SPRINGFIELD – A new law led by State Senator Christopher Belt will increase transparency and accountability in the operation of housing authorities in the state.

“Everyone should have access to affordable housing. No one should have to question whether they will have a roof over their heads to protect them and their families,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “With more accurate wait list information, we can streamline the housing application processes and promote fair and equitable access to affordable housing opportunities.”

A housing authority is the local administrative agency for housing assistance programs funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Programs include housing choice voucher programs and public housing. This new law changes the Housing Authorities Act, requiring that every housing authority collect data on the number of vacant rental units within each housing project, as well as information on whether each wait list maintained by the authority is open or closed.

“Over 224,000 people rely on housing assistance in the state, which includes a large number of my constituents in the 57^th District,” said Belt. “It’s only right that these housing authorities start providing this crucial information. This will build a stronger, more transparent housing system that meets the needs of Illinois residents using this assistance.”

Senate Bill 1367 was signed Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois has faced a teacher shortage in recent years, which encouraged State Senator Christopher Belt to champion a new law to address this ongoing issue.

“As an advocate for quality education and the well-being of our students, I am always looking for ways to confront issues that negatively affect our state’s schools,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “We should be attracting educators to our schools, not pushing them away. They deserve more from us.”

The new law will provide retention bonuses of $4,000 per year, for two consecutive years to teachers who are National Board Certified and are employed in hard-to-staff schools. A hard-to-staff school is a public school that no less than 30% of the student enrollment is considered low-income. Becoming a National Board Certified teacher is a career continuum for those who start in pre-service teacher preparation, leading aspiring teachers to pursue and achieve National Board Certification.

The law aims to provide an incentive for teachers to work in underserved areas, as these are the areas that are most affected by the current teacher shortage.

“Teachers play an irreplaceable role in shaping the minds and futures of our children,” said Belt. “By prioritizing measures that attract, retain and support qualified teachers, we are investing in the success of our students and empowering educators while doing so.”

House Bill 3801 was signed Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

EAST ST. LOUIS – To emphasize the importance of learning throughout the summer, State Senator Christopher Belt is hosting a Summer Book Club.

“Students who read during the summer gain an average of one month of reading proficiency,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This is a great opportunity for students to participate in so they can stay on top of their academic skills and reading level when school starts back up in the fall.”

The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books on a form and return the form to Senator Belt’s office by Aug. 18. Every child who completes the Summer Book Club will receive a gift card and a certificate from Senator Belt.

Summer Book Club forms are available to download at SenatorBelt.com or at any public library located in the 57^th District. People with questions can reach out to Belt’s office at (618) 875-1212.

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS – State Senator Christopher Belt joined Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on Tuesday in announcing the expansion of Gulfstream’s operations St. Louis Downtown Airport, enabling the company to increase completions and outfitting operations while investing in modernization at its Cahokia Heights location.

“This expansion of Gulfstream adds to the growth the Metro East area is continuing to see,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “We are staying on top of the game by meeting the demands of the growing region, while leaving a positive impact for the aviation and aerospace industry and workforce.”

Through a $28.5 million investment, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. – which designs, develops and services the world’s leading business aircraft – will be expanding its Cahokia Heights facility, which will enable the company to increase capacity for exterior aircraft painting, furniture installations, avionics integrations and other operations. The company’s investment will also modernize facilities adding state-of-the-art equipment and tooling while improving energy efficiency and reducing waste. Once complete, the expansion will bring Gulfstream’s total footprint at Cahokia Height’s St. Louis Downtown Airport to 642,657 square feet.

Gulfstream’s expansion adds hundreds of new career opportunities in avionics, interior installations, structures and testing, as well as positions in procurement, parts management, customer service and engineering. To help build the talent pipeline in the region, Gulfstream is partnering with several local educational institutions, including East St. Louis Senior High School, The Center for Academic & Vocational Excellence in Belleville, Illinois, and Cahokia High School.

“We are excited to announce the expansion of our facility operations in Cahokia Heights,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream. “This is a direct response to the increased demand we are seeing from around the world, and we appreciate our partnerships with the state of Illinois, St. Clair County, Bi-State Development, the city of Cahokia Heights and the village of Sauget for their continued support as we grow our presence and local workforce in the region.”

Gulfstream’s facility is located in St. Clair County at the St. Louis Downtown Airport – which serves as the busiest general aviation airport in Illinois outside of the Chicago area. The airport is a significant driver of local and state economies, contributing more than $422 million in economic impact for the region annually, including more than 1,500 jobs.