SPRINGFIELD – Educators in rural Illinois would have a means of advising one another and recommending changes to Illinois education policy to help their communities under a plan by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) to form a Rural School Advisory Council.

“Education is not one-size-fits-all,” Koehler said. “It is crucial that we ensure that educators from our rural communities have a seat at the table and a say in the decisions, because they know how we can best serve rural schools through meaningful education legislation.”

The council would provide a platform where educators have the ability to exchange thoughtful dialogue concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural districts and to provide policy recommendations to the State.

“Students all across Illinois deserve to have the same opportunities when it comes to their education, whether they live in the suburbs, our southern-most cities or anywhere in between,” Koehler said. “The establishment of this council will be an important step in that direction.”

SB 1819 is slated for consideration before the full Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – Disabled veterans, returning service members and those who are terminally ill would not need to get a trapping license under a plan by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that advanced out of the Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday.

Koehler is the sponsor of Senate Bill 1533, which provides a trapping license exemption for those groups.

“Our servicemen and women sacrifice so much every day on our behalf, and this legislation is a small step toward showing them that we have not forgotten that sacrifice,” Koehler said. “I am proud to work on this and similar measures that are aimed at providing our veterans with the resources they need and deserve.”

The legislation is now scheduled to be considered before the whole Senate.

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) is celebrating the Illinois State Board of Education’s “Rock the FAFSA” week in an effort to encourage students in the 46th District and across the state to take advantage of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

“With the cost of higher education becoming less affordable with every passing year, it’s important that students considering college make use of this great option,” said Koehler. “FAFSA makes college more attainable, and I highly encourage all students to take the fullest advantage of this program.”

ISBE is celebrating “Rock the FAFSA” week to remind students there is still time to submit their applications and to provide resources to students who may have questions or need help when filling out the necessary forms.

“I want to make sure that every high school senior in Illinois is able to access the aid that they qualify for, but that won’t happen if the students don’t take the time to apply,” Koehler said.

Illinois currently has the third-highest FAFSA application rate in the country. For more information about FAFSA or to begin an application, visit fafsa.gov.

PEORIA – Peoria County is set to receive over $1 million in funding for construction projects over the next three years, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) announced today.

“The Peoria area will see jobs for the next few years and reliable infrastructure long into the future as a result of this funding,” said Koehler. “Good infrastructure is the foundation we build the future on.”

The funds are being distributed as part of the 2019 Rebuild Illinois construction plan and will be distributed in six installments over the three-year period. Road and bridge improvements, new sidewalks and bike paths, or upgraded traffic signals are just a few of the changes that the Peoria area may see as a result of this funding.

Projects will be decided upon and managed at a local level, and will be overseen by the Illinois Department of Transportation.