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Para español haga clic aquí Dear Neighbors, Happy April - we have a little under two months left of the 2024 Spring Session! The deadline to pass legislation out of the house is coming up, so we are working hard on debating bills in committee and on the floor. I passed several bills out of committee this month: HB5301: An Illinois Department of Transportation initiative to create the Illinois Coordinate System Committee, which will help bridge discrepancies stemming from the prior Illinois Coordinate System Act. HB4633: Expands access to school based health centers by creating new requirements for insurers. HB5387: Creates a statewide language access policy to ensure all Illinoisans have access to state services. HB2253: Prohibits rabbits from being sold in stores unless the rabbit is spayed or neutered. HB5428: Makes changes to the Illinois Banking Act to better align with federal standards.
If you would like to voice your opinion on any legislation before the House, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at 815-372-0085 or info@repdagmara.org. Sincerely,
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NEW GRANTS ANNOUNCEDRestore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3)The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for grants for Service Delivery under the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program. Grants will be made with SFY2025 funds. A total of $30 million in R3 funding is available through this solicitation for use over a period of 12 months. Application deadline: 2:00 PM CST, April 30, 2024 The R3 program is intended for organizations who provide services in their communities that address at least one of the five R3 Program Priorities. These Program Priorities, as established in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, are: Civil Legal Aid Economic Development Reentry Violence Prevention Youth Development
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OUT AND ABOUTIf you would like to invite me to an event, meeting, or tour of your facility, please reach out to my office at info@repdagmara.org.
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I attended the South Suburban Human Services Legislative Breakfast and met with disability service providers, parents, guardians, and family members. We heard updates from our area providers and discussed the need for funding. |
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I met with the Will County Substance Abuse Coalition while they were in Springfield advocating with the Illinois Prevention Network! It’s always great seeing some Will County folks while in Springfield. We discussed the need for investments in well researched solutions for substance abuse in our communities. |
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I joined the Spanish Community Center at the annual fundraiser to celebrate and honor the incredible work they do in the community. SCC provides social services, housing counseling, daycare, and much more. Thank you for all you do! |
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Representative Natalie Manley, Senator Meg Cappel, County Executive Bertino Tarrant, and myself hosted a Blood Drive in honor of Women Empowerment Day! We had a goal of 30 units, and we far exceeded that goal. We are so appreciative to everyone that came to donate blood. |
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Lockport Township High School hosted their annual Career Week, where I spoke to a group of students interested in government work. I always enjoy talking to students about the importance of government, and I am honored Lockport invites me each year. |
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While I was in Springfield, Briana attended the Will County Center for Economic Development Infrastructure Coalition Meeting. There will be $6.6B in infrastructure improvements in Will County over the next 5 years. Many exciting projects are to come for our area, including the I-80 corridor that just started. |
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First Lady MK Pritzker and Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton hosted their annual Women in Pink event to honor the women in the General Assembly. Illinois ranks in the top 10 for most women in the state legislature at 42.9%! |
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Briana joined staff from Senator Cappel and Representative Manley’s offices at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. They spent their time packing boxes of Starbucks donations to be given out at local pantries. |
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I attended the Latino Leadership Council Breakfast and heard Lockport Township Supervisor, Alex Zapien, speak about DEI initiatives. Representation in leadership is immensely important! |
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Thank you to Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project for stopping by my office to drop off this beautiful Shepard Fairey framed photo. I appreciate all the work you all do! Learn more about this famous photo here. |
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Briana attended the Old Joliet Prison Beam signing event that featured two of the original Blues Brothers! The Old Joliet Prison is a 501c3 that aims to preserve the history of Joliet and stabilize the buildings to host community centered events. To learn more and support their mission: click here. |
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I joined Casa Aguascalientes Chicago at their Women’s Empowerment Workshop. The focus was women in business, so I discussed the services the state can provide to help minority business owners, including the Office of Minority Economic Empowerment. |
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I spoke in Springfield at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault Rally at the Capitol. It is incredibly important that the state funds sexual assault services in FY25. Rape crisis centers provide much needed services, and we cannot leave victims of these horrible crimes to navigate alone. |
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Representatives Walsh, Manley, Benton and myself welcomed Joe Belman to the Capitol to celebrate his 100th Birthday! Joe is a WWII Veteran and plays such a large part in the Joliet community. Happy Birthday, Joe, and thank you for your lifetime of service! |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & RESOURCES
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Repair Café at Joliet Junior CollegeWhere: JJC's Romeoville Campus
When: April 13, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Learn more We welcome members of the community to bring items for repair, including small electric appliances, clothing, furniture, toys, bicycles, jewelry, and more. Please note that repairs are done to the best of the volunteers' ability, and there are no guarantees or warranties. However, referrals for more complex repairs or repairs requiring parts can be provided at the event.
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The solar switch program is a partnership with CUB and 7 counties. This program helps consumers in those five counties (plus Kendall and McHenry counties) utilize the power of volume discounts alongside state and federal incentives to get the best deal on panels. But it’s also a great solar education program–you learn a lot about how to go solar, even if, in the end, you decide not to participate this time. To learn more, click here.
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Attorney General Lists Top 10 Most Frequent Scams Illinoisans Fell Victim to in 2023
The Illinois Attorney General’s office has released a list of some of the most common scams that in Illinois in 2023. At the top of the list was construction/home improvement repairs, identity theft, and consumer debt. Home repairs have been in the top spot for 3 consecutive years. The largest complaint in the home improvement category involved contractors failing to show up and complete the job once a down payment was made. According to the Illinois Attorney General’s office, a primary key for protecting yourself from identity theft is to frequently change passwords and not share personal information online. Unsolicited calls and texts are another way scammers attempt to retrieve your personal information, and leaving those calls unanswered is the best way to avoid being scammed. For more information on how to defend yourself from these scams and to report fraud, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website. Frerichs Reminder April Is Financial Literacy Month Financial literacy is a challenge for many Americans, and research shows when children acquire an early understanding about how to manage money it pays back in dividends. The Illinois State Treasurer's Office administers programs that focus on financial growth and empowerment to help communities build brighter financial futures. For parents, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a reading list for you and your child. Each book also comes with a parent reading guide to help teach children money management skills while reading. For adults and teens, the Illinois Financial Wellness Hub provides free personal finance resources. FinWell Hub resources are available on demand via internet browser on your computer or mobile device. Popular topics include budgeting, saving for an emergency fund, retirement planning, managing debt, buying a home, investing, and more. Renew Your Medicaid!Got Medicaid? Get ready to renew! Manage your case at abe.illinois.gov. Illinois is checking to see if you are still eligible for Medicaid. Here's what you need to do now: Click Manage My Case at abe.illinois.gov to: Watch your mail and complete your renewal right away. If you are no longer eligible for Medicaid, connect to coverage at work or through the official Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace for Illinois, GetCoveredIllinois.gov.
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211 Help LineI encourage people to take advantage of the 211 line and website. 211 is powered by real people — trained specialists who work to identify and address the root causes of a client’s problem. That means from the first hello, someone in crisis is reaching a real person who can provide a connection to help. Get help with food, clothing, shelter, housing, rent/utility assistance, counseling, substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, transportation, support groups, senior services, aging parents, child care, employment, legal assistance, and health care.Text 898211 for help. Food PantriesLIHEAPLIHEAP helps eligible households with low income pay for home energy services. This includes assistance with heating gas, propane and electricity. More information on services available in your region can be found by visiting your Local Administering Agency (referred to as a local agency) page. Deadline: The LIHEAP application period is October 2, 2023 to August 15, 2024, or until funding is exhausted. The program will begin taking applications on October 2, 2023, for seniors (age 60 and older), disabled and families with children under the age of 6 years old. On November 1, 2023, households that are disconnected from their utilities/energy vendors, have a disconnection notice or have less than 25% in their propane tank can start applying for LIHEAP assistance. All other income eligible households can start applying on December 1, 2023. Last day to apply online with the Request for Services form is July 5, 2024. After this date you can still apply through your local administering agency through August 15, 2024, or until funding is exhausted. Go to Find my Local Agency to locate your LIHEAP Local Administering Agency.
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