CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) sponsored a resolution to recognize Oct. 13 as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Illinois.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, other than skin cancer. Thousands of families across Illinois are affected by metastatic cancer, also known as Stage IV or advanced breast cancer.

“This day is designated to increase awareness of the disease,” Bennett said. “Despite the advances made in cancer treatment, metastatic breast cancer still remains incurable.”

Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer occurring when it has spread beyond the breast and to another part of the body — typically the bones, liver or brain. In Illinois alone, it is expected that 11,560 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, according to the American Cancer Society.

“Metastatic breast cancer unfortunately cuts the lives of too many people in Illinois and leaves long term effects on families,” Bennett said. “Today we have the opportunity to shed light on the devastation cancer brings to communities throughout the state. I encourage residents to work with their health care providers to create a health plan and get screened regularly.”

For additional information, Bennett urges residents to contact Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 800-232-4636.

CHAMPAIGN – Senate Agriculture Chairman Scott Bennett hosted a Taiwanese delegation at his family farm on Sept. 24 in Ford County to celebrate the $2.2 billion commitment to purchase Illinois soybeans and corn over the next two years.

“Illinois is a leading producer of soybeans and corn,” Bennett said. “Earlier this summer, I met with Taiwan government officials and agricultural business leaders to talk about why they should purchase soybeans and corn from Illinois.”

Bennett said he wanted to personally introduce the delegation to Illinois agriculture. Illinois and Taiwanese associations signed two $1.1 billion agreements to purchase Illinois crops between 2020 and 2021.

The Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers Association and the Illinois Soybean Association signed a letter of intent for Taiwan to purchase between 96 million and 97 million bushels of soybeans. The Illinois Corn Marketing Board and the Taiwan Feed Industry Association signed a letter of intent for Taiwan to buy equivalent to 197 million bushels of corn and 0.5 million MT of corn co-products.

“This was a great opportunity for the delegation to see the quality and production process of Illinois soybeans,” Bennett said. “Taiwan is a prime location to send soybeans and corn, and I am happy to support Illinois farmers in the process.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) advanced legislation this week to strengthen protections for the Mahomet Aquifer, the primary water source for Central Illinois.

Bennett sponsored Senate Bill 2027, which would direct the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to identify potential hazards to groundwater and focus further study on those that pose a hazard to surface water and groundwater resources.

It would also establish the Pekin Metro Landfill Pilot Project to allow for the identification of potential and current threats to the water quality of the Mahomet Aquifer from the landfill.

“After the detrimental impacts of the Peoples Gas Leak, we want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to protect this vital resource,” Bennett said. “This bill will help us ensure that 500,000 people in Central Illinois know the water coming out of their faucets is clean and safe to drink.”

This proposal comes from the legislative recommendations of the Mahomet Aquifer Task Force, established last year to help maintain clean water and determine any action to protect the natural resource.

SB 2027 was approved by the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee and is scheduled for consideration in the Senate.

PEORIA – The Illinois Library Association presented State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) with the Robert R. McClarren Legislative Development Award at their annual conference on Tuesday.

The award is given to a worthy recipient from the Illinois library community who has contributed significantly to legislative development in Illinois.

“Serving a broad constituency, Bennett has balanced political ideology with the needs and opinions of his constituents,” said the Illinois Library Association’s release. “In his short time in the legislature, he has shown himself to be a strong supporter of education and library issues.”

Bennett was a Trustee on the Urbana Free Library board from December 2010 through September 2014, and more recently was the primary sponsor of legislation on local library appropriations.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Illinois Library Association,” Bennett said. “Libraries are essential to our communities and provide access to resources and information that give people vast opportunities to learn, make decisions and expand their imagination.”

The 2018 Illinois Library Association Annual Conference Awards Luncheon was held October 9 in Peoria.