Galesburg Reporter

State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) is ready to hit the ground running after being appointed to the Illinois House Transportation Committee by Minority House Leader Jim Durkin (R-Burr Ridge).

 “I am grateful for Leader Durkin’s trust in me to ensure proper vetting of legislation related to vehicles and safety on Illinois roadways,” Swanson said in a post to his website. “Over the next several years, we are likely to see a lot of important legislation come through this committee as autonomous vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles and more artificially intelligent vehicles change the ways in which Americans commute to live, work, and play.”

As part of the committee, Swanson joins 12 other legislators, including Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) and Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield).

Swanson is also backing legislation that would reclassify emergency dispatchers as first responders. Pushed by Swanson and Rep. Neil Anderson (R-Moline), Senate Bill 3127 also reclassifies other positions as first responders, including “emergency management officials involved in the execution and documentation of the drills administered under this Act.”

The new classifications would give dispatchers the same public standing as emergency medical, fire, and police services.

“Dispatchers pick up the phone when people experience the worst moments of their lives,” Swanson said in a statement. “They are literally the first responders to trauma and we should support them in recovering from the life-altering trauma they shoulder as part of their important public service.”