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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ann Gillespie was sworn in for her second term on Wednesday, representing Illinois’ 27th Senate District.
“I am eager to build on the progress we’ve made in my first term,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “There is still a great deal of work to be done, and I look forward to delivering results for all our neighbors during the upcoming legislative session.”
Due to ongoing construction at the Illinois State Capitol, lawmakers this year took their oaths of office at the Old State Capitol in downtown Springfield. The historic site is the location where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech, and served as Illinois’ statehouse from 1840-1876.
Senator Gillespie represents Illinois’ 27th Senate District, which includes Arlington Heights and portions of Mount Prospect, Palatine, Prospect Heights and Rolling Meadows. Legislative priorities for Gillespie’s second term include enhancing protections for children in state care, ensuring TIF dollars are used responsibly, and expanding access to health services and affordable housing.
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ann Gillespie supported legislation that passed the Illinois Senate which establishes broad protections for patients and providers of reproductive health care in Illinois.
“Rights to our bodily autonomy are under attack across the nation,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “In Illinois, we will protect reproductive rights and ensure that care is available to all who need it.”
Read more: Gillespie backs legal protections for patients seeking reproductive health care
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SPRINGFIELD – Building on her previous work to assist law enforcement in proactively addressing gun violence, State Senator Ann Gillespie voted to pass legislation from the Illinois Senate that bans the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
“We have lost too many lives to gun violence and we must take proactive action to end this epidemic,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “Assault weapons are the weapons of choice for mass shooters, and they are too readily available for them to inflict acts of terror on innocent people. By banning the sale and distribution of these weapons in our state, we join eight other states in taking this preventative action. It’s time for Congress to follow the trend and take action nationwide.”
House Bill 5471 bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines from being manufactured or sold in Illinois. The comprehensive gun safety package also places a ban on rapid-fire devices intended to make semiautomatic firearms fully automatic, and increases the duration of a Firearm Restraining Order from six months to up to one year. A Firearm Restraining Order allows the family of a gun owner or law enforcement to obtain a civil order temporarily removing the firearm and ammunition from people who pose a risk of harm to themselves or others.
Read more: Gillespie supports Protect Illinois Communities Act, strengthens “red flag” law
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ann Gillespie advanced legislation from the Illinois Senate on Wednesday that would allow Illinois hospitals to operate under a new care model and expand access to vital health services for rural Illinoisans.
“Health care is a right we must protect and expand, especially in areas facing unique challenges in access to care,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “Rural hospitals will soon see additional help in offering the services their patients rely on, preserving access to care in all corners of the state.”
House Bill 4846 makes several changes to Illinois’ health care laws, most notably allowing qualifying Illinois hospitals to operate under a new, federal care delivery model as “rural emergency hospitals”. REH is a new Medicare provider designation intended to improve access to outpatient services and reduce health disparities in areas unable to operate a full-service hospital. Under the REH designation, rural hospitals will receive a higher Medicare reimbursement rate for the services they provide, reducing financial constraints on the hospital.
Read more: Gillespie spearheads effort to save rural hospitals