local library. Summer Book Club forms are available at the following participating libraries: Woodridge Public Library,Fountaindale Public Library District, Joliet Public Library District, Three Rivers Public Library District, Manhattan-Elwood Public Library, White Oak Library District and Shorewood-Troy Public Library.

Summer Book Club forms are also available to download at SenatorVentura.com as well as contact information for the libraries. People with questions can reach out to Ventura’s office at (331) 290-0443.