Carbondale Reporter

State Senator Terri Bryant voted on Nov. 8 to extend a criminal penalty enhancement designed to keep more felons convicted of gun crimes behind bars and off the streets. The statute was originally passed at the request of law enforcement to help them keep violent repeat offenders and gang members behind bars. However, House Bill 1440, which would extend the criminal penalty enhancement, appears to have stalled in the House of Representatives, putting the future of the law in jeopardy.

Senator Bryant expressed her concern over the lack of action in the House, stating that the partisan games being played could make the state less safe. She emphasized the importance of keeping violent gun criminals off the streets and ensuring the safety of the community.

In another legislative move, state lawmakers have taken an important step toward creating a stronger and more reliable power supply for Illinois by passing House Bill 2473. This bill lifts the ban on next generation nuclear reactors less than 300 MW, allowing for the construction and development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The Illinois Emergency Management Agency Office of Homeland Security will be responsible for establishing rules for reactor decommissioning, environmental monitoring, and emergency preparedness. The bill also authorizes the Governor to commission a new study to research the state's role in guiding the development of new nuclear technology.

House Bill 2473 received overwhelming support, with a 44-7 vote in the Senate and a 98-8 vote in the House of Representatives. It will now be sent to the Governor's desk for consideration.

In other news, an original edition of the Gettysburg Address will be on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) in Springfield. President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a national cemetery for Union soldiers killed in the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Gettysburg Address will be on display from November 17 to November 28, and admission to the ALPLM will be free on November 19, the 160th anniversary of Lincoln's iconic speech. Visitors will also have the option of paying $5 to see the document without touring the rest of the museum.

For more information, visit http://www.PresidentLincoln.Illinois.gov/gettysburgaddress.

The original article was published on November 14, 2023, and provides updates on recent legislative actions and a historic exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.

Click this link to access more information: https://senatorbryant.com/2023/11/14/bryants-bulletin-november-14-2023/