I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween weekend filled with fun, family, and plenty of sweet treats! It was great to see so many families out enjoying the festivities and celebrating together.
As we head into a new month, I want to remind everyone that Election Day is tomorrow, November 3!
This week’s topics include:
- Touring Chevron’s Seneca Biodiesel Plant
- Keeping the Lights On After School
- Revisiting Illinois’ Energy Policy
- Senate Republicans Highlight Legislation to Strengthen Public Safety and Hold Criminals Accountable
- Election Day
- Beatification of Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Touring Chevron’s Seneca Biodiesel Plant
I recently had the opportunity to tour Chevron’s biodiesel plant in Seneca and learn more about its role in Illinois agriculture and renewable fuel production.
The facility produces up to 60 million gallons of biodiesel annually, providing a renewable alternative to traditional diesel fuel. Biodiesel is commonly blended with regular diesel, including B20, a blend containing 20% biodiesel. Its production also creates additional demand for agricultural products like soybeans, along with other feedstocks such as used cooking oil and distillers corn oil.
Chevron also operates a biodiesel facility in Danville, highlighting Illinois’s role in renewable fuel production and the connection between agriculture, manufacturing, and energy.
Keeping the Lights On After School
I recently had the opportunity to tour the Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County’s newest location in Fairbury and learn more about its afterschool programs. On October 22, the club joined thousands of sites across the country for Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide celebration highlighting the importance of out-of-school-time programs.
These programs provide children with a safe, engaging environment outside of school hours while supporting working families and helping students grow academically and socially. During the local celebration, students colored light bulbs and shared their hopes and plans for the future.
Quality afterschool programs help children discover their interests, build new skills, and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
Revisiting Illinois’ Energy Policy
In 2021, Illinois passed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which set a goal of transitioning the state to 100% clean energy by 2050 and established timelines for fossil fuel power plants to close. However, concerns remain about the law’s potential impact on electricity costs and grid reliability. Senate Bill 1235, which I co-sponsored, would repeal the mandatory closure dates for coal and natural gas power plants and allow new natural gas peaker plants to help meet electricity demand. In this video, I discuss the legislation and the need to ensure Illinois has reliable and affordable energy for families and businesses.
Senate Republicans Highlight Legislation to Strengthen Public Safety and Hold Criminals Accountable
Illinois Senate Republicans are highlighting a series of legislative proposals aimed at strengthening public safety, addressing serious criminal offenses, and improving accountability within the state’s criminal justice system.
The proposals come as concerns continue over repeat offenders, dangerous drug trafficking, and whether existing laws provide enough safeguards for Illinois communities.
Recent incidents have also renewed awareness of Illinois’ electronic monitoring system, including the fatal stabbing of Chicago Transit Authority employee Julian Mobley earlier this month. The man charged with his murder was reportedly assigned to electronic monitoring at the time of the attack, despite previous violations of his monitoring conditions.
The tragedy has prompted renewed calls for reforms, including from Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, who has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the current electronic monitoring system.
Illinois families deserve laws that protect their communities, hold serious criminal offenders accountable, and give law enforcement and the courts the tools necessary to respond to public safety threats.
Senate Republicans have introduced several legislative proposals addressing a broad range of public safety concerns, including:
- Senate Bill 4195: Requires revocation of pretrial release when a court finds probable cause that a defendant committed a new felony while on electronic monitoring as a condition of pretrial release.
- Senate Bill 3191: Increases penalties for unlawful fentanyl distribution and establishes additional penalties for using electronic communications to facilitate fentanyl trafficking.
- Senate Bill 3304: Expands eligibility for pretrial detention for certain serious drug offenses, including fentanyl crimes, and individuals charged with a third or subsequent aggravated DUI when specific public safety conditions are met.
- Senate Bill 3193: Increases penalties for human trafficking and related offenses to strengthen consequences for individuals who exploit others.
- Senate Bill 3125: Makes threatening violence against a childcare institution, day care center, or related event a Class 4 felony.
- Senate Bill 3861: Increases penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, including stronger consequences for repeat offenders.
Together, these proposals seek to address gaps in existing law, strengthen criminal accountability, and improve the legal response to serious offenses that threaten Illinois residents.
Protecting the public requires a comprehensive approach that addresses repeat criminal behavior, dangerous drug trafficking, threats of violence, and other serious offenses before more Illinois families are harmed.
Election Day
Tomorrow is Election Day! Make sure your voice is heard!
Beatification of Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
The Office of State Senator Chris Balkema would like to honor the Beatification of Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, an El Paso born Archbishop and the first American-born bishop declared “Blessed” by the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was born on May 8, 1895 in El Paso, Illinois to a farmer named Newt Sheen and his wife, Delia. He was raised in a devout Catholic family and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria on September 20, 1919. Throughout his priesthood, he became defined by his daily commitment to a Holy Hour in Eucharistic adoration and prayer. In 1951, Sheen brought his faith to millions of households in the United States with his television program, Life is Worth Living, which became the most viewed show on American television. Two months before his death, Pope John Paul II met Archbishop Sheen in New York, as Sheen tried to kneel before the pontiff, he was raised back to his feet, embraced, and the Pope said, “You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are a loyal son of the Church.” Archbishop Sheen died on December 9, 1979 in New York City. In 2002, Archbishop Sheen’s Cause for Canonization as a saint was officially opened under the Diocese of Peoria, earning him the title “Servant of God”. On June 28, 2012, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints recognized Archbishop Sheen’s life of “heroic virtue,” and he was promoted to the title “Venerable Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen.” In 2019, Pope Francis approved a miracle that was cause for his beatification which has taken place in St. Louis, MO on September 24, 2026.
Have a great rest of your week! If you ever need anything, please reach out to my office! We are happy to help! See locations and contacts below.
Yours truly,
Senator Chris Balkema