Will County Gazette

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) called for accountability and action on the LaSalle Veterans’ Home outbreak during a news conference at the facility held on Monday.

She also announced that she filed SB1445 that would empower the inspector general to subpoena former agency employees, who, while employed at the department had the authority to implement policies.

“I stand united with several veterans to demand accountability and passage of life-saving legislation in response to the deadly LaSalle Veterans' Home COVID-19 outbreak,” Rezin said. "The tragedy that occurred behind me should have never happened. The residence of the LaSalle Veterans' Home served and protected our nation when we needed it. But when they needed us to serve and protect them the state failed. Thirty-six veterans who were under the care of the state of Illinois tragically passed away because of failed leadership and mismanagement at the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Pritzker administration. The recent Office of Inspector General's report revealed a complete breakdown in state response.”

She told the press that according to one of the nurses of the facility, when asked about the response, she stated: “Nobody seemed to know what to do.”

“The inspector general's report revealed that the former director of Veterans Affairs and the former homes administrator refused to cooperate with the investigation,” Rezin continued. “How could the former director of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the head of the veterans' homes refuse to answer any question about the outbreak that cost the lives of 36 veterans? When I asked that question, I was told the inspector general does not have the power to compel former directors and employees to testify.”

Rezin revealed that she was outraged by what she learned, prompting her to file SB1445.

“My hope Is that this legislation will receive bipartisan support and quickly move through the general assembly. My previous legislation has been held in committee and each one deserves a chance to be heard. These bills would address many of the issues that were identified in this inspector general's report and also would fill in the blanks that was not covered in the report …There may only be a few weeks left of the spring’s legislative calendar, but there is plenty of time to do the right thing. There is still little time to pass these bills. There’s still time for us to help ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”

Rezin previously filed SB2251 which according to her “would finally implement the Quincy auditor's recommendations regarding timely on-site visits on facilities during outbreaks,” and SB 2252 “which would require the auditor general to conduct a truly independent investigation.”

She said SB1471 "would require outbreak drills to ensure that the facility and staff are prepared to know what to do when an outbreak does occur. No longer will they have to say nobody seemed to know what to do."