SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- Republican lawmakers continue to call for an independent investigation of the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans鈥� Home.
Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) demanded action today while standing outside of the Veterans鈥� Home where 36 residents died. The Republican said she鈥檚 outraged by what took place within the walls of the facility last year.
Rezin explained a proper response to the deadly outbreak isn鈥檛 about politics. She stressed it鈥檚 past time for an independent investigation to ensure safety of Illinois鈥� veterans.
鈥淭he tragedy that occurred behind me should have never happened,鈥� said Rezin. 鈥淭he residents of the LaSalle Veterans鈥� Home served and protected our nation when we needed it. But when they needed us to serve and protect them, the state failed.鈥�
Rezin listed off four different bills she filed earlier this year to fix problems within the Department of Veterans鈥� Affairs. Although, they鈥檙e all stuck in the Senate Assignments Committee.
鈥淭he fact that these potential life-saving bills have been essentially blocked is embarrassing and disrespectful to the lives of the veterans that we lost in the LaSalle Veterans鈥� Home,鈥� Rezin said.
While there鈥檚 only a few weeks left in session, Rezin explained there鈥檚 still time left to do the right thing. She argued it鈥檚 important these proposals pass in order to make sure an outbreak like this never happens again.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no excuse for the negligence鈥�
Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) said lawmakers have tried to pass bills to address some of the issues in the facility. However, he feels there is resistance from the Pritzker administration.
Welter noted the recent Inspector General鈥檚 report showed the Illinois Department of Public Health and Department of Veterans鈥� Affairs should hold accountability for the mistakes. Yet, he says Pritzker needs to be held accountable for the mistakes.
鈥淥ur goal is not to make this political,鈥� said Welter. 鈥淏ut to ensure that a year from now, five years from now, we鈥檙e not standing in front of another veterans鈥� home talking about another failure of this state. We have to get it right for our veterans. We鈥檙e committed to that, and we are not gonna stop until we finally produce legislation.鈥�
Welter argued lawmakers cannot continue to ignore this situation and expect it to go away.
Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) stressed that as a veteran himself, it鈥檚 infuriating to see what happened at the facility.
鈥淯nfortunately the state of Illinois failed them and their families,鈥� said Wilcox. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no excuse for the negligence shown by this administration.鈥�
