News

School visitation law reminder, employers must provide leave for parents Students are back in school, and parent-teacher conferences are around the corner, which is why the State of Illinois is reminding parents of its school visitation law. Since 1993, Illinois has had a law providing for unpaid leave for employees to attend school conferences or classroom activities of their children when such events cannot be rescheduled during non-work hours. The School Visitation Rights Act stresses the importance of and promotes the involvement of parents in their children's schooling. A school visitation rights leave form is available on the Illinois Department of Labor's website: https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/forms/Documents/School%20Visitation%20Leave%20Form.PDF. September is National Preparedness Month in Illinois September is National Preparedness Month, which seeks to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and local emergency managers are encouraging Illinoisans to take time to prepare for potential emergencies at homes, at work, and in the community. Having a plan that includes where to go and how to communicate during disasters, building an emergency supply kit and learning lifesaving skills could help your family, friends, neighbors and employees during a disaster. Here are five steps your family can take to be prepared: • Save Early for a Disaster: Make sure you have financial savings should a disaster or emergency occur. • Learn Lifesaving Skills: Learn skills such as CPR and first aid techniques so that you can provide aid until help arrives. • Make a Plan for When a Disaster Strikes: Make a plan for your family, so you all know what to do when a disaster strikes. • Teach Youth how to Prepare for Disasters: Get kids involved in building their own emergency kit. Make sure to include your child's favorite stuffed animals, board games, books or music in their emergency kit to comfort them in a disaster. • Get Involved in Community Preparedness: Check in with your neighbors to see how you can help each other before, during and after a storm. You can also bolster your community's resiliency efforts by joining a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERTs train volunteers to prepare for various emergencies and disasters.

To celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) joined Thomason Express Trucking Company to learn more about the Southern Illinois-based business and raise awareness about the critical role of truck drivers.

In news for the 59th District, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) visited local businesses, surveyed flooding damage in Old Shawneetown and shared exciting news concerning the Tamms Correctional Center.

State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) hopes the Tamms Minimum Security Unit will see renewed purpose under his legislation that was signed in to law on Friday, August 23. House Bill 210 seeks to identify potential uses of the currently-unoccupied Tamms Correctional Center.

This week, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) joined a local business for an expansion announcement, spoke with representatives from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and attended the Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit.

State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) has been spending time in District, recently touring the Marion Wellness School Health Center, attending a ribbon cutting ceremony in Carbondale and meeting with constituents.

State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) welcomed local businesses and consumers to his second-annual Southern Illinois Expo over the weekend.

State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) is partnering with several other state officials to host a free Senior Health Fair on July 24 at the Carbondale Civic Center.

State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) welcomed dozens of area children and their parents to his first-ever Kids Fishing Derby on July 13.

This week, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) hosted his annual Veteran’s Advisory Committee in Marion, bringing together veterans and veteran advocates from around the 59th District to discuss issues impacting our servicemen and women.

The spring legislative session came to an end on June 2 with lawmakers taking up debate on a number of controversial issues, including a devastating measure that expands legal abortions in Illinois and the disappointing approval of 2.4 percent cost-of-living adjustment to legislators’ base salaries. State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) voted against the $1,600-per-year salary increase when it ca

On June 2, Senate lawmakers passed a capital infrastructure package that directs hundreds of millions in funding toward projects in Southern Illinois, a balanced budget that includes critical funding for the Cairo river port terminal and gaming expansion legislation that enables the Walkers Bluff winery to move forward with resort expansion.

On May 31, Democrat lawmakers voted to pass a controversial measure that would expand abortion coverage and access in Illinois.

Despite the looming end of the regularly scheduled spring legislative session with its scheduled May 31 adjournment rapidly approaching, it appears a great deal of work remains on several controversial issues.

Seeking to repurpose the currently-unoccupied Tamms Correctional Center, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) and Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) sponsored legislation to create the Tamms Minimum Security Unit Task Force.

State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) was recently appointed to serve on the Midwestern Legislative Conference Economic Development Committee, made up of state and provincial legislators from across the Midwest and Canada.

With only ten remaining days in the spring legislative session calendar, lawmakers are working earnestly to move legislation before the General Assembly adjourns on May 31.

As lawmakers prepare to return to Springfield to take up the final weeks of spring legislative session, Senator Fowler (R-Harrisburg) spent time in District hosting mobile office hours, touring a local business, and visiting with area students in the classroom.

After six weeks of continued session, lawmakers returned to their Districts this week for the scheduled two-week Easter break in the spring session calendar. Lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol on April 30.

Seeking to bring opportunity to the region, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) welcomed representatives from Two Rivers Fisheries to Cairo to discuss future economic development in Southern Illinois.

The Illinois Senate supported economic development in Southern Illinois by passing legislation sponsored by State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) authorizing a property transfer from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale to the City of Carterville.

Citizens and advocacy groups from across the state crowded the Capitol during the week, voicing their support or opposition to hundreds of bills currently being considered by lawmakers.

On March 19, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) returned to Springfield to continue with legislative session, attending a number of hearings ahead of the March 22 deadline to move Senate bills out of committees.

Lawmakers returned to Springfield this week, returning to the Capitol for a full schedule of committees.

After last year’s impressive turnout, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) is partnering with the Harrisburg and Southern Illinois Regional Chambers of Commerce to host the Second Annual Southern Illinois Made Expo on July 27 and 28.