SPRINGFIELD – Access to health care, continued funding for education, protecting consumers’ rights and ensuring the state has a balanced budget will continue to be priorities for State Senator Bill Cunningham, who was sworn in for his third term today.

“I am honored that the people of the 18^th District have entrusted me with another term as their state senator,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “I look forward to continuing to represent my community in Springfield and passing legislation that will move our state forward.”

During his previous term in the Illinois Senate, Cunningham passed measures to protect consumers from identity theft, to eliminate police ticket quotas and to ensure proper funding for pensions for first responders. He voted to increase southwest suburban school districts’ share of state funding to help reduce reliance on local property taxes, and he helped pass limits on youth access to harmful cigarettes and tobacco products.

Cunningham first joined the Illinois Senate in 2013.

SPRINGFIELD – An initiative that will help spur redevelopment of a key piece of industrial property in Chicago Ridge will become law after state legislators voted this week to override the governor’s veto of the plan.

The measure, sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham, prohibits land owners from disconnecting their property from a municipality if the land is contained within a tax increment financing district.

The current owner of the long-abandoned Yellow Freight trucking yard on Harlem Avenue wants to disconnect from the city’s TIF district, but a developer looking to rehabilitate the 90-acre property wants to utilize the benefits of the TIF district.

“This bill will stop the current owner of the property from scuttling the Chicago Ridge economic redevelopment plan for the property and the entire Harlem Avenue corridor,” Cunningham said.

Democrats and Republicans in the Senate voted Wednesday to override the governor’s veto. The House voted to override the veto on Nov. 14.

More than $7.6M in new money funneled to area students in just two years

SPRINGFIELD – Southwest suburban families will continue to benefit from Illinois’ new school funding formula, which guarantees local schools will receive nearly $4.3 million more this year than they did last year, State Senator Bill Cunningham said today.

That means the new formula will have pumped more than $7.6 million in additional money into schools in the 18^th State Senate District during its first two years on the books.

“Superintendents are making meaningful changes in schools and classrooms across the southwest suburbs because of the new formula,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who supported the overhaul of Illinois’ archaic school funding formula. “Schools that have gotten the short end of the stick for years are moving to the front of the line for support, and that’s how it should be.”

Statewide, many school districts are rehiring teachers and counselors who were laid off because of budget constraints, reinstating vital programs, creating innovative new learning programs, and establishing much-needed stability so they can budget for the future.

SPRINGFIELD – Chicago Ridge Public Library is the recipient of a $5,740 mentoring grant from the Illinois secretary of state, State Senator Bill Cunningham announced.

The grant was awarded through the 2019 Project Next Generation program, which is a mentoring program administered through Illinois public libraries. Mentors work with middle and high school students to help them develop skills needed to use technology and find success through project-based learning. Mentors also help with developing life skills, such as effective communication, goal setting, and conflict resolution.

Chicago Ridge is one of 31 public libraries in the state to receive the grant.

“The Secretary of State’s continued support for Illinois public libraries and at-risk youth is commendable,” Cunningham said. “A nominal investment like this in local mentoring will produce untold results, including better grades, higher self-esteem, increased likelihood of going to college, and better preparation for the workforce.”

In all, the Secretary of State awarded more than $526,000 in Project Next Generation grants statewide. The money is provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Grants are awarded to public libraries that serve culturally diverse, low-income and underserved populations.

“I am committed to improving the lives of at-risk youth in Illinois,” said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. “I established this innovative program when I first became secretary of state to give students an opportunity to receive hands-on experience with the latest technological tools at their local library.”

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/PNGgrants.

Senator Cunningham represents portions of Worth, Orland and Palos Townships in the southwest suburbs and the neighborhoods of Mt. Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park and Auburn-Gresham in Chicago.