CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci is encouraging residents to nominate an Illinoisan who has shown a fierce commitment to conservation efforts for the Illinois Conservation Foundation’s 2024 Outdoor Hall of Fame.

“Let’s celebrate a member of our community who goes above and beyond to protect our environment,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “Just last year, we had a resident from Champaign awarded with the state’s highest outdoor honor.”

Each year, a select few outdoor sportsmen and women, as well as conservationists and preservationists, will have the state’s highest outdoor honor bestowed upon them. Only those individuals who truly have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources or outdoor recreational opportunities will be eligible for induction into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame. Previous Champaign-area inductees include David Monk and Glen Sanderson.

DANVILLE – To honor the life and legacy of the late Senator Scott Bennett, State Senator Paul Faraci joined elected officials, community members, as well as friends and family of Scott Bennett at a memorial to name portions of I-74 the "Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial Highway."

“Senator Bennett continues to be remembered as a leader in our communities who dedicated his life to serving the people of Illinois,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “He will forever be missed, but his legacy will never be forgotten. This is one way we can continue to honor him for decades to come.”

Last spring, Faraci passed Senate Joint Resolution 32 designating I-74 from U.S. Route 45 in Champaign to the Indiana state line as the “Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial Highway.” Today, the Illinois Department of Transportation placed signs along the interstate in his honor.

Scott Bennett joined the Senate as the unanimous choice to fill the vacancy in the 52^nd State Senate District in 2015. Since the beginning of his career, Senator Bennett dedicated his service to spurring economic development, supporting family farming, providing Illinois’ students with greater opportunities, and promoting bipartisanship across the state. As chair of the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, he was a champion for higher education facilities by advocating for funding and student rights.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci’s measure to give veterans and first responders access to mental health providers of their choice passed the Senate.

“With a nationwide shortage of mental health professionals, we shouldn’t be limiting their ability to practice in our state,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “This measure will expand access for veterans and first responders who want to receive mental health treatment from the licensed professional of their choice.”

The measure was brought to Senator Faraci because a mental health provider was sued for providing health care services to a firefighter under a non-compete clause. These clauses are common when a mental health professional leaves their place of employment; often times their contract contains a non-compete clause, leaving them unable to provide services within a 50-mile radius for two years. Police, fire and veteran organizations often want to contract mental health professionals that have a shared background or an establishment of trust with the organization, making these non-compete clauses detrimental to mental health care access for first responders and veterans. In the 52nd District, a non-compete clause would not only prevent a mental health counselor from providing services in Champaign, but it would also stop them from providing services in surrounding communities, including Urbana, Rantoul and Danville.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senators Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) and Doris Turner (D-Springfield) released the following statement in response to the United States Postal Service’s recommendations to downsize facilities in Central Illinois and move mail service to larger cities:

“We can’t risk our mail being diverted to St. Louis and Chicago. Moving local mail to post offices far from Central Illinois will not only slow down service, but also create life threatening hardships for those who rely on reliable mail service for their medication needs. Under these recommendations, Springfield, Champaign and surrounding communities will be directly impacted.

“Additionally, jobs will be lost or displaced, hurting our local economy, uprooting families and the increased wait times for mail will negatively impact our small businesses.

“If the Postmaster General wants to make sweeping changes that hurt our community in the name of ‘efficiency,’ we hope to see the evidence to back up the claims.”