MARSEILLES, Ill. – State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, hosted his first meeting of his Veterans Advisory Council meeting at the Marseilles American Legion to help local veterans understand their benefits and rights in Illinois.

“I want to make sure that local veterans are able to access the services that are owed to them by Illinois,” Yednock said. “These selfless men and women sacrificed so much to keep our communities safe and protected from tyranny. Events like these are one way we can give back to our veterans.” 

“Representative Yednock has vowed to be a fighter for our local veterans, and it is my hope that his colleagues in Springfield will work toward bipartisan solutions that help our local veterans,” said Steven Kreitzer, Superintendent of the LaSalle County Veterans Assistance Commission. “There will be more meetings for veterans and advocates to attend throughout LaSalle County. I encourage everyone who has an stake in veterans issues to participate and voice their concerns.”

Yednock partnered with the LaSalle County Veterans Assistance Commission to update Illinois Valley veterans on the benefits that are available to them as well as assist them with critical property tax exemptions and more. Yednock wants to hear directly from local veterans in an effort to create new legislation to further benefit them. Yednock’s Veteran Advisory Council Meetings are as follows and each will start at 6 p.m.:

Yednock will be hosting additional meetings for his Veterans Advisory Council, which are free to attend:

• Wednesday, November 20 at the Ottawa VFW located at 1501 La Salle St.
• Wednesday, January 22 at the LaSalle VFW located at 2325 Donahue St.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new law sponsored by state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, will allow military members and their spouses to extend their temporary professional and occupational licenses while they are stationed in Illinois. The new law will also give the applicants the ability to reapply for permanent licensure while simultaneously being able to work. 

“Military families already sacrifice so much to serve their country, they should not have the additional obstacle of constantly reapplying for their professional license when they move to Illinois,” Stuart said. “I’ve heard first hand from families that are affiliated with Scott Air Force base that this was a need in our state to ensure they can easily adapt when moving state to state.”

Stuart’s House Bill 1652 will make it easier for military families that move around every few years to easily access and renew the professional licenses they may need for their profession.  Previously, temporary professional licenses in Illinois were good for 6 months. Under Stuart’s law, military members and their spouses will be able to extend their licenses to 3 years, which is the common time span of a military assignment. 

“The men and women that move to Illinois for military service deserve to have a smooth process in obtaining and maintaining their professional license,” continued Stuart. “I’m glad that Illinois can be a state that makes it easier for military professionals and families to make a living.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Military spouses will have easier access to professional licensure for employment under a new law passed by state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, and state Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis.

“It is my priority to support our military in every way possible, and that includes ensuring that military spouses who are realtors, nurses and other licensed professionals are able to get Illinois licensure to continue practicing their profession in our state,” said Hoffman. “This new law is critical with our close proximity to Scott Air Force Base, and will help make the transition for military families moving to Illinois much easier.”

Hoffman and Greenwood passed House Bill 1652 to accelerate the process for professional licensure with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Under this measure, which was recently signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, IDFPR will establish a military liaison to oversee the application process at the department, and extend the lifetime of such licenses to three years to accommodate active duty military and their spouses temporarily stationed at military bases throughout the state.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Spouses and child of active-duty military service members and veterans will qualify for discounts on a wide range of purchases including necessities such as auto parts or clothing, under a bill recently passed by state Rep. Nathan Reitz, D-Steelville.

“Military spouses and children share in the sacrifice of their loved one defending our freedom in the military, and we must share our gratitude with them as well,” Reitz said. “This savings program not only acknowledges the courage of our service members, but it helps them provide for their families as well. It’s only right that their families are still able to receive these savings when their loved one is serving overseas.”

Reitz is supporting Senate Bill 1468 so that military families can take advantage of the Veterans and Military Personnel Discount Program, which offers discounts on a wide-range of products for service members who show a military ID. Currently, the veteran has to be present to receive the discount; however, this bill would allow dependents and spouses to use the program if they have the ID of their related service member. Retailers across the state voluntarily participate in the discount program, which offers significant savings on both routine and major purchases – ranging from discounts at Advanced Auto Parts, Old Navy and Nike stores, to a $500 cash rebate on the purchase of a new Ford car or truck.

“Receiving these savings should not be difficult for any military families,” Reitz said. “This legislation ensures that they don’t have to clear layers of red tape to get what we owe to them.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – This legislative session, state Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, worked collaboratively with fellow members of the General Assembly to build a stronger middle-class by pushing proposals which raise wages, expand access to health care, and protect the interests of active duty military men and women.

“As we entered the 101^st General Assembly in January following the failures of the Rauner administration, we faced many difficult decisions about how to get Illinois’ priorities back in step with its needs and demands,” Greenwood said. “Since that time, we have taken strides to pass comprehensive proposals to fight for fairer taxes while building an economy that creates high wage jobs and makes health care more affordable.”

Greenwood co-sponsored Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1, which is the first step in restructuring the state’s tax structure to reduce the tax burden on 97% of Illinoisans. Before any formal tax reform can be enacted, Illinois voters will have an opportunity to make a decision regarding whether or not the proposed new Fair Tax is in the best interest of the state.

“This proposal would provide income tax relief for 99% of the residents in my district, and that is not something we can afford to overlook,” Greenwood said.

Greenwood has also been a leader in passing a package of proposals to expand access to health care, particularly on issues dealing with physical and mental illness among pregnant women and mothers. She was the chief sponsor of House Bill 4 and Senate Bill 1909, and chief co-sponsored other legislation to both expand coverage for medical complications and study the issue of mortality in women, especially among vulnerable communities.

“Expanding access to reasonable and affordable health care has been one of my top priorities since day one,” Greenwood said. “And my devotion to helping at-risk women receive the medical care and attention they need is an issue I am continuing to focus my efforts on.”

To protect the interests of active duty military, Greenwood’s House Bill 1652 would accelerate the process by which applications for professional licensure are processed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and establish a military liaison to oversee the application process at the department. Additionally, it would extend the lifetime of such licenses to three years in an effort to accommodate active duty military personnel and their spouses temporarily stationed at military bases across the state. 

“I am committed to improving the livelihoods of military men and women by ensuring access to a system that yields the best results to achieve the highest possible employment outcomes,” Greenwood said. “Our priority remains with service members, and I am proud to have passed a common sense bill to help these dedicated individuals receive gainful employment.”

Greenwood represents the 114^th House District which includes East St. Louis and Centreville, as well as portions of O’Fallon, Millstadt, Mascoutah, and other communities throughout the Metro East. She is currently serving in her second term at State Representative.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Spouses and children of active-duty service members members and veterans would be eligible for the military discount on purchases including clothing, auto parts and other essentials under legislation sponsored by state Rep Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island.

“We offer veterans a discount program in part to promote their families’ wellbeing as a recognition of their sacrifice. It’s time we recognize the sacrifices military families make as well,” Halpin said. “Service members’ spouses and children should be able to access their loved one’s discount, especially when their husband or wife is serving overseas.”

Halpin is supporting Senate Bill 1468 so that military families can take advantage of the Veterans and Military Personnel Discount Program, which offers discounts on a wide-range of products for service members who show a military ID. Currently, the veteran has to be present to receive the discount; however, this bill would allow dependents and spouses to use the program if they have the ID of their related service member. Retailers across the state voluntarily participate in the discount program, which offers significant savings on both routine and major purchases – ranging from discounts at Advanced Auto Parts, Old Navy and Nike stores, to a $500 cash rebate on the purchase of a new Ford car or truck.  

Growing this program is just part of Halpin’s work to increase statewide assistance for veterans. He has pushed for greater funding for veteran education and job training, more robust mental health care and expanded tax benefits for military families.

“Veterans and their families deserve our gratitude and our assistance,” Halpin said. “They should not have to jump through hoops to receive that assistance. The least we can do is to make it easier for military households to use the benefits we provide.”

OTTAWA, Ill. – State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, is supporting legislation that would lower property taxes for the surviving spouses of veterans who are injured or killed in the line of duty. Senate Bill 110 allows the surviving spouses of deceased veterans to receive the tax credit their veteran husband or wife would have been eligible for, even if the fallen soldier was unable to apply before death.

“When a brave American enlists in our armed services, their whole family serves with them,” said Yednock. “When tragedy strikes, our community should be there for our neighbors who gave their lives for freedoms and values. This commonsense measure provides military families with the financial relief they deserve.”

Currently, veterans injured in the line of duty are eligible for significant property tax savings, with the most severely injured veterans being exempt from property taxes entirely. Many surviving spouses are also able to keep the disabled veteran tax credit after their spouse’s death. Additionally, those receiving federal benefits as a result of a spouse killed in the line of military service would receive a total property tax exemption.  

“This bill has received bipartisan support because government red tape should never take precedent over allowing more military spouses access to the property tax relief that they’ve earned,” said Yednock. “The spouses of our wounded warriors should not be forced out of their homes by high property taxes at any time, especially after a devastating loss of a loved one.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Reps. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, and Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, are sponsoring legislation that would help active duty service members stationed on Illinois military bases receive professional licenses for employment.

“Active duty service members at Scott Air Force Base have raised concerns regarding their inability to secure and maintain employment due to obstacles with professional licensing,” Hoffman said. “Under current law, professional licenses issued to active duty military personnel are only valid for six months for those stationed in Illinois. Our proposal would allow military personnel and their spouses to apply for licensure which would remain valid for up to three years to meet their needs.”

Greenwood and Hoffman’s House Bill 1652 would accelerate the process by which applications for professional licensure are processed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and establish a military liaison to oversee the application process at the department. Additionally, it would extend the lifetime of such licenses to three years in an effort to accommodate active duty military personnel and their spouses temporarily stationed at military bases across the state.  

“We are committed to improving the livelihoods of military men and women by ensuring access to a system that yields the best results to achieve the highest possible employment outcomes,” Greenwood said. “Our priority remains with service members who are counting on us to deliver on this commonsense proposal.”