SPRINGFIELD – The achievements and accomplishments of Career and Technical Education programs across the state will be recognized this February, thanks to the help of State Senator Scott Bennett.

Bennett (D-Champaign) championed a measure that declares February Career and Technical Education Month in Illinois.

“CTE incorporates many types of education, from classroom learning to certification programs and work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom,” Bennett said. “I’m proud to dedicate the month of February as CTE Month to highlight the important role it plays in our workforce.”

Approximately 12.5 million high school and college students are enrolled in CTE courses across the country. Advance CTE reports that the high school graduation rate for students who concentrate on CTE is about 90%– 15 percentage points higher than the national average.

CTE offers education and advanced training to support high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations, including careers in health care, information technology, agriculture, finance, and education.

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DANVILLE – To prevent fatalities on the farm during the busy harvest season, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is joining officials in reminding farmers and farm workers to be cautious when working in and around grain bins.

“Grain handling can expose workers to serious and life threatening hazards,” said Bennett, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “Grain Bin Safety Week is a great time to remind our agriculture workers to be cautious, follow procedures and stay up to date on the latest guidelines.”

While essential to Illinois’ harvests, grain handling equipment and storage containers can quickly become dangerous. In 2020, Illinois fire departments responded to a nation-leading 12 rescue incidents at Illinois grain bins and elevators.

“Oftentimes we become complacent when doing tasks we have done a thousand times, and for farmers that often means working in and around grain bins,” said IDOA Director, Jerry Costello II. “Unfortunately, problems involving flowing grain can snowball quickly. That’s why it’s important to set aside time to go over safety measures, to prepare farmers for a potential grain bin emergency.”

To learn safety tips and find additional information to stay safe during harvest, click here.

SPRINGFIELD – To draw awareness to the importance of soil health protection, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is leading an effort to create a week-long celebration of soil health.

Senate Joint Resolution 44 would create a Soil Health Day and Week celebration to take place March 7 – 11, with Soil Health Day falling on March 9.

“Illinois should be actively raising awareness of the importance of soil health and promoting its stewardship to safeguard this resource for future generations,” said Bennett, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “With this joint resolution, my hope is that we can come together to find ways to educate people on the importance of healthy soil.”

This celebration has the potential to bring a diverse group of advocates together to not only celebrate but educate and raise awareness of why protecting soil is important to human, environmental and economic health.

The joint resolution was adopted by the Senate Environment Committee.