Murphy participates in Mayors for Meals at the Barn

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) helped raise awareness for senior hunger today by participating in Mayors for Meals at the Schaumburg Barn.

Local mayors, government officials and other community representatives served nearly 50 meals to local seniors in the 28th District.

“At a time when the governor of Illinois and the president of the United States are slashing life-saving programs like Meals on Wheels in our local communities, neighborhood volunteer events like Mayors for Meals are incredibly important,” Murphy said. “As a community, we must continue to be a strong and ardent voice for the most vulnerable in our society.”

Mayors for Meals is a component of the National March for Meals campaign sponsored by the Meals on Wheels Association of America.

The Schaumburg Barn senior nutrition program organizes a March for Meals event every year to help generate public awareness, volunteers and donations to provide healthy food to vulnerable seniors.

The Schaumburg Barn, operated by the Village of Schaumburg, offers food, fun and fellowship to senior citizens and people with disabilities. The Barn is open 10 a.m – 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To learn more about the Barn’s nutrition programs and other senior services visit www.villageofschaumburg.com.

Murphy wants more women on corporate boards

SPRINGFIELD – Only about 18 percent of Illinois companies have women on their corporate boards, despite a recent study by the Credit Suisse Report that shows that companies with women on their boards tend to be less risk-averse and have higher income growth.

State Senator Laura Murphy is authoring Senate Resolution 140, which encourages more equitable and diverse gender representation on corporate boards and urges corporations in Illinois to increase the number of women on their boards.

“Women are a vital part of our nation’s workforce, and it’s past time for them to be represented at the highest level in their companies,” Murphy said.

Murphy is sponsoring the initiative on behalf of Women on Boards 2020, which aims to have company boards made up of at least 20 percent women by 2020.

Murphy’s resolution passed a key Senate committee this week and is now headed to the full chamber.

Rauner administration presents Senate with status quo

SPRINGFIELD – Over the course of a week, Illinois Senate committees asked more than a dozen of Governor Rauner’s cabinet directors to identify budget cuts to reduce the $5 billion budget hole proposed by the governor earlier this year.

At the end of the week, Rauner’s administration was unable to identify a single dollar in savings.

“The Rauner administration failed to provide the Senate any budget cuts nor did he provide his staff with any direction on cuts to help resolve this two-year budget impasse,” said Laura Murphy, a Des Plaines Democrat.

Previously, the Senate had constructed a budget and reform package containing a dozen proposals. After nearly half the proposal passed the Senate with bipartisan support, the governor threatened Republican members of the Senate with political retribution if they supported the remainder of the package, effectively killing the deal.

“Roughly $11 million is added to the budget deficit every day the state is without a budget,” Murphy said. “It’s past time for the governor to demonstrate some leadership and join us in negotiating a balanced budget that protects our most vulnerable citizens.”

Murphy looks to help residents secure home soundproofing

SPRINGFIELD – The office of State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is working to help contact eligible Park Ridge homeowners in efforts to help them soundproof their home.  Senator Murphy’s office was recently provided over 100 letters to 28th District constituents in Park Ridge from the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) offering sound proofing that went unanswered.

The Residential Sound Insulation Program (RSIP) is a program instituted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission to help reduce aircraft noise coming into eligible homes by installing acoustical mitigation equipment at zero cost to the homeowners. Park Ridge homeowners are eligible under phase 17 of the Residential Sound Insulation Program.

“The Residential Sound Insulation Program (RSIP) is a preventative and cost-effective way to mitigate noise pollution from the effects of O’Hare.  I implore all eligible residents to take advantage of this public service program,” Murphy said.

Phase 17 closes very soon.  If you believe you have received a letter from the CDA outlining your eligibility for soundproofing, please contact the CDA program office at (773) 894-3626 no later than March 17 to begin the process of soundproofing your home.