Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois state Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) is demanding answers in the Illinois Veterans’ Home saga that has left 33 veterans dead from COVID-19 at the LaSalle based facility.

“Illinoisans deserve to know what happened and what is being done to protect our veterans from further exposure,” Grant told the DuPage Policy Journal. “What we heard yesterday was a lot of excuses and very little ownership or accountability.”

In addition to the deaths, over the last several weeks dozens of other staffers and residents have also tested positive for the virus. State lawmakers recently convened a hearing on the matter which ended with many having as many questions as they did before the gathering.

More than 30 veterans died of COVID-19 at the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle. | carolynabooth/Pixabay

Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Linda Chapa LaVia will step down from that role, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said, Illinois.gov reported. Maj. Gen. Peter Nezamis will serve as interim director. He has been the assistant adjutant general - Air, Illinois National Guard.

Chief among the many questions left to answer, committee members are desperately trying to pinpoint a timeline for all the trouble and are already planning to meet again sometime this year. Since the outbreak began, Department of Veterans’ Affairs officials have already imposed several changes at the facility. Among these changes are retraining for staffers on using masks, replacement of hand sanitizer and improving employee screening for things like getting rapid COVID tests before individual shifts.

Grant argues such changes are only the start for all of what needs to happen at the facility.

“The COVID-19 outbreak needs to fully investigate and those responsible must be held accountable,” Grant told the DuPage Policy Journal. “Illinois veterans and their families deserve to know that we are doing all we can to keep them safe. We are hearing startling revelations about sloppy practices and non-compliance with mandates that led to more than 30 deaths at the facility.”

Recently elected to a second-term in the 42nd District, Grant is already pushing for legislators to meet for a normal, in-person session when the General Assembly once it convenes Jan. 13, pointing to a litany of pressing issues that include the La Salle crisis. 

“We need hearings and audits into the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) failings and the complete breakdown of COVID-19 protocols that resulted in over 30 deaths at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home,” Grant said. “We must have a layer of accountability, or we will continue to see an erosion of our rights and a further deterioration of service delivery by state agencies and departments.”