SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – State Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, hosted a panel discussion with experts on environmental issues Thursday night to give local residents a chance to ask questions and talk about their environmental concerns.

“Many people want to recycle, but have questions about what objects are and are not recyclable,” Mussman said. “I felt that by having a wide range of experts, we could not only form better recycling habits among residents, but start to tackle some of the more common misconceptions people may have about the recycling process.”

Representative Mussman invited speakers from various environmental organizations to come speak, including the Sierra Club, the Illinois Environmental Council, Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, as well as a representative from the Shedd Aquarium. Together, the panel was able to give unique, informed perspectives on good recycling habits, as well as the steps that individuals can take in the community to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize their negative effect on the environment.

“I am grateful for the residents who took time out of their evening to come and listen, as well as the environmental advocates who wanted to share their expertise with the community,” Mussman said. “Environmental issues are very important to me as our planet faces the effects of climate change. I will always put the well-being of my community first, which includes looking out for the environment we all live in.”

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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Reflecting his commitment to a green environment and economy, state Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, along with state Sen. Ann Gillespie, D-Arlington Heights, recently met with members of the Northwest Cook County chapter of the Sierra Club and accepted their petitions urging lawmakers to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA).

“Illinois has a strong record of fighting disastrous climate change, but the fight isn’t over yet,” Walker said. “CEJA is a great bill that will expand on our current benchmarks and, importantly, creates good-paying, high-quality green economy jobs. CEJA will benefit every corner of our state.”

Committing Illinois to run entirely on renewable energy by 2050, CEJA also calls for the creation of a $25 million clean jobs workforce hub and clean energy empowerment zones – both designed to aid communities affected by the transition from fossil fuels. Over recent weeks, the Northwest Cook County Sierra Club has circulated petitions to residents of Walker’s district advocating for the passage of CEJA.

“Having the help of the Sierra Club in this fight has been great,” Walker said. “Their commitment to a healthier and sustainable economy, like so many others, shows why we have to pass CEJA. We have the public’s support to fight climate change. I’m looking forward to voting on this important legislation.”

DES PLAINES, Ill. – State Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, has sponsored a measure to prohibit Ethylene Oxide Sterilization (EtO) in Illinois in response to increased concern about the health risks facilities dealing with the chemical have on local families.

“The gas Ethylene Oxide (EtO) has proven to be dangerous to our communities, with an obvious increase in people being diagnosed with cancer and health difficulties in the areas surrounding facilities using EtO,” said Moylan. “This dangerous chemical ends up in our air and water and ends up poisoning nearby communities.”

Earlier this year, EtO user Sterigenics was forced to stop production at a facility in Willowbrook because of a failure to meet specific environmental standards. Recent studies suggested that proximity to EtO increases an individual’s chances of being diagnosed with cancer, and local  scrutiny from neighborhood groups eventually led to pressure to close the facility.

Steringenics is only one out of 26 companies in Illinois that use EtO. Most of the other facilities are in Lake County, and Moylan has expressed concern that the poisonous chemical could leak into the Des Plaines River and run south through Des Plaines in his district. As a result, Moylan has sponsored House Bill 3888 to ban the use of EtO in Illinois facilities.

“We need to protect our environment from dangerous chemicals like EtO,” said Moylan. “Particularly in residential areas where families are being raised, we need to be vigilant and remove dangers.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, released the following statement in advance of the public forum on Ethlene Oxide (EtO) at the College of Lake County being held at 6:30 p.m. today:

“Following the announcement by Sterigenics about its plan to close its Willowbrook facility, it is clear that Medline and Vantage should adopt the same sense of responsibility and immediately shutter their toxic facilities.

“The people of Lake County can no longer be victims of corporate profits by poisoning the public. I will continue to be an outspoken advocate to ensure the Illinois General Assembly does the right thing and protects the health and safety of our constituents against corporate interests that are poisoning our people.

“After living in the vicinity of these factories my entire life, my father was diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer. We have no history of cancer in our family. Like many Lake County families, we wonder if the excessive EtO pollution caused this horrific disease.”

Yingling has been an outspoken advocate for the ban of EtO use and has introduced numerous bills to achieve that objective. He is a Chief Co-Sponsor of House Bill 3888, which places the most restrictive ban on EtO emissions in the country.

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, released the following statement regarding the announcement by Sterigenics about their plan to close their Willowbrook facility:

“The closing of the Willowbrook Sterigenics facility is long overdue. Sterigenics finally saw the writing on the wall that we in Illinois place the health of our citizens over the profits of greedy corporations. I will always fight companies that look to harm our communities for their own financial gain, and today was a significant step in moving towards that goal.

“With Sterigenics finally closed, we must now turn our attention to the two factories in Lake County that continue to poison our residents for their own profit. There is still more work to be done when it comes to keeping our air clean from toxic chemicals such as ethylene oxide, and going forward, companies need to prioritize the health of our communities over profits.”

LOMBARD, Ill. – To protect DuPage County residents from emissions of ethylene oxide, a toxic chemical linked to several types of lethal cancers, state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, is backing a new legislative proposal to limit the use of the chemical by industrial facilities, such as Sterigenics International in Willowbrook.

“It is outrageous that Sterigenics has been allowed to spew dangerous amounts of deadly ethylene oxide into the air for decades,” said Costa Howard. “It is time for our state to stand up to corporations that put profits ahead of our health and endanger our families.”

Costa Howard is backing House Bill 3888, which adds a wide array of restrictions and regulations on the use of ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment. The legislation also would require air monitoring for all ethylene oxide emission points, specific reporting by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on ethylene oxide emissions in Illinois communities, and increased transparency to the public.

“You shouldn’t have to live in fear of being poisoned with every breath you take inside your own home,” Costa Howard said. “This legislation will hold polluters accountable and bring peace of mind to families living in communities near these dangerous industrial plants. I urge lawmakers to pass this legislation as soon as possible and send it to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.”

For more information, please contact Rep. Costa Howard’s constituent service office at RepTCH48@gmail.com.

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. – During the recent Mexican Independence Day celebration in West Chicago, state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, spoke to the community about local efforts to protect the Monarch Butterfly and other pollinators.  

“We must work together, both in local government and with neighbors across our communities, to take serious action to protect and promote conservation efforts for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators,” said Villa. “I am proud of the work being done in West Chicago to protect the monarch, and I look forward to being a part of continued conversations about how we can preserve our environment and defend our valuable pollinators.”

The monarch butterfly, the state insect of Illinois, has seen a 90 percent decline in population, according to the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF), due to loss of habitat. The mayor of West Chicago signed the NWF’s Mayor’s Monarch Pledge in 2017, and Villa is highlighting other organizations aiming to bring awareness and promote action in West Chicago to save the monarch butterfly, including the West Chicago Garden Club, the West Chicago Environmental Commission, the West Chicago Park District, the West Chicago Public Library, and West Chicago School Districts 33 and 34.

For more information, please contact Rep. Villa’s constituent service office at 630-326-9319 or at StateRepKarinaVilla@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new piece of legislation sponsored by state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is calling for the complete ban of ethylene oxide emissions near highly populated areas, schools and daycares by the year 2021.

“I am proud of what we’ve accomplished with ethylene oxide regulation this year. Without question, Illinois is now the nation’s leader in restricting emissions of ethylene oxide,” said Mason. “However, exposure to any amount of ethylene oxide is detrimental to the health of our residents, which is why I am proud to be championing legislation that brings the level of ethylene oxide emitted in our community to virtually zero.”

In addition to banning emissions near highly populated areas, Mason’s House Bill 3888 calls for the elimination of ethylene oxide emissions from hospitals by the year 2022. Mason led the fight for the nation’s toughest regulation of ethylene oxide during her first legislative session this spring, passing two measures that severely limit the amount of ethylene oxide that can be emitted by both sterilization and manufacturing facilities.

“I raised my children just miles from our area’s largest emitters, while myself and countless other residents were kept in the dark for years about the cancer-causing effects of those emissions,” said Mason. “I am determined to protect current and future generations from harmful polluters, and I will continue fighting for tougher restrictions on ethylene oxide emissions until its hazardous effects have been eliminated in our community.”

ST. CHARLES, Ill. –To discuss the Clean Energy Jobs Act and hear local residents’ ideas on how to protect the environment, state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, is hosting a Clean Energy Town Hall next week.

“Since Earth is the only home we have, it is critical that Illinois continues to advance its steps as one of the nation’s leaders in fighting climate change, advancing energy efficiency and promoting a green economy,” said Villa.  “I invite local residents to stop by my Clean Energy Town Hall to learn about the importance of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, promoting the use of renewable resources and to share thoughts or ideas on what more Illinois can do to address global climate change.”

Villa is partnering with the League of Women Voters – Central Kane County and the Sierra Club Valley of the Fox Group to host a town hall about the proposed Clean Energy Jobs Act. Villa has advocated for the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), introduced as House Bill 3624, to increase the state’s renewable energy targets to run entirely on renewable resources by 2050. Through this process, CEJA will also ensure the transition to clean energy and an equitable green economy throughout the state. For her continued efforts to support the environment, Villa was recently distinguished with a 100 percent pro-environment rating by the Illinois Environmental Council.

WHO: State Rep. Karina Villa

League of Women Voters – Central Kane County

Sierra Club Valley of the Fox Group

WHAT: Clean Energy Town Hall Meeting

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 23

7:00 p.m.

WHERE: St. Charles Public Library

1 S. 6th Ave.

St. Charles, IL 60174

For more information, please contact Rep. Villa’s constituent service office at 630-326-9319 or at StateRepKarinaVilla@gmail.com.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, is thanking residents who attended a recent town hall on the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) and recent legislative efforts to move Illinois toward more sustainable energy use position.

“I was excited to see over 100 people who are passionate about our state’s energy future attend this town hall,” Walker said. “The Clean Energy Jobs Act, if passed, will bring thousands of jobs to Illinois while putting us on a path to being 100% renewable by 2050.”

CEJA would set Illinois on course to become carbon-neutral by 2030, as well as making all major power sources renewable by 2050. Walker supports CEJA not only for its important green energy components, but also because of its emphasis on creating new jobs and investing in infrastructure. Attendees of the town hall learned about CEJA and the pathway to a clean energy future, and had time to ask questions of panelists including Walker. Walker was joined by state Sen. Ann Gillespie, D-Arlington Heights, the Illinois Environmental Council, Sierra Club Illinois, the League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect and Buffalo Grove, and the Citizens Utility Board.

“While legislation is an important piece of Illinois’ clean energy future, personal action is as well,” Walker said. “People can make sure they’re using the most energy efficient practices in their homes and transportation. Supporting positive changes at all levels is necessary to fight dangerous climate change and ensure a brighter future.”