SPRINGFIELD – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the next payment of the state’s Hospital Assessment plan will be paid out to hospitals this month. The assessment plan will provide hospitals with an additional $470 million from the federal government and provide a welcome boost for the Illinois heath care system. This new funding will help Illinois hospitals continue to recruit and retain doctors, provide advanced medical care, and serve Illinois’ most vulnerable patients.

“Since day one, we have worked to help every Illinoisan get the healthcare they need.  With this payment we take the next step in helping hospitals in Illinois achieve this goal,” said Gov. Blagojevich.  “Illinois hospitals work tirelessly to treat every patient who comes through their doors.  This payment will help support our hospitals and furthers our commitment to provide care to every family in Illinois.”

Senate Bill 157, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) and Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), created the three-year assessment on Illinois hospitals.  The law, which the Governor signed in July 2005, replaced the former hospital assessment program that provided $430 million in federal funding, and ended on July 1, 2005.

"This critical infusion of financial resources will help hospitals and other health care providers ensure accessible, affordable and quality healthcare services for those who live in underserved communities across Illinois," said Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), chief Senate sponsor of the hospital assessment proposal. "The payments this month help provide these essential resources. Without these, hospitals serving residents of predominantly lower- and lower-middle-income communities in the Chicago area and those Downstate would be threatened with closing
their doors or drastically cutting services to stay alive."

A hospital assessment program is a federally permissible method for states to leverage their resources in order to attract additional federal matching funds into their state health care systems. Revenue generated by the assessment will boost the amount the state receives in matching funds from the federal government. Illinois will leverage additional federal resources of $600 million to the state’s health care network per year for three years. The state’s hospitals will benefit by $470 million per year. Additionally, the state will use $130 million per year to help with additional Medicaid health care needs such as funding for nursing homes, the developmentally disabled and other Medicaid services. The proposed assessment plan will end on July 1, 2008.

“The hospital assessment program is already bringing enormous benefits to the hospitals of Illinois and their patients by increasing Medicaid funding by a significant amount,” said Kenneth Robbins, President of the Illinois Hospital Association.  “Reaching the goal of this assessment required a strong and active partnership among hospitals and state and federal officials. The Governor is to be commended for the role he played in making this program possible, as well as for his ongoing leadership in supporting health care in Illinois.”

Before last year’s successful assessment, it had been over 10 years since Illinois submitted a hospital assessment plan to the federal government for approval, in turn forgoing hundreds of millions of federal health care dollars from coming into the state of Illinois. The Blagojevich administration was able to forge a broad-based, bi-partisan coalition in 2003 that led the effort to getting an assessment plan approved by the Illinois General Assembly and the federal government.

Net benefit of new federal funds per region

Chicagoland Region: $261,529,109

Rockford Region: $27,130,456

Quad City Region: $23,456,085

Peoria, Bloomington, Normal Region: $26,990,642

Central Region (Champaign, Decatur, Springfield): $60,564,040

Western Illinois, Quincy Region: $5,395,989

Metro East Region: $39,418,527

Southern Illinois Region: $20,736,534

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CHICAGO– “Illinois has lost a true sports and business icon.  The legacy of Bill Wirtz will live on through the numerous businesses he built, charities he funded and the thousands of Illinois residents he employed.  Patti & I wish to extend our sympathies to the entire Wirtz family.  They remain in our thoughts and prayers.”

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WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) made the following statement today on the Government Accountability Office report that found that wounded warriors are still receiving substandard treatment from the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“It is appalling and unacceptable that we are still not even close to meeting the needs of our wounded warriors,” Senator Obama said.  “The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have lasted longer than World War II. There is no excuse for painful delays in disability payments, shortfalls in care, and glaring failures to screen for the signature injuries of these wars – PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury. I have worked to introduce and pass bipartisan legislation to improve living conditions at military facilities, bolster staffing at places like Walter Reed, enhance mental health screening and care for service members, slash red tape, extend job protections and health care to family members caring for recovering service members, and reform the broken disability review process. We need substantive and sustained reform. These issues must not be pushed to the backburner when they are not in the headlines. The Pentagon and VA have no greater obligation than caring for those who serve, and I will continue to fight to ensure that our sacred trust with our wounded warriors is kept.”

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WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Peter J. Roskam (R-IL) today issued the following statement on the heels of a United States Department of Justice lawsuit filed against the State of Illinois and its plan to prohibit employers from voluntarily enrolling in any Employment Eligibility Verification System: 

“Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois Legislature are acting against the best interest of Illinois workers, Illinois families, and against the safety of our nation.  

“It is unbelievable that a legislative body would prohibit honest employers the right to voluntarily verify the citizenship status of their workers.  It is against the law to hire an illegal alien and the federal E-Verify system is currently the best means available for employers to ensure compliance.  

“Allowing undocumented workers into the workforce takes jobs away from hard-working Illinois families. 

“Immigration reform begins at the border.  We must remove the magnets that attract hundreds of thousands of illegals to cross our borders every year.   

“Governor Blagojevich is attempting to preempt federal law by creating a virtual sanctuary within the State of Illinois for illegal aliens.  Subsequently, the Department of Justice has filed suit in federal court today, and I applaud their actions.”  

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CHICAGO– Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed a partnership agreement with President Lech Kaczynski of Poland, to strengthen the ties, and expand the economic and cultural relationship between the Republic of Poland and the State of Illinois.  As part of his official visit to Chicago, President Kaczynski met with Governor Blagojevich in the Governor’s Office to discuss the ways in which Illinois and Poland can expand economic opportunities and address issues and concerns of their respective governments and citizens. 

“Thousands of Polish immigrants have come to Illinois over the last few decades and contributed to the success and rich diversity of our state. It’s very important that we recognize the contributions Poland has made to Illinois and to the United States, by forming long lasting relationships which will help benefit our citizens,” said the Governor. “This agreement will strengthen our economic links and foster opportunities for the people of Illinois and the people of Poland. My thanks and appreciation to President Kaczynski for once again coming to Chicago and I look forward to continue developing a lasting and mutually beneficial friendship,” Gov. Blagojevich said.

The agreement signed today, called the Declaration of the Establishment of a Partner Relationship between the Republic of Poland and the State of Illinois, encourages Illinois to cooperate with Poland in trade and commerce, science and technology, culture and education, sports and health, and other fields of interest to both countries.  The signing of this agreement seeks the mutual understanding, friendship and beneficial economic and cultural cooperation between the people of both Poland and Illinois.

Mr. Kaczynski was sworn into office as the President of the Republic of Poland on December 23, 2005.  President Kaczynski and his twin brother, Polish Prime Minister Yaroslaw Kaczynski, are the founding members of the Law and Justice Party in Poland.  In the 1970s President Kaczynski was active in the democratic anti-Communist movement in Poland.  President Kaczynski also served as an advisor to Lech Walesa and the Solidarity Movement.  The President and his wife Maria have one daughter, Marta.

During his last visit to Chicago in 2006, President Kaczynski met with Governor Blagojevich at an event in Grant Park.  President Kaczynski’s visit to Chicago today comes during his four-day official visit to the United States.  With close to one million Polish Americans, Chicago boasts the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw.   

• Authorizing the use of National Security Letters to obtain certain less sensitive types of communications records, financial records, and credit report records without judicial review, but with new procedural safeguards to protect against abuse.
• Requiring that the government make an individualized determination that each record sought with an NSL relates to someone with a connection to terrorism or espionage.
• Placing a time limit on the gag order associated with each NSL, which could be extended by a court if the government demonstrates an extension is necessary and the First Amendment is satisfied.
• Requiring that the FBI implement a program to ensure compliance with the NSL statutes and establish a tracking database for NSLs. 
• Establishing a standard of individualized suspicion for the issuance of business records orders under Section 215 of the Patriot Act.
• Ensuring meaningful after-the-fact judicial review procedures for NSLs and Section 215 orders and the accompanying gag orders.
• Preventing any future use of improper "exigent" letters identified by the Inspector General report.
  

The legislation has received the support of individuals and groups including:

• American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression
• American Civil Liberties Union
• American Conservative Defense Alliance
• American Library Association
• American Policy Center
• Association of American Publishers
• Association of Research Libraries
• The Honorable Bob Barr, Former Member of Congress
• Bill of Rights Defense Committee
• Center for American Progress Action Fund
• Center for Democracy and Technology
• Center for National Security Studies
• Citizen Outreach
• Downsize DC
• Electronic Frontier Foundation
• David Keene, Chairman of the American Conservative Union and Co-Chair of the Constitution Project’s Liberty & Security Initiative
• League of Women Voters of the United States
• Liberty Coalition
• Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform
• Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances
• PEN American Center
• Republican Liberty Caucus
• Rutherford Institute
• U.S. Bill of Rights Foundation
  
  

from the gov's press office

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation that will give the State increased powers to enforce DUI laws.  Senate Bill 577, sponsored by State Senator John J. Cullerton (D-Chicago) and State Representative Eddie Washington (D-Waukegan), gives more power and opportunity to the Secretary of State to penalize drivers who are arrested or stopped on suspicion of driving under the influence. 

“People who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs are endangering other lives. That kind of recklessness shouldn’t be taken lightly,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “Illinois has some of the toughest driving laws in the nation, but we can and should do more. This legislation sends a clear message to those that choose to drink and drive that we will go after them and make sure their driving privileges are revoked.”

Currently, when arrested for a DUI, an offender generally has a court hearing where guilt is determined.  If the person is found guilty, the Secretary of State holds an administrative hearing, where the offenders’ license can be reviewed and revoked.  If the person is found not guilty by the court there is no reason to hold an administrative hearing. 

However, under SB 577:

The Secretary of State’s hearing officer will be able to hold a hearing on the basis of available evidence even if the arresting officer fails to answer the subpoena. and will be allowed to take into consideration out-of-state convictions from DUIs when considering the issuance of a restricted driver’s permit. 
If a person is convicted of 4 or more DUI offenses, leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury, or reckless homicide, or a combination of those offenses, the offender is not eligible for any type of driver’s license or permit.
If a person under the age of 21 is convicted of a DUI, regardless of where the offense occurred, the Secretary of State may revoke the driver’s license. After one year the person may apply for a restricted driver’s permit.  One year after that they may apply for full reinstatement of their license. 
An ignition interlock device will be mandated for any person that has had their license suspended or revoked more than twice and has a restricted driver license.
The Secretary of State may suspend or revoke a license if the defendant perjures themselves or submits falsified, fraudulent, or altered documents during a hearing.

“This legislation sends a very strong message that driving while intoxicated is always unacceptable, and gives the Secretary of State’s office more weapons in the war against drunk driving,” said Secretary of State Jesse White.

“I hope this law will be another milestone to make sure drivers think twice before getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. Our goal is to keep our roads safer and ensure every person in Illinois is protected from the harm that intoxicated drivers can cause,” said Sen. Cullerton.

“This legislation is important to crack down on those who break the rules of the road and put the lives of themselves and others in danger,” said Rep. Washington. “Signing this bill will send a clear message to drivers throughout the state that we do not tolerate driving under the influence.”

In August, the Governor signed SB 172, making Illinois teen driving laws among the toughest in the nation. SB 172 tightened learner’s permit and GDL requirements by extending learner’s permit period from three to nine months; extending nighttime curfews to drivers up to 17 years old; moving up the weekday curfew to 10 p.m. from 11 p.m. and to 11 p.m. from midnight on weekends and doubling up from six to 12 months the time during which a GDL driver, under the age of 18, may carry only one unrelated passenger under the age of 20, excluding siblings.

SB 172 also allows ticketing for all passengers age 15 to 20 for riding in the car driven by the new driver; requires student drivers to complete a full 6 hours of actual, on-the-street driving with a certified instructor; requires that new drivers have 6 months violation free of driving with a GDL before the age of 18 before becoming eligible for an unrestricted GDL license; and establishes tough new sanctions for street racing and strengthens sanctions for repeat violations for any drivers under the age of 21. 

Also in August, the Governor signed additional bills as part of a comprehensive effort to enhance teen drivers’ safety. SB140 raised the age at which young people are permitted to simultaneously drive and use a cell phone; SB 1557 requires instruction on the danger of distracted driving as part of driver’s education programs; and HB 1080 calls for the revocation of driving privileges for minors involved in gang crimes using a car.

Additionally, the Governor signed SB 300 and HB 1900. The first legislation aims at reducing the number of drunk drivers on Illinois’ roads by requiring first time DUI offenders to have an ignition interlock device installed on their cars. The law also provides jail time for offenders who try to evade the devices by driving someone else’s vehicle. The second law, called “Tina’s Law,” allows relatives of DUI victims to request a roadside memorial to honor their loved ones.  Tina Bell, who inspired the legislation, was killed by a drunk driver while working as a flagger on an Illinois Department of Transportation construction project in 2003.

SB 577 becomes effective June 1, 2008.

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[WASHINGTON, DC] - United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation today, which will curb abuses that deprive employees and retirees of their earnings and retirement savings when businesses collapse. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would make several changes to Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, putting workers interests near the top when companies file for bankruptcy.

"American workers and retirees who give their lives to a company are treated like strangers when their employers files bankruptcy,” Durbin said. “This bill says that if a company goes bankrupt, employees and retirees won’t take a back seat to creditors and executive bonuses."

Sadly, corporate bankruptcies are nothing new to American workers. In too many corporate bankruptcies, workers’ claims for compensation and benefits are denied while executives’ claims are given preferential treatment. It is time for a more balanced and just approach.

Durbin’s bill will protect workers from losing out by:

Increasing the value of worker claims in bankruptcy:
•       Doubles the maximum value of wage claims for each worker to $20,000
•       Allows a second claim of up to $20,000 for benefits earned
•       Eliminates the requirement that employees must earn wage and benefit claims within 180 days of the bankruptcy filing

•       Creates a new priority claim for the loss in value of workers’ pensions
•       Establishes a new priority administrative expense for workers’ collective severance pay

Reducing the loss of wages and benefits:
•       Restricts the situations in which collective bargaining agreements can be rejected, and tighten the criteria by which collective bargaining agreements can be amended

•       Toughens the procedures through which retiree benefits can be reduced
•       Adds to the criteria used to evaluate bids for assets of the bankruptcy company, so that bids are also judged by offers to maintain existing jobs, to preserve retiree health benefits, and to assume the obligations of any defined benefit pension plan

•       Includes unpaid wages, vacation, and other accrued benefits in the calculation of reasonable and necessary expenses when determining the proceeds from asset sales

•       Confirms that employees and retirees will continue to receive compensation after the company exits bankruptcy

Increase the parity of worker and executive claims:
•       Adds to the statement of purpose of reorganizing plans that plans should seek to preserve jobs
•       Requires court approval of executive compensation upon exit from bankruptcy
•       Prohibits deferred executive compensation if employee compensation plans have been terminated in bankruptcy
•       Ensures that workers maintain a claim for earned defined contribution pensions, but insiders do not
•       Limits executive compensation enhancements such as bonuses while in bankruptcy
•       Recovers executive compensation relative to lost employee compensation
•       Voids extra payments made to executives or consultants in anticipation of bankruptcy

Senator Durbin is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the committee of jurisdiction over bankruptcy law. House Judiciary Chairman, John Conyers (D-MI) recently introduced similar legislation in the House. The AFL-CIO has strongly endorsed the legislation and at a press conference Tuesday, the labor group’s membership was represented by leaders from the Airline Pilots, Steelworkers, Auto Workers Flight Attendants and Machinists unions.

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"Today's announcement by President Bush that he will veto children's health care is unacceptable and serves as an urgent reminder that we must change the way Washington works and finally put the people's interest ahead of the special interests," Senator Obama said.  “In the richest nation on Earth we must no longer stand by while 9 million children live without health care. I believe that the millions of Americans who can't take their children to a doctor when they get sick have the right to affordable health care. When I was a State Senator, I was able to help extend health care coverage to an additional 150,000 parents and their children.  The CHIP bill is a commonsense solution to our health care crisis and gets us one step closer where we need to be – quality, affordable health care coverage for every American.”

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation that will help provide better coordination of the State’s education systems. House Bill 1648 creates the Illinois P-20 Council which will advise leaders in State government and education stakeholders on how to better align Illinois’ education systems – from pre-kindergarten through post-secondary education.

“As a state, we must be on the same page with the same goals and visions for the future of education in Illinois,” Gov. Blagojevich said. “This legislation will help bring education and policy stakeholders to the table, were they can share the information and ideas needed to develop integrated education strategies for every level from early childhood through graduate education.”

Sponsored by State Representative Jerry Mitchell (R-Sterling) and State Senator Deanna Demuzio (D-Carlinville), the bill creates the new statewide council, which will study and make recommendations concerning education at all levels and avoid fragmentation of policies, promote improved teaching and learning, and continue to cultivate and demonstrate strong accountability and efficiency, among other duties. 

“Our state’s economic future is directly tied to how well we educate our students,” said Rep. Mitchell. “The Illinois P-20 council will bring together a diverse group of education stakeholders to better coordinate Illinois’ education systems from top to bottom.”

“We’re looking for the P-20 Council to make recommendations that will build on efforts already underway here in Illinois to better prepare our students for their careers once they graduate,” said Sen. Demuzio.  “They will be responsible for coordination across educational systems and advising the state’s education agencies as well as providing other support.”

The composition of the board was designed to represent the diverse perspectives of education stakeholders.  The Governor will chair the council and appoint six at-large members each representing a different field of expertise.  They will represent organized labor, a parents organization, a civic organization, local government, and a nonprofit organization.  The four legislative leaders will each appoint one member to the Council. Statewide business organizations will appoint five members to the council, and statewide professional education organizations will appoint six members to the council.  Members will also serve representing school administrators and school boards, community colleges, 4-year independent colleges and universities, and public universities.  Also, the directors of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Student Assistance Commission, Illinois Workforce Investment Board, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Early Learning Council and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy will serve in an ex-officio capacity.

“We look forward to working with the members of the P-20 Council to better position our students for success as they transition into post-secondary education and prepare to enter the workforce,” said Christopher Koch, State Superintendent of Education, who will serve in an ex-officio capacity on the Council. “We are working informally now with our partners at the Illinois Community College Board and the State Board of Higher Education to bring about better coordination and having this formal link is an asset that will drive our decision making in the future.”

HB 1648 goes into effect January 1, 2008.

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from the governor's office

Plan will support 725,000 jobs statewide; provide $209 million for Champaign area schools, roads, bridges, and economic development projects

 New revenue stream also provides $19.6 million more in annual funding for Champaign area schools

CHAMPAIGN – On behalf of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, Deputy Governor Louanner Peters today joined legislators, labor and business leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to build support for Illinois Works, the $25.4 billion capital plan approved unanimously on September 18^th by the Illinois State Senate.  For the Champaign area, that means $209 million for critical local projects.  The bill will head to the Illinois House of Representatives when they reconvene for the fall legislative session beginning October 2^nd.  Gov. Blagojevich is urging members to work across party lines and pass the legislation, which will fund projects that are vital to keeping Illinois families safe and helping communities thrive.

The landmark Illinois Works building plan is expected to support more than 725,000 jobs statewide and will launch a comprehensive program to improve aging roads, bridges and mass transit, as well as university and school buildings in communities throughout the state. 

“It is essential that the members of the Illinois House work together to pass ‘Illinois Works,’ a plan that provides the funding needed to keep our roads and bridges safe.  It puts money in our schools, so Illinois children get access to the best teaching resources.  ‘Illinois Works’ funds the projects our communities need in order to provide jobs, public transportation and projects that keep us safe from environmental hazards,” said the Deputy Governor Peters.  “Last week the men and women in the Illinois Senate – Democrats and Republicans – joined together to pass ‘Illinois Works’ unanimously.  The time for talk and discussion has long passed, and the people of Illinois need action.  I am urging the Illinois House not to waste time but to cast a vote for people – not politics.”                                                                                                     

Illinois Works would be funded with new revenue brought in from a publicly-owned casino in Chicago and two other new casinos, along with an expansion of positions at existing casinos.  In addition to providing money to improve statewide infrastructure, the legislation would also provide $300 million more each year for schools statewide, building on the $550 million education funding increase included the budget for fiscal year 2008.  For schools in the Champaign area, that means a total increase of $19.6 million a year in state support.

Combined with federal, state and local funds, the multi-year program will provide:

• $15.625 billion to build and improve roads and bridges;

• $4.875 billion for K-12 education and higher education school construction projects;

• $2.588 billion for public transit, passenger rail and airports;

• $6.25 billion for economic development projects that will enhance Illinois’ communities;

• $1.116 billion for environmental and energy projects that will improve drinking and waste water facilities statewide, redevelop brownfields, and improve and repair state-owned dams;

• $4.875 billion to renovate and expand state facilities across Illinois.

Locally, the people of Champaign will benefit from Illinois Works through:

Roads and Bridges

·         $5.9 million for engineering for design, location and environmental studies at Interstate 74 Interchange east of Urbana.   

·         $6.3 million for the construction of 0.5 of roads for the expansion of Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

·         $52.4 million for the construction of 7.15 miles of additional lanes and engineering on Interstate 74 from Illinois 47 at Mahomet to 0.5 miles west of Interstate 57.   

• $1.25 million to replace the bridge on US45 at Spring Creek

• $1.96 million to replace the bridge on ILL 128 at Little Moccasin Creek

Public Transportation

·         $425 million in state funds to match $1.7 billion in federal dollars for transit agencies.  The combined $2.125 billion program will make funds available for agencies to purchase new buses and rail cars, build new stations, and reconstruct commuter rail bridges and elevated rail structures.

·         $29 million to provide operating assistance to downstate transit districts

Education

·         $1.75 billion for the school construction program including $150 million to fund the 24 school districts awarded grants in Fiscal Year 2002.

·         $150 million for the school maintenance program to provide up to $50,000 to each school district in the state to meet their maintenance needs.

·        $10 million to fund a new early childhood facilities program.

·         In FY07, Urbana-Champaign received $130,501,449 in General State Aid.  The Foundation Level is set in statute at $5,334.

·         The budget that passed would provide Urbana-Champaign with $141,410,232, which is an additional $10,908,784.  However, this can only happen if legislation is passed by the General Assembly to increase the Foundation Level to $5,734 per student.  This legislation is currently pending action in the House.

·         If the Capital Bill passes, it will receive $150,104,957, which is an additional $19,603,508 more than the FY 07 level.  Again, this will require legislation to increase the Foundation Level to $5,900 per student.

• $25,000,000 for renovations, upgrades, or replacement of power station at Eastern Illinois University.

• $1,500,000 to the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University for the purchase of equipment to complete the renovation and expansion of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

• $55,100,000 for renovating Lincoln Hall at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• $16,910,000 for constructing a Post Harvest Crop Research Lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• $42,000,000 for constructing an Electrical and Computer Engineering Building at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• $773,300 to Eastern Illinois University for miscellaneous capital improvements.

• $6,225,400 to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for miscellaneous capital improvements.

• $200 million to support the state’s private colleges and universities.

• $250 million for the state’s community college system.

Environment and Energy

·         $155 million to leverage over $370 million in federal funds and improve drinking and wastewater facilities across the state, redevelop brownfields, remove and repair state-owned dams, support the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and make grants available to Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

·         $475 million to build up to 20 new ethanol plants, build up to 5 new biodiesel plants, construct new clean coal gasification facilities, and encourage our energy independence.

·         $25 million to clean-up the backlog of leaking underground storage tank claims.

Economic Development

·         $850,000 for the Vermillion Civic Center.

Technology Project

·         $60,000,000 for the Petascale Computing Facility at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“These proposed capital projects are central to the University of Illinois missions of teaching and research,” said B. Joseph White, president of the University of Illinois. “We owe it to the citizens of Illinois both to maintain existing campus infrastructure and to build new facilities to meet the needs of future students and researchers.  I have frequently stated that the University of Illinois is the most important asset for a prosperous future for the state of Illinois.  We educate 70,000 students and graduate 17,000 each year.  The state also benefits from the discoveries of our 6,000 professor-researchers and their more than $750 million annually of funded research in science, engineering, technology, business and health care.”

“This capital bill is good for union workers and good for all of Illinois,” said Chip Hull, Business Agent of the Laborers Local 703.  “This is a no-brainer.  Everyone benefits from a capital bill.  This is going to make this university a better place to be.”

The Illinois House of Representatives is expected to take up the bill when they reconvene on October 2 for the fall veto session.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) sent the following letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, calling on him to answer questions about the Blackwater incident and the role of private security contractors and the impact of their operations in Iraq. 

In February, Obama introduced the Transparency and Accountability in Military and Security Contracting Act (S. 674), which would require federal agencies to report to Congress on the number of security contractors, the military and security equipment they use, the number of contractors killed and wounded, and any disciplinary action taken against them.  This legislation would also improve coordination between security contractors and the U.S. military, and require investigation of criminal misconduct engaged in by contractors. 

Obama offered this legislation as an amendment to the FY 2008 Defense Authorization bill, which is currently before the Senate. 

The text of the letter is below: 

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing with regard to an incident in Baghdad earlier this week involving the State Department's security escort, which is made up of armed private contractors from the Blackwater firm.  During a firefight last weekend, Blackwater security contractors killed 8 people and wounded 14 others.

This incident, which is under investigation at the Department of State, raises larger questions about the role of private security contractors.  An estimated 48,000 private security employees are operating in Iraq, and more than 1,000 contractors have died in Iraq since 2003.  As last weekend’s incident illustrates, little is known about what functions these security contractors are performing, how much their services are costing, what military and safety equipment they are provided, and what rules of engagement they are following.  

For that reason, in February, I introduced the Transparency and Accountability in Military and Security Contracting Act (S. 674).  The bill would require federal agencies to report to Congress on:  the total number of security contractors; the total cost of the contractors; the number of contractors killed or wounded; information about the military and safety equipment provided to contractors; and a description of disciplinary action taken against contractors.  The bill would improve coordination between security contractors and U.S. armed forces by requiring the issuance of rules of engagement, clarify the legal status of contractors, and require investigation of criminal misconduct engaged in by contractors. 

In an effort to learn more about Blackwater’s operations in Iraq, I am interested in getting your reaction to several issues under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense. 

1)  The press has reported several other instances involving Blackwater, including a reported shooting of the Iraqi Vice President's security guard, reported shootings of Interior Ministry employees, and reported armed standoffs between Blackwater employees and Iraqi police.  Has the Pentagon investigated these or other incidents?  If yes, what were the results of those investigations?

2)  Last year, Congress enacted and the President signed into law a provision stating that contractors operating in contingency operations would potentially fall under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).  Is it your view that any illegal actions by private security contractors in Iraq would be punishable under the UCMJ?  If not, under what legal process would they be held accountable?

3)  More than 13,000 private security contractors have been reported wounded in Iraq and reports suggest that many suffer from the same challenges that many of our soldiers, including post-traumatic stress disorder, once they return home.  What steps are their contracting firms taking to ensure long term care for employees that require it?

4)  Lastly, I am concerned about the impact of this incident – and similar incidents – on our overall effort to end the war in Iraq.  Has the Department of Defense conducted an analysis of the consequences of turning over such armed functions in a war zone to contractors outside the chain of command, and whether this outsourcing is actually hurting, rather than helping, our counter-insurgency efforts, especially in winning local hearts and minds?

I look forward to your prompt responses to these questions.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

United States Senator