Senator Halpin announces tourism grants for QC and Macomb

ROCK ISLAND – State Senator Mike Halpin announced over $104,000 in grant funding is coming to Rock Island and Macomb to boost local tourism efforts and attract visitors to the area.

"Some Springfield politicians may have forgotten Western Illinois, but we have some pretty cool things to see and do here in the QC and down in Macomb," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "Tourism sites and attractions bring economic growth to local economies, which is beneficial for residents and businesses alike.”

Through the Illinois Travel and Tourism Grant Program, a total of $2.9 million is being awarded to 51 grantees to support local tourism promotional efforts. This program provides funding for marketing efforts by local governments, municipalities, nonprofits and local promotional groups with the goal of attracting visitors to destinations, attractions and events throughout Illinois.

Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau is set to receive $87,075 and the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau/Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia is set to receive $17,512 through the program, which is funded by a federal Economic Development Administration grant.

“These organizations are our regional cheerleaders, marketing everything that makes us unforgettable,” said Halpin. “I’m glad the State can help them in their mission.”

 To view a full list of Illinois Travel and Tourism Grant Program recipients, click here.

Halpin encourages residents to apply for home improvement grant

ROCK ISLAND – Residents in the area now have an opportunity to receive financial assistance for necessary home improvement projects.

“This assistance is much-needed throughout the community,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “There are homeowners in dire need of maintenance to make their homes safe and accessible so they can stay in their communities.”

The Home Repair and Accessibility Program is designed to support health, safety, accessibility and energy efficient repairs to qualifying households. HRAP will provide $15.3 million in funds across the state to cover these necessary repairs through five-year, forgivable loans. The funding is designed to serve underfunded communities and ensure residents are able to stay in their homes.

Areas and organizations in the 36^th District that will receive funding include:

• City of Galesburg - $400,000
• City of Macomb - $500,000
• City of Moline - $300,000
• City of Rock Island - $300,000
• Project NOW, Inc - $300,000
• Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation - $650,000

“This is a great investment in our communities, giving them the resources and support they need,” said Halpin. “I encourage all eligible homeowners to apply.”

Contact information for each organization is available on IHDA’s website at https://www.ihda.org/my-community/revitalization-programs/.

Senator Halpin finds a way to get children the benefits they deserve

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin advanced legislation that would help stop parents who do not have primary custody of their child from skipping on child support payments.

"This is an important initiative to ensure that parents who refuse to pay their child support can be tracked and held accountable," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "This is a step in the right direction to ensure that children receive the support they need and deserve."

House Bill 3301 would include independent contractors in the definition of "employee" so that anyone who reports income on 1099 forms as an independent contractor would be reported to the National Directory of New Hires registry. The registry was established in 1996 to help track parents who are delinquent on child support payments across state lines.

Under current law, parents can avoid the state database by not self-reporting income because they don’t receive a W-2. Under House Bill 3301, the parent’s 1099 would be reported to the database so the state will know approximately how much income was earned and can enter a court order to pay.

House Bill 3301 makes this change to recognize the need to prevent parents who do not have custody of the child and who are avoiding their child support payments from skirting reporting requirements by filing a 1099 instead of a W-2.

House Bill 3301 passed the Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday and awaits consideration before the full Senate.

Senator Mike Halpin advances legislation to limit EpiPen costs

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin advanced legislation that limits the cost of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors, commonly known by the brand name EpiPens, to a maximum of $60 per twin-pack.

"No family should have to choose between paying for life-saving medication and putting food on the table," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "This legislation is a major step towards making EpiPens more affordable and accessible to all Illinoisans who need them."

Epinephrine Auto-Injectors are the only medication that works on the entire body to combat anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic reaction. However, since 2017, a global shortage of these devices has made this medication increasingly difficult to obtain. Parts of the United States have experienced shortages since 2018, with the FDA permitting an extension of the recommended shelf life of EpiPens to combat the shortage.

In addition to the shortage, the cost of EpiPens has skyrocketed in recent years, with a twin pack costing anywhere from $500-700 on average, and a single injector costing anywhere from $300-400. This has placed a significant financial burden on families who need to keep multiple EpiPens on hand for emergencies.

“This is a major victory for families struggling to afford this life-saving medication,” said Halpin. “With corporate profits at an all-time high, it’s time to say enough is enough. People’s lives shouldn’t depend on whether or not they can come up with $500 bucks.”

House Bill 3639 passed the Senate Insurance Committee on Tuesday and awaits consideration before the full Senate.