SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced a bill from the Senate Judiciary Committee that would allow state agencies that purchase food through a contract to donate leftovers.

“Millions of Americans struggle with hunger while billions of pounds of food are wasted,” Glowiak Hilton said. “The state needs to lead by example and do all it can to curb food waste and ensure that the most vulnerable of us are fed.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 30-40 percent of the total food supply is wasted each year. Most food waste occurs at the retail and consumer levels.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a 3-digit suicide hotline for Americans experiencing mental health crises.

“Mental health crises are becoming more prevalent, specifically in young people, and we need national leadership on this issue,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Creating a dedicated emergency hotline for this will save lives.”

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) released the following statement after Gov. Pritzker’s State of the State address:

“I was thrilled to hear that the governor shares my commitment to ending the culture of corruption in Springfield. Strengthening our ethics laws so that politicians can no longer profit as a result of their public service remains a top priority for me, so I am glad to have an ally in Gov. Pritzker.

“With the bipartisan ethics commission set to issue their policy recommendations this March, I am committed to doing all I can in the Senate to make sure those bills get to the governor’s desk. Together we will demand an honest, transparent Springfield.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is taking action to remove an unconstitutional loyalty oath that candidates filing for public office may sign, stating that the candidate is not affiliated with communist activities.

“This dated Cold War scare tactic wastes taxpayer dollars and has an immeasurable cost to our natural resources,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Printing a separate page for the oath for every candidate who files in Illinois not only wastes paper, but the time and energy of the public servants who administer our elections.”

Senate Bill 2331 would remove the optional oath, which was found to be unconstitutional in 1972. The loyalty oath was enacted by State Rep. Clyde Choate (D-Anna) in 1951. In 1996, Choate admitted to the Chicago Tribune that his legislation was both “unnecessary and ineffective.”

The legislation awaits consideration in the Illinois Senate. Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Springfield Jan. 28.