SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced it will continue its investment in the Lead Service Line Inventory Grant Program with a fourth round of funding — an investment that State Senator Laura Ellman says will preserve the health of both residents and the environment.

“I am pleased to see the Illinois EPA continuing their proactive approach to mitigating the prevalence of harsh contaminants like lead in our water supply,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This next round of funding will allow communities to build on their current progress toward streamlining accessible clean water. I encourage communities to apply for this indispensable funding opportunity.”

Under the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act, owners and operators of community water supplies in Illinois are required to submit a complete water service line material inventory to Illinois EPA for approval by April 15, 2024. A detailed inventory will allow communities to prioritize and strategize the replacement of known lead service lines within their water distribution system.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman supports the continued efforts to increase representation by women in technology positions, and has therefore advanced new legislation that establishes a task force to assist with the recruiting and support of women in this field.

“Technology is a fast-growing field, and needs qualified professionals to guide us through ever-changing advancements,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This legislation aims to provide women qualified for these technology positions an opportunity to join this field and succeed.”

Senate Bill 2682 creates the Women in Technology Task Force and includes guidelines for the appointments, meetings, duties, and overview of the task force. The goal of this legislation is to increase the representation of women in jobs based around technology.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman advanced legislation that would target critical water issues and make appropriate recommendations to ensure the quality of local water resources.

“Water is a vital natural resource – we need to continue treating our local rivers, lakes and streams with care,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This measure will ensure recommendations from the State Water Plan Task Force are implemented in a sensible and timely manner.”

Senate Bill 2743 would require the State Water Plan Task Force to address water issues and reevaluate environmental needs by assisting state and local authorities in the implementation of recommended plans. The measure would also require the task force to publish a State Water Plan at least once every 10 years, meet once per quarter each calendar year.

“This task force is part of an ongoing, statewide effort to guarantee the safety and health of our environment for future generations,” said Ellman. “The partnership among state agencies in this task force ensures collaboration for true conservation of water, which creates a lasting impact on the protections for our state’s natural resources.”

Senate Bill 2743 passed the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee last Thursday and heads to the full Senate for consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – To restore previous protections for Illinois’ wetlands, State Senator Laura Ellman is sponsoring legislation to safeguard small streams and wetlands that are no longer covered by the U.S. Clean Water Act.

“Illinois waterways and wetlands are left more threatened than ever and need protection to ensure we have safe drinking water, flood mitigation and healthy communities,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This legislation fills the need to create a long-term program to protect our state waters that are now excluded from the Clean Water Act.”

Senate Bill 3669 would create the Wetlands and Small Streams Protection Act to restore protections to wetlands and small streams under state-level regulations from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

A 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA weakened protections for small streams and wetlands under the U.S. Clean Water Act. According to IDNR, Illinois has lost 90% of its wetlands. There is a growing recognition of the value wetlands provide, as they absorb heavy rainfalls and reduce local flooding, then slowly release and filter that water. Wetlands are also home to fish, birds and other wildlife, which offers environmental and recreational benefits around the state. Currently, Illinois lacks a comprehensive program to safeguard these wetlands and streams that are no longer federally protected. Ellman’s measure will restore protections for these valuable water resources.