NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) held a town hall Wednesday evening with experts from the Illinois Environmental Council, Sierra Club and Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families to raise awareness of toxic PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam.

“Exposure to these chemicals has been proven time and time again to be dangerous to humans,” Ellman said. “Not only that, but these substances are incredibly harmful to our environment.”

Per-and polyfluoradlkyl substances, frequently called PFAS, are a large group of toxic chemicals that have the ability to repel oil and water, reduce friction, and put out fires. For these reasons, they are especially prevalent in firefighting foam.

There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to negative health effects, like cancer, reproductive issues, and liver and kidney problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“By making residents more aware of the dangers of PFAS, we are able to minimize both human and environmental exposure to the chemicals as we work to eradicate them completely,” Ellman said.

At the town hall, Ellman discussed the threat of PFAS and what Illinois is doing to keep our water safe from contamination, including her own law to phase out the production, distribution, sale and use of PFAS.

Illinois is joining a growing group of states that are banning the use of PFAS chemicals, including Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New York.

NAPERVILLE – Families across the 21^st District will soon be able to enjoy upgrades to services at their local libraries as a result of almost $330,000 in state grants, announced State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville).

“Libraries provide so many necessary services to local families,” Ellman said. “The resources we give to our libraries, they put back into our communities tenfold.”

The $330,000 in grants received by five local libraries is part of $18.1 million in grants awarded to 638 public libraries across the state. For more than 40 years, the Illinois Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants Program has helped public libraries with a low library tax base to ensure a minimum level of funding for library services.

Libraries will use the grants from the secretary of state’s office to help fund new services and products, such as audiobooks, adult programming, dual language materials and more.

“I am pleased to know that our libraries will be receiving the investment they deserve and that they will continue to be invaluable resources to our communities,” Ellman said.

The following libraries will receive funds:

• Naperville Public Library, $217,487
• Warrenville Public Library District, $19,987
• Wheaton Public Library, $78,018
• Winfield Public Library, $14,484

For more information on the grants, people can visit the secretary of state’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – With the passage of landmark legislation that would establish Illinois as a national leader in the clean energy sector, Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) released the following statement:

“Illinois would be at the forefront of the fight against the climate crisis with this progressive energy policy. We can be proud of our state, as it leads the way with equity-focused legislation to fight global warming.

“This legislation is a bold step towards sustainability in Illinois, and we need to continue to take bold steps into the future to protect the longevity of our environment for the next generation and generations to come.”

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that requires insurers to cover important tests for people with or at risk of developing diabetes was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday. 

“Diabetes is serious, but often preventable,” Ellman said. “People have the right to know if they’re at risk, and this law guarantees insurance providers will cover the tests.” 

Risk factors for people who have or may have prediabetes and diabetes include vitamin D deficiency and low blood sugar levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ellman’s new law requires insurers to cover A1C and vitamin D tests that are recommended by health care providers for people who may have or have prediabetes, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. 

The A1C test, also known as the hemoglobin A1C, is a simple blood test that measures the average blood sugar levels of an individual over the three months prior to the test being administered. It’s one of the most common tools used to diagnose prediabetes.   

As of 2020, nearly 34.2 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and an additional 88 million have prediabetes, according to the CDC.

“Data associated with COVID-19 consistently showed disproportionately poor outcomes for people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, especially African Americans,” said Janice Guider, a constituent who brought forward the idea for the legislation. “Expanding testing for diabetes and vitamin D sufficiency, especially in marginalized populations, will save lives and lessen the physical, psychological and economic burden of preventable diseases like diabetes.”

The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2022.