State Rep. Randy Frese, spokesperson for the Illinois House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement regarding House members being excluded from today’s hastily planned hearing:
“On November 10, 2020, Republican members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee signed on to a letter urging Chairperson Kifowit to convene the Illinois House Veterans’ Affairs Committee as soon as possible to investigate the spread of COVID-19 and related deaths happening in frightening numbers at Illinois run veterans’ homes. Rep. Kifowit assured me shortly after she received the letter that she was working to get a meeting together as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the next piece of news we received was a notice that the Illinois Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will be meeting today.Despite this all-too-familiar ‘go-it-alone’ approach by supermajority Democrats, we stand ready and willing to participate in a socially-distanced, in-person hearing in Chicago and/or Springfield as soon as possible. We are committed to ensuring top-quality healthcare and providing safe living facilities for America’s heroes living in our care.