On August 11, Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) announced that the Ottawa Fire Department will receive $713,849 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program. These funds help fire departments hire additional firefighters, rehire or retain firefighters facing budget-related layoffs, and recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.
Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) was announced as the 2023 winner of the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF)’s Democracy Award for Constituent Service. CMF’s Constituent Service Award honors Congressional offices for their outstanding work helping constituents navigate federal agencies. CMF selected Underwood for the award in recognition of the office’s service, responsiveness, and accessibility to Illinois’ 14th District.
Illinois state Rep. Jed Davis, R-75th, criticized Gov. J.B. Pritzker's veto of a bill permitting the construction of small nuclear reactors, highlighting its potential to offer affordable, reliable and safe energy for the state.