La Salle VA home deaths behind Swanson’s qualifications bill

March 02, 2022 at 5:00 pm CST

Illinois State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) joined by several veteran organizations, who stand united to call for accountability and the passage of life-saving legislation in response to the deadly LaSalle Veterans’ Home COVID-19 outbreak at the Illinois Veterans home in La Salle on Monday May 5, 2021. — Illinois State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) joined by several veteran organizations, who stand united to call for accountability and the passage of life-saving legislation in response to the deadly La Salle Veterans’ Home COVID-19 outbreak at the Illinois Veterans home in La Salle on Monday May 5, 2021. State Rep. Dan Swanson has cited the outbreak in his bill that would set qualifications for the VA's director.

State Rep. Dan Swanson, an Alpha Republican serving the 74th District, filed legislation to ensure that qualifications will be considered when selecting a director to head the Illinois Department of Veterans Affair.

Swanson’s legislation, HB 5715, would require that the director of the Department of Veteran Affairs be a veteran who was honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces and has had experience in a medical profession, in health care, or in assisted living facility management.

The legislation comes after a deadly outbreak of COVID-19 led to the death of 36 veterans at the La Salle Veterans Home. A report from the Illinois Department of Human Services inspector general found that a lack of a COVID-19 planning may have contributed to the outbreak.

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