Schweizer’s Summary: August 26th-30th

COLLEGE FOOTBALL, ENVIRONMENT, MEDICARE EVENTS, AND MORE

Although summer is wrapping up, there are many events happening. To check them out, visit Experience Champaign-Urbana or Vermilion Advantage‘s websites for full schedules.

ILLINOIS COLLEGE FOOTBALL

College football returned to the Land of Lincoln in a big way Thursday night when the University of Illinois hosted Eastern Illinois University at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. This marks only the 3^rd matchup between U of I and EIU since 2008 and the 100^th Anniversary of Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

ILLINOIS STATE HORESHOE TOURNAMENT IN DANVILLE

Danville, Illinois is home to the 2024 Illinois State Horseshoe Contest. The competition began on Friday, August 30 and continues through Sunday, September 1 at Douglas Park Horseshoe Complex. More than 100 “pitchers” will compete in 15 different categories including men, women, junior boys, junior girls, and cadets.

ENVIRONMENT

Rep. Schweizer and bipartisan group of legislators work to protect safe drinking water. State Representative Brandun Schweizer has filed HB 5870 to ban any carbon sequestration activity in and around federally designated Sole Source Aquifers, including the Mahomet Aquifer. The legislation also prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing permits to any applicant that is knowingly intending to conduct any carbon sequestration activity over any sole source aquifer.

The legislation comes after Governor Pritzker signed SB 1289 late last month. The newly signed law introduces a three-step process to capture, transport, and sequester carbon. The carbon is captured from high carbon emitting areas and transported to central and southern parts of the state to be sequestered and stored in pore storage sites under the rock shale formations. The legislation fails to address drinking water protections, allowing piping and drilling in and around water sources, like the Mahomet Aquifer.

“My biggest concern with the newly signed legislation is the possible drilling in and around the Mahomet Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to my entire district and much of east-central Illinois,” said Rep. Schweizer. “I cannot be supportive of legislation that allows a region to be put at risk with possible water contamination and sequestration function failures. That is why I filed legislation in support of safe drinking water, a measure that should have been taken before the legislation was signed into law.”

Following the passage of SB 1289, Rep. Schweizer was one of twelve bipartisan, bicameral legislators that signed a letter that was sent to Gov. Pritzker. The letter emphasized the risks that carbon sequestration poses to drinking water and asked that injecting carbon waste through and under the Mahomet Aquifer be banned. Although no response came from the Governor’s office regarding the bipartisan plea, Rep. Schweizer remains dedicated to working across the aisle and fighting for stronger water protections.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG DROP OFF WITH RANTOUL POLICE DEPT.

On Tuesday, my office partnered with the Rantoul Police Department to host a prescription drug drop off. Even with the high temperatures, it was a great turn out for the event! Thank you for all that attended! It was a great opportunity to help ensure the unwanted prescription drugs stay out of the wrong hands and our water supply!

If you were unable to make the drop off this time around, the Rantoul Police Department also collects unwanted prescription drugs year-round. They do not accept syringes, needles, or liquids. Additionally, here is a list for Champaign and Vermilion counties.

BINGO EVENT AT CRIS HEALTHY AGING VERMILION COUNTY

Last Monday, I was invited out by CRIS Health Aging of Vermilion County to call bingo at their Danville facility.

It was a great turnout and a fun time to connect with local seniors in the area! Thank you to CRIS for inviting me!

MEDICARE 101 EVENTS COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER

HEALTH ALLIANCE LUNCH AND LEARN

On September 10th, Health Alliance and I will be teaming up to provide an informational Medicare “Lunch and Learn” event from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex in Rantoul. To read more about the event and RSVP, click here.

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MEDICARE 101 WITH REP. NIEMERG AND THE DEPT. ON AGING

On September 12th, Rep. Niemerg and I are hosting a Medicare 101 event with the Illinois Department on Aging’s SHIP Program. We are hosting this event at the Georgetown Fair Banquet and Convention Center from 10:00-11:30 a.m. This event is free and open to the public. No RSVPs are required. Check out more about the event here.