6 years, 1 month ago by Scott Hardy
Letter released Wednesday
Illinois's two US Senators have written a letter to Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, asking him to finalize a detailed plan of action on fixing the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy without delay.
US Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth released the letter Wednesday, in which they also ask Rauner’s Administration to accept the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ offer of technical help, including a site visit to the Vets Home. That would also include ongoing VA financial support and continued help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last month, the Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed four new cases of Legionnaires’ disease at the Vets Home. That brings the total number of confirmed legionella cases to 67 since 2015. 13 residents have died of Legionnaires' as well. Both Senators say in the letter that three of the four new cases can be traced to the Elmore Infirmary, calling that "indefensible".
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Erica Jeffries told a joint House and Senate panel Monday that the General Assembly would have a plan by May 1st. In the letter, both Senators say that's "insufficient". On Tuesday, Governor Rauner repeated that replacing the Home's plumbing system is an option, along with building new dormatories on the campus. He also said he was re-considering moving residents off campus. Rauner made the comments in Rockford, saying that there were challenges to moving residents, due to their health and advanced age. He had said in January, after staying at the Vets Home for a week, that he opposed any move, citing those same reasons.
The full letter from Senators Durbin and Duckworth is below.
