Dear Friend, 

As the Spring legislative session winds to its scheduled adjournment on May 31, much work remains to be done. However, this week an encouraging note of bipartisan compromise was struck as a funding mechanism was found to provide financial assistance to the state's many social and human services providers for the 1st time in the 11 month long budget impasse. 

The bill, SB 2038, provides $700 million in emergency funding for mental illness and mental health programs, housing, and medications. It contains funding for teen parent services and programs to reduce infant mortality.

Further funding items in SB 2038 include meals on wheels for senior citizens, funding for assistance for victims of sexual assault, autism research and awareness, veterans rehabilitation services, independent living centers, senior citizen health assistance programs, and funding for dental care for persons with disabilities.

We have a lot of work to do to get a full budget, but I am hopeful that the bipartisan compromise that was reached this week on these critical items is a sign of things to come as we approach the adjournment date of May 31.

Support for Illinois Coal - Press Conference 
I was happy to join a press conference with fellow southern Illinois legislators in support of Illinois coal at the Capitol this week. My husband’s father raised 7 children on a coal miner’s salary. Good paying jobs for southern Illinois are one positive aspect of coal, but coal is an important part of Southern Illinois’ history.

 I will be signing on to sponsor legislation to create an incentive program for companies regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission to put scrubbers on existing coal fired energy facilities that we have. This action would make Illinois much more competitive. Statistics show when Illinois burns clean coal it burns the hottest and cleanest, and Illinois coal is 3 times as powerful as coal mined in western states.

To view my comments during the press conference please click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZmThHT61PA

Sportsman's Caucus Grants
As a member of the board of directors for the Illinois Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus, I am proud to have awarded several grants on behalf of the Sportsman’s caucus to sporting organizations in the 115th district

This year I am very proud to be able to support young people involved in fishing and trapshooting clubs at southern Illinois high schools. The groups that received awards this year are all deserving of extra support, especially in these tough budget times.

Last week I awarded three $200 grants from the Illinois Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus to Trapshooting Teams at Trico High School, DuQuoin High School, and Pinckneyville High School last week. 

The money is granted by the Illinois Sportsman’s Caucus to help support the local clubs’ activities. No taxpayer dollars are used to
award the grants.

Pictured here with Rep. Bryant is Pinckneyville High School Principal Dustin Foutch

Terri presents a check to DuQuoin Trapshooting Team Coach Robert Huntley,

Terri presents a check to Trico High School's Trapshooting Coach and team, pictured L to R: Trap members Keegan Brooks, Jackson Doerner, Head Coach Chris Doerner and Rep. Terri Bryant.

Stay Connected!

As the campaign season begins, you will be receiving email from [email protected] You can always contact me there or you can now call my campaign office at 618-204-5868.

My legislative office in Mt. Vernon is staffed Monday through Friday and my legislative office  in Murphysboro is staffed Monday through Thursday, each from 8:30 to 4:00 PM. You can find me on Facebook to keep up with my travels throughout the district. You can email me directly at [email protected] or send me a message through the contact form on my website at www.repbryant.com.

Springfield….State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) voted in favor today of a stopgap legislative measure to provide approximately $700 million in funding for providers of various human and social services. Bryant says SB 2038 is necessary to provide assistance to human and social service providers across the State of Illinois that have gone without reimbursement from the state during the 11 month long budget impasse.

 “Today, I am pleased to announce my support for this critical funding,” Bryant said. “We must remember that this is just one step toward helping our human and social services providers, but it is important to get this money to the folks that need it the most as soon as possible. I was happy to support that effort by voting for this stopgap funding today.”

SB 2038 includes funding for mental illness and mental health programs, housing, and medications. It contains funding for teen parent services and programs to reduce infant mortality.

Further funding items in SB 2038 include meals on wheels for senior citizens, funding for assistance for victims of sexual assault, autism research and awareness, veterans rehabilitation services, independent living centers, senior citizen health assistance programs, and funding for dental care for persons with disabilities.

“We have a lot of work to do to get a full budget,” Bryant said. “I’m hopeful that the bipartisan compromise that was reached today is a sign of things to come as we approach the adjournment date of May 31.”

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State Representative Terri Bryant Announces Re-Election Campaign

Murphysboro….115th District State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has announced she will seek re-election to another term in the Illinois House of Representatives. Bryant is currently in her 2nd term as 115th District State Representative.

Though in her second term, Bryant is still considered a legislative freshman. She was previously sworn in to fill out the remainder of former State Rep. Mike Bost’s term upon his election to the US Congress in 2014. Bryant   says her first full term as State Representative has been a challenging, but rewarding learning experience. 

“The real honor in this job is serving my fellow Southern Illinoisans as their Representative in Springfield,” Bryant said. “The State of Illinois is facing challenges of enormous magnitude at this point in our history, and we need to focus on passing every measure we can to grow our economy.” 

Bryant says her legislative accomplishments so far have included passing 4 bills into law, having received no opposition to any of her legislation from ruling Democrats. Bryant says she is proud of her legislative record.

“The legislation I’ve sponsored and passed has helped cut the size of government, protect jobs for our service men and women, and incentivize industry to reinvest in Illinois,” Bryant said.

Bryant also reflected on some of the more challenging issues she has encountered during this spring’s legislative session, which has bled into a 4 month overtime session and no budget agreement. 

“I’ve been discouraged by the lack of willingness by Chicago Democrats that control the General Assembly to admit that the way they have run Illinois government for the last 12 years has caused most of our problems,” Bryant said.

Illinois is facing a growing budget deficit and currently owes vendors $7 billion in unpaid bills. Bryant says she will keep urging the Democrat leaders of the General Assembly to work to help solve Illinois’ fiscal issues.

“Our state’s financial problems are a direct result of Chicago Democrats’ mismanagement of taxpayer money and the abuse of their total control of Illinois government for more than a decade,” Bryant said. “When I win re-election, I will continue representing my district to the best of my ability. I am going to focus on encouraging private businesses to invest and grow in Illinois so we can expand our tax base and provide some much needed relief to hard working middle class families.”

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Springfield….State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) received unanimous support for the second piece of legislation she passed through the House of Representatives this week. HB 3797 would help widows and widowers cut the cost of expensive transfers of car titles. Bryant says this legislation was drafted at the request of a constituent who experienced the hardship upon the death of her husband.

“I introduced HB 3797 to help cut down on the expensive transfer of a vehicle title when someone’s spouse dies. Right now, this costs the surviving spouse $95. I worked hard with the Secretary of State’s office and we were able to drop that fee down to $15, making it much more affordable,” Bryant said.

Bryant says she will now focus on gaining support from the Illinois Senate and ultimately moving the bill to the Governor’s desk.

“This legislation offers a much needed cut to costs experienced by individuals dealing with the death of a spouse,” Bryant said. “It also responds to a specific concern expressed by a constituent. As legislators, I think we have a responsibility to be proactive when constituents come to us with a hardship.”

To contact Rep. Bryant, please visit www.repbryant.com and follow the Contact link. You may also call her district office at (618) 242-8115 or email her at [email protected]

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