State Representative Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) lead an effort during the House’s Fall Veto Session to override Governor Rauner’s Amendatory Veto of HB 4515- the “Lauryn Russell Lyme Disease Prevention & Protection Law”.

“I disagree with the Governor’s Amendatory Veto (AV) on this legislation and today move to override that veto,” said Rep. Swanson before a unanimous 110-0 vote to override Rauner’s AV.

Rep. Swanson had previously passed the bill through the Illinois House in April to allow physicians to prescribe more aggressive treatment for Lyme Disease without the fear of disciplinary action.  Governor Rauner issued an Amendatory Veto on the bill in August 2018, despite overwhelming support in the Illinois House when the bill passed in April.

The legislation was inspired by Lauryn Russell, a 12-year-old student from Mercer County, who has Lyme Disease and has had to seek treatment out of state due to potential disciplinary action that could be taken against her Illinois physician for treating Lauryn’s post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) or Chronic Lyme Disease.  Advocates for Lyme Disease sufferers say the current recommended treatment of the disease, 10 to 21 days of antibiotics, is insufficient for people with advanced or persistent levels of the disease. 

“After local families reported these problems to me with treatment of Lyme Disease, I felt compelled to act on behalf of my constituents,” said Rep. Swanson.  “The Russell’s family story is just one of many by those effected by Persistent Lyme Disease.”

Allegion Americas, a leading provider of security products and solutions, today hosted nearly 30 students at its fifth-annual Manufacturing Day in Princeton – part of a nationwide effort to inspire the next generation of manufacturers as well as the community-wide “North Central Illinois Discover Manufacturing Career Expo.”

Manufacturing Day is an annual nationwide event supported by the National Association of Manufacturers, during which American manufacturers open their doors to help educate people about the industry. Fourteen employers from Bureau, LaSalle and Putnam counties, including Allegion, also participate in the Discover Manufacturing Career Expo in Peru, Ill. – where students learn about particular manufacturing career tracks after touring individual manufacturing facilities.

“Manufacturing leaders are truly pulling together to change the mindsets of today’s young talent – the next generation of manufacturers. We are looking for ways to share the excitement that careers in manufacturing can bring to prospective employees, as well as enticing them to see the challenge and value of careers in manufacturing,” said Allegion Senior Vice President of Global Operations and Integrated Supply Chain Chris Muhlenkamp. “At the same time, we’re investing in and engaging our current team members, letting them know that we want their hearts and minds just as much as their hands and time.”

Allegion manufactures LCN® door closers at its Princeton facility on Railroad Avenue, where it’s operated for nearly 90 years. The high school students, teachers, community leaders and government officials who attended Allegion’s 2018 Manufacturing Day were given the opportunity to tour that facility and see, first-hand, how those door security products are made. State Rep. Daniel Swanson (R-Alpha) was one of the government officials who participated in the event.

"With the importance of manufacturing to our state and nation, I am so proud to have Allegion in the Princeton area. Not only have they been a great employer, but I am impressed with their focus on community involvement and growth," said Rep. Swanson.

Allegion employs more than 300 people at the Princeton facility. Manufacturing Day, as a part of the Discover Manufacturing Career Expo, gives Allegion the opportunity to cultivate relationships with local schools and to develop innovative ways to teach students about the future of manufacturing. To actively address the skills gap, Allegion is also developing skilled trade apprenticeship programs and offering tuition reimbursement opportunities, as well as transitioning part-time and temporary employees to full-time positions.

In total, there are more than 115 Manufacturing Day events being held in Illinois during the month of October. For more details, click here.

About Allegion

Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) is a global pioneer in safety and security, with leading brands like CISA®, Interflex®, LCN®, Schlage®, SimonsVoss® and Von Duprin®. Focusing on security around the door and adjacent areas, Allegion produces a range of solutions for homes, businesses, schools and other institutions. Allegion is a $2.4 billion company, with products sold in almost 130 countries.

For more, visit www.allegion.com.

State Representative Dan Swanson is helping Galesburg High School Key Club promote their October Blood Drive on Thursday, October 25.

“It’s not too late to sign up to donate blood,” said Rep. Swanson.  “38% of the US population is eligible to donate blood, but fewer than 10% actually donate.  I encourage the community to support the Key Club’s efforts to bring forth critical donations.”

For more information on blood donation eligibility and events near you, please visit the Mississippi River Valley Blood Center’s website at http://www.bloodcenter.org.   To sign up to donate blood on Thursday, please contact Mary Gehring at 309-973-2001 or mgehring2@galesburg205.org.

State Representative Dan Swanson announced on Tuesday that the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) has signed off on Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) release of $11.3 million statewide for community college capital projects in the first round of this funding to be released in this fiscal year.

The release includes $237,460 to Black Hawk College for roof replacement and $11,400 to Carl Sandburg College for roof replacement, an emergency exit ramp for the Library and floor replacement dur to flooding in 2013.

“These are emergency type of projects for these two campuses,” said Rep. Dan Swanson.  “These life safety improvements may not come with big ribbon cuttings, but they are critical to the safety of students and employees.”

Black Hawk College will be putting up $209,640 in local funds to complete the project and Carl Sandburg College will be putting up $38,135 in local funds.

“Infrastructure investment is a catalyst for job creation and economic development,” said Gov. Bruce Rauner. “We signed a bipartisan budget in June that includes funds for improvement projects that benefit local businesses and residents. This kind of investment is how government can play a positive role in the Illinois economy.” 

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From OSF Healthcare Newsroom
September 7, 2018
Full story at: https://newsroom.osfhealthcare.org/lab-assistant-helps-secure-new-law/

Newborns To Be Screened For Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Tracy Parlier never thought medical equipment would replace a kitchen table in her modest ranch home in Galesburg. She never thought she would be on a first-name basis with a state legislator. And Parlier never thought her boss, OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center President Jennifer Junis, would take multiple plunges into a dunk tank to support her.

All of those realities came to pass when Parlier, a lab assistant at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, found herself questioning her then-infant daughter Lily’s inability to sit up at five months. Lily was born prematurely and had other health complications, so it took 11 months before she was diagnosed with type II spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in June of 2016. The disease is a form of muscular dystrophy and it’s the number one genetic cause of death for infants. The disease has affected Lily’s ability to walk so she needs a wheelchair. She has a machine to make her coughs more productive and she has trouble eating, so most of her nutrition is delivered via a port in her stomach, although she occasionally eats a little of her favorites – French fries and popcorn chicken.

Despite the devastating diagnosis, hope arrived at the beginning of the year when the federal government approved a drug called Spinraza, the first and only drug to date for treatment of SMA.The drug is administered by removing five milliliters of spinal fluid and injecting the same amount of the medication. Parlier says when administered early, even for babies with the most severe form of SMA, the drug can greatly improve quality of life and chance for survival.

In July, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar officially approved adding SMA to the official federal recommendations for newborn screening. But, individual states need to pass their own legislation to require the testing within the first 12 months of life. Tracy and Randy Parlier enlisted help from state Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) whom they connected with through a family friend. The Parliers traveled twice to Springfield to testify. Swanson says their testimony put a face on the disease and helped lawmakers understand the impact of early screening.  Read more here.

Farmers, crop haulers won’t have to wait to more successfully compete with neighboring states

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner today declared a harvest emergency to help level the playing field between Illinois farmers and crop haulers and those in neighboring states.

The action bridges the gap between the 2018 harvest season and a new law the governor signed Aug. 25 that takes effect next year. Going forward, that measure will allow for an annual harvest-season easing of gross vehicle and gross axle weight limits for agricultural commodities haulers with a free permit.

“We have heard from Illinois’ trucking industry and from farmers who are operating on thin profit margins in today’s agricultural climate,” Rauner said before making his announcement at the Ladage Farm in Auburn. “Today’s harvest emergency declaration recognizes that the weight-restriction structure in place in Illinois put our farmers and truckers at a disadvantage.

“They cannot and should not be forced to wait until the 2019 harvest season to reap the economic benefits of eased weight limits,” he said. “Now they won’t have to as they take their crops to market, processing or storage.”

The emergency declaration is in effect from Monday, Sept. 10, to Dec. 31, 2018, and enables crop haulers to seek free Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) permits to exceed legal maximum gross vehicle and gross axle weight limits or the vehicle’s registered gross weight, whichever is less, by no more than 10 percent on state and federal highways under IDOT’s jurisdiction, except interstates. (Federal requirements prohibit inclusion of interstates.)

“We appreciate Gov. Rauner declaring an emergency situation for the 2018 harvest season, especially in light of the declining incomes and market turmoil which farmers are currently facing,” said Richard Guebert Jr., president, Illinois Farm Bureau. “This declaration opens the door for increased efficiencies for farmers and truck drivers hauling agricultural commodities and will help offset any uncontrollable effects of weather and commodity markets, allowing farmers the freedom to move what is projected to be a record-breaking crop.”

Permits will once again be issued at no charge, but applicants must obtain a route authorization number every two weeks. The harvest emergency permit and other information on the permitting process can be obtained through IDOT’s automated permitting web application here.

Rauner said the declaration will speed the movement of crops to market, adding that the importance of an economically healthy agriculture community in Illinois cannot be overstated. Illinois is home to 71,000 farms on 26.6 million acres. Marketing of Illinois’ agricultural commodities generates more than $19 billion annually, and the state’s food and fiber industries employ nearly 1 million people. The state ranks third nationally in the export of agricultural commodities, with $8.2 billion worth of goods shipped to other countries, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, the neighboring states of Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin automatically ease highway weight limits at harvest time.

“Our farmers feed the world, working tirelessly every harvest season to get their crops from the field to market as quickly as possible,” said Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Director Raymond Poe. “We need to give Illinois farm families every advantage we can to ensure they stay competitive with farmers in neighboring states. We thank Gov. Rauner for recognizing the need for a quick change to help our farmers this harvest season without waiting until the new law takes effect next year.”

Legislators also welcomed the declaration.

“Gov. Rauner and Director of Agriculture Poe are enabling farmers a smoother, more efficient harvesting season, given the weather,” said Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, who attended today’s ceremony. “I supported the governor last year with this announcement, and I stand with him today to ensure Illinois does its best to help this pillar of our economy — the agriculture industry.”

She was joined by Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton.

“I applaud this decision to allow trucks hauling agricultural commodities to obtain a free permit to exceed the gross vehicle weight limit by 10 percent and help farmers harvest their crops more efficiently,” said Severin, a member of the Agriculture and Conservation Committee.

“I’m glad to see that our state is taking the steps necessary to assist our agricultural industry at a critical time of the year,” added Rep. Jerry Costello II, D-Smithton. “With livelihoods at stake, we need to responsibly remove barriers for our harvesters and ensure that their crop is brought to market. I am appreciative of the effort on both sides of the aisle to make this emergency order a reality.”

“I’m encouraged to see Gov. Rauner be proactive about an issue that has unfairly restricted our farmers and hindered our state’s ability to compete with our neighbors,” said Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg. “This decision to declare a harvest emergency will serve as a bridge until House Bill 5749 takes effect next year, providing relief to those in the agriculture industry and providing some long-term assistance to Illinois’ farmers.”

“I support the harvest emergency declaration because our farmers need every opportunity they can get to get their crops out of their fields as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo. “A declaration such as this shows we value their hard work.”

“Giving farmers additional latitude to harvest crops this year will ease their burden and allow for commodities to get to the market quicker, which is good for all consumers,” said Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia. “Agriculture is the backbone of Illinois’ economy, so anytime we can support farmers and the agriculture industry, it’s a win for the entire state. I wish our farmers a safe and bountiful harvest.”

“Harvest season always comes with unexpected delays and unpredictable challenges,” said Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy. “This declaration should pave the way for a smoother harvest season for the farmers who feed our world.”

“With this harvest emergency declaration, farmers have the ability to get more grain to the storage sites quicker. I appreciate Gov. Rauner’s action and IDOT for developing a user-friendly application process,” said Rep. Dan Swanson, R-Alpha, a fifth-generation family farmer and member of the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee.

“It’s that time of year when farmers have to harvest their crops with limited time,” said Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville. “The governor’s declaration will be very helpful to farmers as it can be difficult to estimate the proper amount of bushels loaded on a semi. Without this declaration, if a semi is determined to be overloaded, the fine can actually be worth more than the crop itself. I’m glad the governor declared the harvest emergency in order to help Illinois’ No. 1 industry, agriculture.”

“Moving corn and other crops in a timely and efficient manner affects the bottom line of hard-working farmers,” said Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro. “This declaration is an appropriate response to an urgent need and I applaud the governor for taking this action.”

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A bill allowing Illinois to compete with neighboring states by again growing Industrial Hemp was signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner on Saturday.

Senate Bill 2298 was sponsored due to general declines in agricultural commodities in recent years.  Supportive groups, including the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, believe industrial hemp could help farmers supplement any losses they have incurred.

Industrial Hemp is a different plant variety than cannabis which is harvested to produce Marijuana.  Industrial Hemp growing was a staple industry in Illinois, and especially Central Illinois, several decades ago.  Under current federal law, states can enact industrial hemp laws if the plant is grown for purpose of study, and those growing the hemp be licensed by the State to do so.

“Kentucky has been very successful in growing hemp for the past three years,” said Rep. Swanson following the Governor signing SB 2298, which Swanson co-sponsored.  “This has brought additional revenue and business to the agricultural community and now occupies over 12,000 acres by 243 growers in the Commonwealth in 2018.  The return per acre is between $700-1,200/ acre.”

“This allows our agricultural community an additional, diversified crop and many other business opportunities throughout Illinois,” Swanson continued

74^th District residents can learn more about legislation sponsored by Rep. Swanson during the Spring legislative session at his website at www.repswanson.com.

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