ISSUES

Clean Water & Environment

  • Scott Bennett passed bipartisan legislation protecting the primary drinking water source for Champaign and Vermilion County, the Mahomet aquifer, from pollution. 
  • Scott Bennett was named the lawmaker of the year for his work relating to soil & water conservation by The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
  • When Scott learned that toxic coal ash was seeping into the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, he got to work. He worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass the Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act. This act will protect our water and ensure polluters, not taxpayers, are on the hook for cleanup costs.
  • Scott is a proud co-sponsor of the Clean Energy Jobs Act which will provide thousands of good-paying jobs across Illinois, and put Illinois on the path to using 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Criminial Justice

  • Scott passed bipartisan legislation ending the statute of limitations for victims of sexual assault, ensuring that an arbitrary deadline does not interfere with those seeking justice.
  • As a former Champaign County Assistant States Attorney, Scott knows that it is difficult for victims of a crime to retell their stories. That is why he passed legislation allowing comfort canines to enter the courtroom to support victims.
  • Scott passed legislation that completely modernizes and standardizes the state’s responses to a report of a sexual assault.  It mandates training for 911 operators and first responding officers.  It requires hospitals to safeguard and preserve rape kit evidence and empowers survivors to ensure that their story can be told.

Agriculture & Rural Issues

  • The Covid-19 pandemic has hit our farmers hard. Scott worked to secure millions in assistance to ensure our farms can stay afloat during these uncertain times. 
  • Scott knows that student loan debt is one of the biggest deterrents for new farmers. Scott passed a resolution that asked Congress to add farming to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. 
  • To bring educational and employment opportunities to the district, Scott secured hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to fund downstate broadband access.  
  • Scott is a 5th generation Central Illinoisian and his family has farmed the same acreage for generations. Because of the great work he has done for farmers across Illinois he was called a "true friend of agriculture" by the Champaign County Farm Bureau.
  • Those who live and farm in rural communities often have difficulty accessing mental health resources. To combat this, Scott helped launch a hotline that provides farmers with mental health support to these communities.

     

    “While many legislators lack the same understanding, Senator Bennett acts as a true champion for agriculture … using his knowledge to ensure that his colleagues recognize the importance of agriculture in Illinois”. 

     

    -Champaign County Farm Bureau

Healthcare & Community Support

  • When there was a nationwide shortage, Scott was able to procure and distribute thousands of masks and face shields to first responders, essential workers, and front line workers in the district so they had the resources they needed to keep working.
  • Choosing between paying for prescriptions or putting food on a table is not a choice families should have to make. Scott sponsored and passed legislation that reduces the cost of life-saving prescription drugs-like insulin. 
  • Scott introduced legislation that will make pharmacies provide prescription price transparency so consumers can make the best choices for their families.

Revitalizing the Central Illinois Economy

  • Scott is proud to be supported by job creators like the Illinois Manufacturers Association, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, AFL-CIO, and other organizations.  
  • The Covid-19 pandemic has left many small businesses crippled. Scott was able to help small businesses in our community secure grants from the state to help stay float.
  • Scott secured a casino location in Danville that will provide hundreds of good-paying jobs in Vermilion County and help get Danville and their economy back on track. 

Education

  • The 52nd is home to Parkland College, the University of Illinois, and the Danville Area Community College. During his time in office, Scott has secured hundreds of millions of dollars to fund these institutions.
  • One substantial barrier to higher education achievement is student loan debt. Scott is tackling this issue by increasing funding for MAP grants (monetary award program) which provides financial assistance to lower-income families.
  • To protect our college students from predatory lending practices Scott passed the Student Loan Bill of Rights, which ensures banks are transparent about all terms at the time of the loan.
  • State education funding should be about equity, not politics or property taxes. Scott sponsored a bill to make sure downstate school districts get their fair share, so our students can succeed. 
  • We need to promote careers in agriculture in our schools throughout the state as it provides thousands of Illinois residents with good-paying jobs. Scott passed legislation that requires the state board of education to develop an agricultural education pre-service internship program which helps prepare high school and college students with a career aimed towards agriculture. 

Corruption

  • Scott is an independent voice for our communities; he has one of the most bipartisan voting records in the senate. Scott is not afraid to stand up and do what is best for the 52nd.  
  • Illinois needs a leader who will stand up to party bosses. That’s why Scott has voted to place term limits on legislative leaders.
  • Scott introduced legislation to prevent public officials from working as lobbyists while in office and for two years after leaving office.

  • Scott Bennett passed bipartisan legislation protecting the primary drinking water source for Champaign and Vermilion County, the Mahomet aquifer, from pollution. 
  • Scott Bennett was named the lawmaker of the year for his work relating to soil & water conservation by The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
  • When Scott learned that toxic coal ash was seeping into the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, he got to work. He worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass the Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act. This act will protect our water and ensure polluters, not taxpayers, are on the hook for cleanup costs.
  • Scott is a proud co-sponsor of the Clean Energy Jobs Act which will provide thousands of good-paying jobs across Illinois, and put Illinois on the path to using 100% renewable energy by 2050. 
  • Scott passed bipartisan legislation ending the statute of limitations for victims of sexual assault, ensuring that an arbitrary deadline does not interfere with those seeking justice.
  • As a former Champaign County Assistant States Attorney, Scott knows that it is difficult for victims of a crime to retell their stories. That is why he passed legislation allowing comfort canines to enter the courtroom to support victims.
  • Scott passed legislation that completely modernizes and standardizes the state’s responses to a report of a sexual assault.  It mandates training for 911 operators and first responding officers.  It requires hospitals to safeguard and preserve rape kit evidence and empowers survivors to ensure that their story can be told.
  • The Covid-19 pandemic has hit our farmers hard. Scott worked to secure millions in assistance to ensure our farms can stay afloat during these uncertain times. 
  • Scott knows that student loan debt is one of the biggest deterrents for new farmers. Scott passed a resolution that asked Congress to add farming to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. 
  • To bring educational and employment opportunities to the district, Scott secured hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to fund downstate broadband access.  
  • Scott is a 5th generation Central Illinoisian and his family has farmed the same acreage for generations. Because of the great work he has done for farmers across Illinois he was called a "true friend of agriculture" by the Champaign County Farm Bureau.
  • Those who live and farm in rural communities often have difficulty accessing mental health resources. To combat this, Scott helped launch a hotline that provides farmers with mental health support to these communities.

     

    “While many legislators lack the same understanding, Senator Bennett acts as a true champion for agriculture … using his knowledge to ensure that his colleagues recognize the importance of agriculture in Illinois”. 

     

    -Champaign County Farm Bureau

  • When there was a nationwide shortage, Scott was able to procure and distribute thousands of masks and face shields to first responders, essential workers, and front line workers in the district so they had the resources they needed to keep working.
  • Choosing between paying for prescriptions or putting food on a table is not a choice families should have to make. Scott sponsored and passed legislation that reduces the cost of life-saving prescription drugs-like insulin. 
  • Scott introduced legislation that will make pharmacies provide prescription price transparency so consumers can make the best choices for their families.
  • Scott is proud to be supported by job creators like the Illinois Manufacturers Association, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, AFL-CIO, and other organizations.  
  • The Covid-19 pandemic has left many small businesses crippled. Scott was able to help small businesses in our community secure grants from the state to help stay float.
  • Scott secured a casino location in Danville that will provide hundreds of good-paying jobs in Vermilion County and help get Danville and their economy back on track. 
  • The 52nd is home to Parkland College, the University of Illinois, and the Danville Area Community College. During his time in office, Scott has secured hundreds of millions of dollars to fund these institutions.
  • One substantial barrier to higher education achievement is student loan debt. Scott is tackling this issue by increasing funding for MAP grants (monetary award program) which provides financial assistance to lower-income families.
  • To protect our college students from predatory lending practices Scott passed the Student Loan Bill of Rights, which ensures banks are transparent about all terms at the time of the loan.
  • State education funding should be about equity, not politics or property taxes. Scott sponsored a bill to make sure downstate school districts get their fair share, so our students can succeed. 
  • We need to promote careers in agriculture in our schools throughout the state as it provides thousands of Illinois residents with good-paying jobs. Scott passed legislation that requires the state board of education to develop an agricultural education pre-service internship program which helps prepare high school and college students with a career aimed towards agriculture. 
  • Scott is an independent voice for our communities; he has one of the most bipartisan voting records in the senate. Scott is not afraid to stand up and do what is best for the 52nd.  
  • Illinois needs a leader who will stand up to party bosses. That’s why Scott has voted to place term limits on legislative leaders.
  • Scott introduced legislation to prevent public officials from working as lobbyists while in office and for two years after leaving office.
PO Box 1383 Champaign, IL
61824-1383

Paid for by Bennett for Senate