SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday, Nov. 24, State Senator Tom Cullerton (D- Villa Park) convened the Illinois State Senate’s Veterans Affairs Committee to discuss the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home, which has already claimed 27 lives.

“What’s been happening at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home is a tragedy,” Cullerton said. “I called this hearing to get clear answers about what happened and what’s being done to fix it. Transparency is the key to ensuring our veterans are receiving the care they deserve.”

The LaSalle Veterans’ Home can provide care for up to 184 veterans and currently has 230 active employees. The LaSalle facility informed residents, families and staff via letter on Nov. 18 that since the beginning of the outbreak, 98 residents and 93 employees have tested positive for COVID-19, and 27 veterans have passed away.

The committee met with the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and a representative from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Read more: Cullerton leads Veterans Affairs Committee’s investigation of COVID-19 outbreak at LaSalle...

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) is convening the Illinois State Senate’s Veterans Affairs Committee to examine the handling of the COVID-19 spread at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m.

“Our goal is to help provide transparency and insight into precautions taken by the state to keep veterans at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home healthy and safe,” Cullerton said. “It is our duty to work together to ensure our veterans have the best possible care.”

This week the LaSalle facility informed the residents, families and staff at the home that since the beginning of the crisis, the home has had a total of 98 positive residents and 93 positive employees. The letter also reported that 23 veterans have passed away due to COVID-19.

The LaSalle Veterans’ Home can provide care for up to 184 veterans, according to the agency’s website, and the facility currently has 121 residents and 230 active employees.

Cullerton, a veteran himself, is looking forward to this public conversation and taking a deeper dive into the work the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the facility are doing to serve veterans and loved ones at the home.

The virtual hearing can be viewed here: https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp#. Blue Room Stream, a subscription-based service, will also stream the hearing.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) is convening the Illinois State Senate’s Veterans Affairs Committee to examine the handling of the COVID-19 spread at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m.

“This hearing will help answer questions and give the residents, their families and Senate committee members greater insight into the safety protocols used by the LaSalle Veterans’ Home staff to keep our veterans healthy and safe,” Cullerton said. “We hope to work together to ensure our veterans receive the best care possible.”

More than 150 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. The LaSalle facility can provide care for up to 184 veterans, according to the agency’s website, and the facility currently has 121 residents and 230 active employees.

State Senator Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo), Minority Spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee, is looking forward to hearing what steps have been taken by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs to limit residents’ exposure to COVID-19.

“We need to hold this hearing so that we can determine how the outbreak at the LaSalle home happened, what was done to protect residents, and how the situation is continuing to be handled today,” Schimpf said. “We have to be sure that every possible measure was taken to protect the veterans who live there and that we are taking every necessary precaution moving forward.”

The virtual hearing can be viewed here: https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp#. Blue Room Stream, a subscription-based service, will also stream the hearing.

VILLA PARK – State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) is encouraging local fire departments to take advantage of the state’s Small Equipment Grant program.

The program provides $3.3 million in funding across the state for firefighting personal protection equipment, infection control items and other small equipment. Organizations can be awarded up to $26,000.

“The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a reminder that our first responders and firefighters continuously put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe and healthy,” Cullerton said. “This grant program serves as a resource to assist in ensuring they have the vital tools and resources to do their jobs effectively.”

Fire department, fire protection district and township fire department applicants are required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System for a minimum of two years prior to applying. Ambulance services applying must be volunteer, non-profit, stand-alone emergency medical service providers not tied in any financial or legal manner to a fire department.

Applications for the Small Equipment Grant program must be postmarked no later than Jan. 29, 2021. More information on the program can be found on the state fire marshal's website.