State Rep. Kevin Schmidt’s Support Helped Clear the Way for New Touchette Regional Hospital in Cahokia Heights
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, IL…Illinois health officials have approved a construction project in Cahokia Heights to build a new state-of-the-art Touchette Regional Hospital (TRH). The $231 million investment in healthcare was supported by the TRH President Brad Goacher, community leaders, and legislators including State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt).
“This project reflects our commitment to expanding access to high-quality healthcare, and I’m proud to have joined community leaders in supporting this important investment in the health and safety for residents across the 114th District,” said Schmidt. “Hospitals are the backbone of healthy communities, and this new facility will expand critical services, improve patient care, and ensure more families have access to the medical treatment they need close to home.”
The new hospital will include 12 private medical/surgical beds, 48 adult behavioral health beds, 24 geriatric behavioral health beds, and 24 adolescent behavioral health beds. The adolescent behavioral health unit will be the only one south of Springfield, significantly expanding access to specialized mental healthcare in southern Illinois. Overall, the project will more than double Touchette Regional Hospital’s current adult and geriatric behavioral health bed capacity.
The new campus will also feature a modern Emergency Department, surgical services, gastroenterology, radiology, laboratory services, pulmonary testing, intensive outpatient behavioral health services, and other outpatient care designed to meet the growing healthcare needs of the region.
The new TRH will be located along Highway 255 at 1928 Sandy Ridge Road in Cahokia Heights.
Rep. Kevin Schmidt Says Illinois Needs Ethics Reform
MILLSTADT, IL…Two Illinois House Democrats have recently come under scrutiny for corruption and ethics violations, and State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is standing up and demanding transparency, accountability, and protection for victims. Schmidt says Illinois lawmakers have a duty to represent their constituents with honesty and professionalism.
“Members of the Illinois General Assembly must be held to the highest ethical standards,” said Schmidt. “Unfortunately, a pattern of corruption and ethical violations have riddled the House Democratic caucus, and the people of Illinois deserve answers. I support legislation that will hold lawmakers accountable and clean up Springfield.”
According to a Chicago Tribune report, House Speaker Emmanuel “Chris” Welch’s office slow-walked taking action regarding harassment allegations against disgraced former State Representative Harry Benton in 2023. As stated by the former staffer, the allegations were not met with meaningful action.
On July 7, criminal indictments were filed against State Representative Carol Ammons. These charges include wire fraud, making false statements to the FBI, and obstruction charges, as well as receiving alleged personal cash kickbacks. The case is ongoing.
Rep. Schmidt cosponsors strong policy reforms that will hold public officials accountable for ethics violations:
HB 1382 : Allows Legislative Inspector General to issue subpoenas without prior approval and requires the Executive and Legislative Ethics Commissions to release the reports to the public
HB 1554 : Prohibits use of campaign funds for a criminal defense related to misconduct in capacity as a public official, any claims of sexual harassment, or any claims of discrimination
HB 1727 : Suspends pension benefits to public officials if they’re charged with a felony connected to their public service, and permanently withholds these funds upon conviction
Democrat Fallout
When Speaker Welch first took the gavel, he promised a “new day” in the Illinois House following the downfall of his mentor and predecessor, Michael Madigan. Yet despite those promises of reform, it is becoming increasingly clear that they are ringing hollow. Read about the fallout here.
In the Community
State Champions representing Mascoutah, Illinois! Congratulations Paisley Crow on winning the Long Jump and Ellison Love on winning the 100M Dash & 100M Hurdles.
You both should be very proud of yourselves because the community of Mascoutah certainly is!
Property Tax Appeal Seminar
Thank you to everyone who attended my Property Tax Appeal Seminar in Millstadt!
Hopefully all of you gained better understanding of how to file an appeal against your property assessment.
Mobile Office Hours
Illinois American Water Programs Help Customers Experiencing Financial Hardship
Illinois American Water offers several programs to help residential customers experiencing financial hardship. Eligible Illinois American Water residential customers may qualify for a discount of up to 80% on their water and/or wastewater bill through the Income-Based Discount Program.
Income-Based Discount Program: Eligible customers can receive significant monthly bill savings (up to 80%) on water and wastewater bills. This program is administered in partnership with the Dollar Energy Fund. [1, 2]
H2O Help to Others Program: This program provides supplemental funding to help pay water utility bills. Customers experiencing hardship can apply for up to $200, and more in extenuating circumstances. This is administered via local Salvation Army agencies. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Payment Arrangements: Customers can work with customer service to break up a past-due balance into smaller, manageable installments to be paid over time. [1, 2]
Budget Billing: This is a free service that averages your annual water usage to provide a fixed, predictable monthly payment, preventing sudden seasonal spikes
To apply or find out which program best fits your needs, contact Illinois American Water customer service at (800) 422-2782 (available Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) or visit the American Water Customer Assistance Programs
Representative Kevin Schmidt represents the 114th District, which includes a portion of St. Clair County.
Not sure if you live in this district? Find your Representative here.
