SPRINGFIELD – To kick off Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair, State Senator Patrick Joyce hosted a roundtable with Congresswoman Cheri Bustos along with other agriculture professionals to discuss future ag policy.

“As a fourth generation farmer, I know how important ag policy is for farmers and consumers,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Farm bills govern nearly 100% of agricultural and rural policy for the next five years, which is why it’s so important for Congress to work with the ag community and our state legislators to get it right.”

The hour-long discussion was hosted and moderated by Joyce and Bustos. Representatives from the Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Department of Agriculture joined the discussion to share their thoughts about different portions of the current farm bill and what changes they believe should be made in the next federal farm bill, set to be filed and discussed in 2023.

The group discussed input costs, preserving federal crop insurance programs, and increasing market access for commodities, among other items important to the Illinois agriculture community.

“Family farmers across our state rely on farm bill programs for certainty and peace of mind during the growing season and beyond,” said Joyce. “We owe it to them to gather their input and use it to bring forth policy that works for growers and producers throughout Illinois.”

The current congressional farm bill was signed into law in 2018 and is set to expire in October of 2023.

KANKAKEE – State Senator Patrick Joyce joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to announce a combined $8.5 million in funding to revitalize local downtowns and main streets in Bradley, Bourbonnais and Peotone through the Rebuild Illinois Program.

“Every town should have a central area to safely gather that is unique to their community,” said Joyce (D- Essex). “The areas granted this funding will be able to enhance buildings and landscape while also creating safer conditions.”

DCEO announced a total of $106 million in capital grants awarded to revitalize 50 commercial corridors and main streets throughout Illinois. Three villages in the district Joyce represents were included in the funding: Bradley, Bourbonnais and Peotone. Funds have been allocated to improve the route 50 corridor in Bradley, reconstruct Peotone’s downtown street and to invest in Bourbonnais’s Community Campus Project- which offers a variety of activities and events for residents.  

“Not only will this funding improve the communities, but it will provide an economic boost and job growth,” Joyce said. “These projects are a win-win for our community as a whole.”

For more information or to see the full list of recipients, people can visit the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s website.

KANKAKEE – Illinois will institute a 10-day tax holiday on school supplies, and working families and teachers can expect to have reduced shopping costs ahead of the upcoming school year, thanks to support from State Senator Patrick Joyce.

“For educators and working families, back-to-school shopping can be a stressful time due to the costs of new items needed for every school year,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Instituting a tax holiday will help relieve burdensome costs in order to ensure students are prepared for the upcoming school year.”

The law lowers the state tax rate on school supplies and eligible clothes and footwear from 6.25% down to 1.25% for 10 days. This tax break began on Aug. 5 and will go through Aug. 14, 2022.

“For our students to be successful in school, it is important they are provided with new supplies each year,” said Joyce. “I urge all Illinois families and educators to make use of this tax break in order to contribute to our students’ success.”

Public Act 102-0700 took effect on April 19, 2022 and was fully implemented with the Fiscal Year 2023 state budget on July 1, 2022.

SOUTH CHICAGO HEIGHTS – To provide residents with a way to safely discard documents containing personal information, State Senator Patrick Joyce will host a free shred event in South Chicago Heights.

Joyce recognizes the importance of keeping individuals personal information protected and encourages community members to take advantage of the free shred event.

“Identity theft is an issue that plagues around 33% of Americans,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “By hosting this shred event, I urge residents to declutter their old personal documents and dispose of them securely so they do not fall victim to this issue.”

The event will be as follows:

• WHAT:  Free Shred Event
• WHEN: Thursday, August 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• WHERE:  South Chicago Heights Senior Center parking lot, 3317 Chicago Rd., South Chicago Heights, IL