NEWS RELEASE

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
1021 North Grand Avenue East, P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
Phone: 217/782-3397

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2020

Illinois EPA Invests Over $80.9 Million in Wastewater and Drinking Water Projects in First Quarter of FY21

$3.77 Million in Principal Forgiveness Granted to Loan Recipients

SPRINGFIELD – In the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2021 (July – September), the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued more than $80 million in State Revolving Fund loans to local governments and sanitary districts. Over $3 million of those loan recipients qualify for principal forgiveness, providing additional benefits to the recipients. These low-interest loans are made possible through Illinois EPA’s State Revolving Fund, which provides funding for wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water projects.

“Illinois EPA continues our commitment to provide needed financial assistance to communities and water utilities to repair and improve outdated or irreparable infrastructure,” said Director John Kim. “We are also seeing greater interest in lead service line replacement projects, and we encourage communities to take advantage of the increased available funding.”

Two of the first quarter loans were approved for Lead Service Line replacement projects. Those loans will help the affected communities reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. Both recipients qualified for 100% principal forgiveness.

Illinois EPA’s State Revolving Fund includes two loan programs, the Water Pollution Control Loan Program (WPCLP) which funds both wastewater and stormwater projects, and the Public Water Supply Loan Program (PWSLP) for drinking water projects. Illinois EPA’s State Revolving Fund receives federal capitalization funding annually, which is combined with state matching funds, interest earnings, repayment money, and the sale of bonds, to form the source of financing for these infrastructure projects. The state matching funds for FY2020-2024 are being provided through Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan thus increasing the funding capacity of both loan programs.

A complete list of FY21 first quarter loan recipients is attached. A list of approved FY21 Loan Recipients is available at:  https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/grants-loans/state-revolving-fund/Documents/FY21SRFLoans.pdf.  For more information about Illinois EPA’s State Revolving Fund, visit https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/grants-loans/state-revolving-fund/Pages/default.aspx.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement amid Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “stay at home” order, urging local families to contact their constituent service offices via phone or email in order to continue connecting them to resources, as well as to follow the recommendations of medical experts. 

“It it is on every one of us to continue following the advice of medical experts and community leaders to ensure the well-being of our communities. The number of new cases has to be slowed down, so that our local hospitals and health care workers have the capacity and the resources to care for those who are sick. Now more than ever, we must support each other and ensure nobody is left behind. Immigrant families must know that they are not alone and that we are fighting for them just like everyone else.

“The governor’s ‘stay at home’ order is based on the best recommendations of medical professionals to ‘reduce the curve’ and save lives, and we must all take it seriously. While we should all take steps to remain inside as much as possible, essential services will continue. We can continue to get groceries, medicine, gas and other essentials. We can continue to exercise outdoors in keeping with social distancing practices. We should continue to care for and check in on loved ones.

“A lot of misinformation is being spread on the internet, so we must stay vigilant. We encourage local families to continue contacting our offices via phone or email. It is our priority to ensure our community is informed on the actual work that is being done to address this public health crisis. Whether you are small business owner, a Dreamer, a single parent or senior we are here to support you and connect you to whatever resources you may need. We will get through this together.”

Local families with questions about COVID-19 may also call the Illinois Department of Public Health’s hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. For more information regarding unemployment benefits, people may contact the Illinois Department of Employment at 1-800-244-5631 or visit www2.illinois.gov/ides.    

###

CHICAGO – En medio de la orden de ‘permanecer en casa’ del Gobernador J.B. Pritzker, el Caucus Legislativo Latino de Illinois publico la siguiente declaración de prensa cual urge a las familias locales a que contacten a sus oficinas de servicios al contituyente por teléfono o correo electrónico para poder seguir conectandolos con recursos, y también que sigan los consejos de los expertos médicos.

“Es la responsabilidad de cada uno de nosotros a seguir los consejos de los expertos médicos y líderes locales para asegurar el bienestar de nuestras comunidades. La cantidad de casos nuevos debe ser reducido para que nuestros hospitales locales y trabajadores de salud tenga la capacidad y los recursos para atender a los enfermos. Ahora más que nunca, tenemos que apoyarnos y asegurar que nadie sea olvidado. Las familias inmigrantes tienen que saber que no están solas y que estamos luchando por ellos como todos los demás.

“La orden de ‘permanecer en casa’ del gobernador esta basada en las mejores recomendaciones de profesionales médicos para ‘reducir la curva’ y salvar vidas, así que la tenemos que tomar en serio. Aunque todos debemos tomar medidas para permanecer en casa lo más posible, los servicios esenciales continuarán. Podemos seguir comprando alimentos, medicina, gasolina y otras necesidades. Podemos seguir haciendo ejercicio afuera de acurdo a los consejos de mantener distancia social. Y podemos seguir cuidando a nuestros seres queridos.

“Mucha información falsa se está distribuyendo en el internet así que tenemos que estar en alerta. Urjamos a las familias locales a que sigan contactando a nuestras oficina por teléfono o correo electrónico. Nuestra prioridad es asegurar que nuestra comunidad esté informada sobre el trabajo que se está haciendo para resolver esta crisis de salud pública. Sea un dueño de negocio local, un Dreamer, una madre soltera o un anciano, sepa que estamos aquí para ayudarle y conectarlo con cualquier recurso que necesite. Superaremos esto juntos.”

Familias locales con preguntas sobre el virus COVID-19 pueden llamar la linea del Departamento de Salud Pública de Illinois al 1-800-889-3931 o por correo electrónico a dph.sick@illinois.gov. Para más información sobre los benificios de desempleo, individuos pueden comunicarse con el Departamento de Seguridad de Empleo de Illinois (IDES) al 1-800-244-5631o visite www2.illinois.gov/ides.   

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that he will suspend immigration into the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

“We are deeply concerned that during a global pandemic that requires thoughtful and consistent leadership, the president swings back and forth between dismissing the gravity of the situation to continuously finding someone to unfairly blame for the toll it is taking on our economy and families. Rather than heed the recommendations of medical and public health experts, he is once again inserting his anti-immigrant, xenophobic, fearmongering rhetoric into the conversation to distract from his mishandling of the crisis and for tens of thousands of lives lost.

“During this pandemic, the labor of many professions with high immigrant demographics, such as janitorial staff, grocery store workers and farmworkers, has been deemed essential- but to us they have always been essential. Countless continue to go to work each day during this pandemic to provide for their families and to serve all of us. This demonstrates not only their commitment to their families but also highlights their contributions to our communities as critical to our collective livelihoods. Without them, we would not have food to eat, shelves stocked and clean hospital rooms, along with the numerous immigrants that are serving as first responders, doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, x-ray techs, and the list goes on. They should all be treated accordingly.

“We are appalled that even during this unprecedented crisis that necessitates unity and empathy, the president continues to attack our immigrant families and neighbors instead of giving them the respect they deserve. The Latino Caucus will continue to stand and fight with the immigrant community to ensure that they have a seat at the table as we navigate these uncertain times.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Aaron Ortiz, D-Chicago, is laying the groundwork for a state health care for all program by introducing legislation to study the feasibility of creating a Medicaid buy-in program. Ortiz’s push for Medicaid for All  would allow Illinois working families the ability to purchase affordable health care plans through Medicaid rather than relying solely on the options offered by private insurance companies.

“Private health insurance companies only care about one thing: profits,” Ortiz said. “Health care is a human right and this legislation will help us determine how we expand access to affordable health care coverage to every Illinois resident.”

Ortiz introduced House Joint Resolution 105, which creates the Medicaid Buy-In Task Force to study the feasibility of establishing a Medicaid buy-in program in Illinois. In the absence of federal legislation to ensure working families have access to affordable health care coverage and Donald Trump’s continued attacks on the Affordable Care Act, plans to expand access to Medicaid have gained ground at the state level. Under a buy-in program, Medicaid plans would be offered on the state’s insurance marketplace, giving access to people who don’t traditionally qualify for Medicaid but don’t necessarily make enough to be able to purchase private health insurance.

Colorado, Delaware, Massachusetts, Oregon and New Mexico have published reports on how a buy-in program would look like if implemented in their states. Legislation was introduced in New Mexico soon after their report was published, and in 2017, a “Medicaid-for-all” bill made it as far as the governor’s desk in Nevada, but was ultimately vetoed by its Republican governor.

“We should all be angry that in the wealthiest country in the world, roughly 45,000 people die every year because they’re uninsured,” Ortiz said. “Making sure that every person is able to go the doctor when they’re sick, regardless of their income, shouldn’t be a radical idea, so I look forward to having a productive conversation on this legislation.”