SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) spearheaded a measure through the Senate that would prohibit burning toxic synthetic chemicals in Illinois.

“PFAS poses a risk to people and the environment,” Belt said. “The waste incinerator in Sauget brings a potential risk of exposure to harmful substances to residents in the Metro East.”

House Bill 4818 would ban incinerating materials covered under the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory that contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. The measure provides that incineration does not include the use of thermal oxidation for the purposes of pollution control and includes exemptions for the combustion of gases at landfills, medical waste incinerators and byproducts generated by municipal wastewater treatment facilities.

Under this measure, the Veolia Environmental Services waste incinerator in Sauget would be prohibited from incinerating firefighting foams, a product that often contains PFAS chemicals.

“Today we are one step closer to creating a healthier environment for our community,” said Representative LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis). “I’m thankful for the leadership from advocates, Senator Belt and others who have worked hard to ban the burning of these dangerous chemicals.”

House Bill 4818 passed the Senate and heads to the House for concurrence.

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) championed a measure that passed the Senate Wednesday that would further increase student safety by ensuring their local school board’s threat assessment procedures are filed with the local law enforcement agencies.

“We have seen school shootings on the rise across the country,” Belt said. “Ensuring our school’s threat assessment procedures are up to date is essential to protecting our students in an emergency situation.”

Currently, each public school district is required to implement a threat assessment procedure that includes the creation of a threat assessment team. The team must consist of an administrator, teacher, school counselor, psychologist, school social worker and at least one law enforcement official.

SPRINGFIELD – To recognize the agency’s 100 years of service, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) supported an initiative declaring April 2022 as Illinois State Police Centennial Month.

“The Illinois State Police have supported, protected and prioritized the communities across the state for a century,” Belt said. “The sacrifices these law enforcement officers have made for generations have not gone unnoticed. We can’t thank them enough.”

Under the Public Works and Buildings Department, the Illinois State Police was created on April 1, 1922. The agency was initially responsible for enforcing road weight laws. At the beginning, there were only eight patrolmen, and their equipment included World War I uniforms, motorcycles and portable scales for weighing trucks.

Now, with leadership from Director Brendan Kelly, ISP operates 21 patrol districts, eight investigative zones, six forensic science laboratories, and five regional crime scene services commands. The agency works to promote public safety, assist local law enforcement departments, decrease roadway crashes and reduce crime across the state.

Senate Resolution 934 was adopted by the Senate Tuesday.

EAST ST. LOUIS – Local businesses in Madison and St. Clair Counties were awarded more than $650,000 in funding from the Back to Business program thanks to advocacy and support from State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea).

“Business owners are still in recovery mode as we move forward from the pandemic,” Belt said. “This funding has been essential for the small businesses in the Metro East that have fought to keep their doors open.”

The B2B grants are awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget.

So far – thanks to strong support from Senator Belt – DCEO has provided $200 million in B2B grants to small businesses throughout the state with an emphasis on disproportionately impacted areas. With nearly $50 million left to go, more businesses will have the opportunity to get a share of the relief funds.