Sangamon Sun

The Illinois Senate has advanced legislation to formally recognize the United States Space Force as an official branch of the United States Armed Forces. House Bill 5640, sponsored by Senator Tom Bennett, amends state law to include the Space Force wherever the Armed Forces are mentioned.

The United States Space Force was established on December 20, 2019, and is designated as an armed force within the Department of the Air Force. Its mission is to ensure that the U.S. can operate freely in space, manage space operations, and protect American interests. The legislation passed out of the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee unanimously on May 2 and now advances to the Senate floor for further action.

On May 7, Senate lawmakers donned sneakers with their usual session attire and suit jackets in a show of solidarity with cancer patients and survivors throughout the state. This unique fashion choice was inspired by the Coaches vs. Cancer program, a joint initiative between the American Cancer Society and the NCAA aimed at raising cancer awareness.

Senator Bennett said that this annual awareness day at the Capitol is a "small but powerful gesture" that hopefully brings attention to those affected by cancer each year. This initiative coincides with Cancer Action Day, an advocacy event dedicated to empowering those affected by cancer organized by American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

High school students can access resources to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). The FAFSA form determines how much federal financial aid a student is eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.

ISAC aims to ensure that every student is aware of free assistance available for financial aid and college planning. Students intending to pursue post-high school education this fall can visit ISAC’s website for free assistance with college planning and financial aid process—including help completing FAFSA or Alternative Application for IL Financial Aid.

As of the time of this writing, the State of Illinois owes $790,077,936.25 to state vendors, including 16,803 pending vouchers. This figure represents the amount of bills submitted to the office of the Comptroller and still awaiting payment. It does not include debts that can only be estimated, such as our unfunded pension liability which is subject to a wide range of factors and has been estimated to be more than $139 billion.

May is Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. The Illinois State Police, along with law enforcement agencies across the state, are honoring the dedication and sacrifices of police officers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, law enforcement ranks consistently among the top ten most hazardous jobs in the United States. In 2021 alone, 159 officers were lost nationally with approximately 40% of fatalities resulting from assaults or homicides and another 40% from transportation incidents.