Halpin creates specialty Air Force license plate for combat vets

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin advanced a measure to create specialty Air Force Combat Action Medal license plates.  

“We are simply acknowledging the sacrifice these combat veterans made for our country,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “This move is a small way for us to give Air Force veterans the recognition they deserve.”

Currently, the Air Force is the only branch of the military that does not have a license plate for combat veterans. The Illinois Secretary of State is authorized to issue Combat Action Ribbon license plates to members of the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps, and Combat Action Badge license plates to special groups within the Army.

Halpin’s measure would allow the Secretary of State to issue Air Force Combat Action Medal license plates to Air Force veterans who were awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

“I look forward to seeing this pass the Senate unanimously and I encourage my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to join me by co-sponsoring this legislation,” said Halpin.

House Bill 4108 passed the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday and heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Halpin pushing to expand popular cover crops program

ROCK ISLAND – State Senator Mike Halpin is sponsoring legislation that would expand the cover crops discount program to cover up to 500,000 acres of farmland.

“The cover crops program is extremely popular and good for the environment,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “It makes sense to expand a program that will keep our soil healthy for generations to come.”

This Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Crop Insurance Rebate Initiative is offered to landowners with additional acres of cover crops that are not covered by other state and federal program incentives. Eligible applicants receive a premium discount up to a $5 per acre on the following year's crop insurance, depending on their crop insurance policy, for every cover crop acre enrolled and verified in the program.

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March Newsletter

Dear friend,

Session is ramping up in Springfield as budget negotiations begin and legislation moves through the Senate. I’m leading a number of measures, including one brought to me by a Rock Island probation officer. When it comes to voting on important legislation and negotiating the state budget, I will always put the residents of Western Illinois first.

Read on for legislative and district updates, as well as resources available for you and the community.

If you need assistance with state services or have questions or thoughts about legislation, please reach out to my Rock Island office at (309) 558-3612, Galesburg office at (309) 297-4483 or visit my website.

Sincerely,

Mike Halpin
State Senator | 36th District

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Halpin helps secure funding for nursing shortage

ROCK ISLAND – State Senator Mike Halpin helped secure nearly $100,000 in funding heading to Carl Sandburg College to help increase the number of professional nurses in Illinois.

“If we want better health care access, we have to make strategic investments in the health care workforce,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “There is a pressing need for professional nurses in hospitals and medical centers across Western Illinois. That’s why it’s so critical we actually try to solve the issue, and not just sit on our hands.”

The Illinois Board of Higher Education awarded a total of $96,401 through a nursing school grant to Carl Sandburg College. The grant was awarded through a competitive application process where institutions submitted enrollment, retention, completion and job placement rates of their students during a multi-year period and how grant funds would be used to enhance their program’s efforts to close equity gaps and improve student success.

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