* Press release…

State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) joined the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association to urge the General Assembly to pass the Hotel Jobs Recovery Program, which would allocate funds toward rehiring workers after a two year record low occupancy rate caused by the pandemic.

“Nationally and right here in Illinois, the tourism industry took the hardest hit throughout the pandemic,” said Feigenholtz. “Unlike other industries, hotels and lodging were not given federal relief and need an infusion of 250 million in order to keep larger hotels that are destinations for convention visitors afloat. Without this funding, hotels and lodging businesses could be forced to close and many jobs will be lost.”

The Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program would provide funds to operators of hotels in an amount equal to $1,500 per hotel room. Eighty percent of the funds would be used for payroll costs and the remaining 20% must be used on public safety upgrades, property taxes, mortgage payments, or debts incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hotels nationally have seen $111.8 billion in losses tied to room reservations and major declines in event rentals and convention scheduling. Senate Bill 4184 calls for $250 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to be allocated to provide grants of $1,500 per room in hotels in the city of Chicago.

The pandemic’s impact on the industry has been startling, as hotels have sustained a large decline in occupancy for more than two years now, with occupancy in Chicago hotels hitting 14.6%in December 2020 and never fully recovering. On average last year, Chicago’s hotel occupancy rate hovered around 44%.

“With this federal funding, our state would begin recovery efforts by adding more jobs and enhance the tourism industry within the city of Chicago and all across the state,” said Feigenholtz.

SB 4184 awaits action in the Senate.

* Press release…

Illinois lawmakers today introduced a resolution that would support Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s efforts to build on its history as an original part of the DeKalb County community.

After the U.S. Government in the late 1840s illegally sold more than 1,280 acres of the Nation’s land near the village of Shabbona in southern DeKalb County, the Nation has been working tirelessly to reclaim its Reservation.

“We simply want to reclaim the land that was taken from us and we want to do so in the most community-focused, least disruptive way,” Prairie Band Chairman Joseph Rupnick said. “We’re rooted in the northern Illinois community and after 170 years, we just want this issue resolved.”

Senate Resolution 896 sponsored by state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) and House Resolution 504 sponsored by state Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) encourage the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would allow the Nation to secure 1,151 acres of land near Shabbona State Park in the southern part of DeKalb County. HR 504 unanimously passed out of the House State Government Administration Committee this afternoon.

“We have a chance to correct this injustice and it’s our responsibility to do so,” Pacione-Zayas said. “I’m proud to sponsor this resolution in the state Senate and I implore our Congressional leaders to do the same with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Shab-eh-nay Band Reservation Settlement Act of 2021 that’s currently in the United States Senate.”

In the late 1840s when Chief Shab-eh-nay traveled from his home Reservation in DeKalb to visit his family in Kansas, the U.S. government illegally auctioned off more than 1,280 acres of his land near the village of Shabbona in southern DeKalb County.

In 2001, the U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed the history and legal status of the Shab-eh-nay Reservation as federally recognized Indian Country because the U.S. Government never received the required Congressional approval to auction off land that rightfully belonged to Chief Shab-eh-nay.

The U.S. Congress is the only governing body that has the authority to designate land titles for native nations.

Currently, deeds for homeowners within the Reservation are subject to “all rights, claims, or title to the descendants of a Potawatomi Indian Chieftain named Shabbona and his Band.” The federal legislation would wipe those deeds clean of that clause in favor of assuring current homeowners that their property is theirs without condition. It would also provide clean title to the State and DeKalb County governments who also own land within the current Reservation.

“The U.S. Government made a mistake 170 years ago by illegally selling the Nation’s land,” Demmer said. “Now we as lawmakers here in Illinois and our counterparts in Congress have a chance to correct it.”

* Press release…

To offer support to workers, a group of pro-business Democratic lawmakers held a press conference Wednesday to advocate for an initiative to require the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to expedite complete professional license applications.

“Health care workers, accountants, speech pathologists and a variety of others are eager, qualified and ready to enter their respective industries but are waiting months for professional licenses to be issued by the state,” said State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs), chief Senate sponsor of Senate Bill 670. “Improving convenience, timeliness and accessibility for working people is a necessary step to building our economy and focusing efforts on recovery.”

Under the legislation, IDFPR is required to process applications within four weeks as long as there were no deficiencies submitted.

“We have a shortage of trained experts right now—especially in the real estate, financial and health care fields, which the DFPR regulates,” said State Rep. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island), chief House sponsor. “Eliminating gratuitous licensing wait times will help fill that gap while cutting down on red tape. I’m happy to join my distinguished colleagues in helping make this legislation law.”

The proposal supports an effort to benefit workers and support economic development throughout the state for an array of industries.

“If you have all the qualifications and there are no discrepancies in your license, then this process shouldn’t keep you waiting months in order to practice your profession,” said State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford).

Senate Bill 670 passed the Senate with bipartisan support and awaits further consideration by the House Health Care Licenses Committee.

* Media advisory…

The families of the victims who were killed in the March 10, 2019 plane crash of a Boeing 737 MAX in Ethiopia will gather Thursday in two countries to try to continue to hold Boeing responsible for the deaths of all 157 on board and to bring attention to a bill recently introduced in the Illinois legislature. Below are the details of the protests that will take place in Toronto, Canada, and in front of the Boeing headquarters in Chicago this Thursday.

WHEN: Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 11:00 am CST to 11:30 am CST and Thursday, March, 10, 2022, at 10 a.m.EST (9 am CST) in Toronto, Canada

WHERE: Boeing Headquarters, 100 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago (in front of office building). Among those who will be holding enlarged photos of the victims is Nadia Milleron, mother of Samya Rose Stumo, 24, whose daughter who was killed in the crash. Another protest will be held across the street from the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, Canada, 360 University Ave. Among the Canadian family members will be Chris Moore, father of Danielle Moore, 24, who was killed in the March 10, 2019 crash of a Boeing MAX jet in Ethiopia. Families, friends and their supporters there will be carrying various signs including, “We are the Victims’ Voice.”

Editor’s Note: After the in-person Chicago event concludes at 11:30 am CST, a Zoom Press Conference will begin with families from around the world sharing their stories and concerns about the Boeing 737 Max that is currently flying in the skies.

WHAT: Illinois needs to pass HB 4968, which would hold companies, including Boeing, responsible for punitive damages when they cause people to die. Boeing must be held responsible for the deaths aboard the 737 Max

* Center Square…

Legislation designed to allow tax dollars to pay for public service announcements about proper gun storage practices is now up to the Illinois Senate.

House Bill 4729 would require the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop and implement a two-year statewide safe gun storage public awareness campaign.

State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, is one of the sponsors of the legislation and explained what this bill would do.

“It is a public service campaign so that we can have gun owners understand the importance of safely storing their weapons or their guns,” Willis said.