SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) welcomed the players and coaching staff of the Schlarman Academy girls’ basketball team to the Illinois Capitol today to recognize their second consecutive state title.

Bennett was joined on the Senate floor by the players and Head Coach Keith Peoples as he presented the team with a special tribute honoring their accomplishment.

 “Two consecutive championships is an outstanding achievement,” Bennett said. “I am honored to recognize these incredible young women who have put in a tremendous amount of hard work this season on and off the court. They have not only played hard, but they have represented Danville and Vermilion County with dignity and respect, and have raised the bar for future teams.”

Last month, the Lady Hilltoppers won their IHSA Class 1A State Championship Game with a 63-36 triumph over Lanark Eastland bringing home Danville’s second state title.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) was joined by Illinois Department of Agriculture Director John Sullivan today to address the issue of farm chemical runoff polluting Illinois waterways.

“We are on the right path, but more work remains to be done,” Bennett said. “With a science-based model as a guide, I am hopeful that we can make even more significant water quality improvements.”

Sullivan provided testimony in the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee to support Senate Resolution 52, sponsored by Bennett. It calls for further steps in a plan to protect water quality by limiting nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from agricultural operations – nutrients with important beneficial effects in farming but with potentially harmful environmental consequences. The effort to protect water quality in Illinois ultimately would benefit the Mississippi River environment all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient runoff has contributed to a dead zone.

Developed in 2015, the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is a collaborative effort between Illinois’ Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture and a broad group of stakeholders like the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, all committed to protecting and conserving state natural resources.

“The progress that has been made by the State of Illinois and the stakeholders of the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy over the last few years has been remarkable,” Sullivan said. “I’m pleased to see the General Assembly take an active role and support the agriculture industry’s efforts to implement best management practices and new technologies in order to reduce nutrient loss in the state. I look forward to working with all involved to continue this effort in Illinois.”

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Scott Bennett’s (D-Champaign) bill to ensure property tax relief for spouses of veterans with disabilities passed the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee this week.

Senate Bill 1579 would allow the rights of a veteran to pass to their spouse during the application process for a homestead exemption to pass through to the spouse of a veteran, if the veteran passes away before the application is completed.

“This tax relief is for military families who have already sacrificed so much,” Bennett said. “Making sure that a surviving spouse can benefit from this exemption without having to go through a complicated and repetitive process.”

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) introduced legislation this week to create a hands-on agriculture teacher training program in Illinois high schools for those interested in studying to become agriculture teachers in college.

“Agriculture is more than just our state’s leading industry. It’s also central to our economy and our way of life,” said Bennett, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee. “Creating a pre-service teacher training program to give prospective agriculture students the fundamentals they need to succeed will help to ensure the next generation of family farmers will keep the industry strong for years to come.”

The proposed legislation would also provide grants to students who qualify and attend a university or community college that offer an agricultural education teacher course.

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