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Para español haga clic aquí Dear Neighbors, While we haven’t been in Springfield, some of my committees have still been meeting for subject matter hearings. We’ve had several Personnel and Pensions hearings where we’ve continued to delve deep into the state of our pension systems. I understand our pension system is in trouble, which is why we’re working hard to find solutions. Since I’ve taken office, I’ve consistently demanded fiscally and socially responsible budgets that allocate more than the required pension payment. That is why this year we allocated $200 million in additional pension payments, bringing total pension stabilization investments to $700 million. This saves taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in future interest payments. We did not get into this problem overnight, so we unfortunately won’t be able to fix the problem overnight.
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We also had a Public Safety subject matter hearing relating to the abysmal health care in Illinois prisons. We also had a Public Safety subject matter hearing relating to health care in Illinois prisons. A recent investigative report showed that Wexford Health Sources failed to provide proper medical care, which led to preventable deaths and injuries. While in the hearing, my questions focused on transparency and auditing when it comes to companies the state is contracting with, these are questions that advocates are also seeking answers to and I will continue to closely monitor this situation. As always, if you have questions, concerns, or legislative ideas, please reach out to my office at 815-372-0085 or info@repdagmara.org Sincerely,
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REP AVELAR IN THE NEWSIllinois Enacts Law Increasing Penalties for Exposing Humans to Pesticides Avelar Law Aims to Improve Cultural Competency in Health Care ‘BACK 2 BUSINESS’ GRANTSI brought over half a million dollars in state ‘Back 2 Business’ grants for businesses in the 85th District. This is money we’re investing right into the community to assist businesses in the continuing challenges from COVID-19. The following restaurants and hotels received funding in this round of ‘Back 2 Business’ grants: Sonic/Checkers: $50,000 Bee Brothers: $50,000 Honeyfield Pancake House: $50,000 Dickey’s BBQ Pit: $5,000 Papa’s Pizza Palace: $35,000 Springhill Suites: $71,424.46 Bolingbrook Holiday Inn: $126,299.35 Quality Inn: $58,874.89 Holiday Inn Express Suites Romeoville: $85,360.94 Hilton Garden Inn: $62,362.87
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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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U of I Systems hosted a Legislative Breakfast in collaboration with Congressman Casten. We discussed the investments the state is making in higher education and how we can continue to encourage Illinois residents to attend colleges and universities in Illinois. |
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Our Back to School Fair with the Valley View School District was a huge success! Over 250 kids were able to get supplies to help them be successful in the upcoming school year, while their parents were able to connect with community organizations. Thank you to all who attended both of our back to school fairs! |
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I attended the Grand Opening of Cornerstone’s Wellness Center, where we got to tour the new center and program area. Cornerstone Services provides support and advocacy for people with disabilities in the Joliet and greater Will County area. To learn more about them, click here. (photo from Shaw Local) |
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I hosted a Town hall with Carillon residents, where we discussed property taxes, legislation I passed in the spring session, and much more! I had great discussions with residents, and got some suggestions to research for bill ideas. |
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My staff and I met with Scott and Ruth from Silver Cross Hospital, which is a non-profit hospital that serves many of the 85th District constituents. We discussed how they’re adapting to changes, the increase in violence against nurses, and toured their NICU facility that is modeled after and staffed by Lurie Children’s. |
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I attended Congresswoman Lauren Underwood’s Will County Town hall to learn about what the Congresswoman has accomplished in the beginning of this term. She discussed the Health Care Affordability Act and how the Inflation Reduction Act is making insulin and other medication cheaper for American families. To learn more about what Congresswoman Underwood discussed, click here. |
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I sponsored school supplies for the Romeoville Opportunity Matters Picnic at Highpoint! Students and families were able to connect with community organizations, touch-a-truck, play games, and compete in volleyball and basketball tournaments for some fun before school starts. |
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My team and I joined Fairmont School at their Meet the Teachers Back to School Fair. We provided coloring books, crayons, and state resources for families. While there, students got to meet their teachers, enjoy free food, play in bounce houses, and more! |
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We had a resource table at White Oak Library’s Grandparents Day Out event in Crest Hill! It was a beautiful day where grandparents and grandchildren could spend time together crafting, playing games, and talking to community organizations. |
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I welcomed FOCOUS, an organization that serves kids in the 85th District and surrounding community, to Springfield to tour the Capitol! They got a tour of the full Capitol Building, talked with staff from the Lt. Gov’s Office, and learned the history of the House floor. The kids also got to attend the State Fair! |
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I attended the State of the County, where Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant presented her FY24 budget to the County Board. She also highlighted ongoing and past projects, funding for new state-of-the-art voting equipment, the Will County Heroes program, and more. The County Board will now review the proposal and approve a budget by November. |
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I was honored to receive the James Monroe Smith Founders Award from the Legal Council. Senator Peters and I received this award for the work we did on HB2719, our bill to prevent medical debt. I truly want to thank the advocates and stakeholders, who also worked tirelessly on this legislation. Promoting equitable healthcare access is about humanity, compassion, and justice, and I’m humbled to do this work. |
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Leader Manley, Representative Walsh, and I welcomed staff from the House Budget team to tour our districts and learn more about member initiatives that we’ve funded in the budget. In the 85th District we toured the Romeoville Aquatic Center, Dellwood Park, Fairmont Community Center, and the VNA. |
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I was honored to be the keynote speaker for the Illinois National Organization for Women conference. I spoke to attendees on the importance of bodily autonomy for everyone, investments we’ve made in Illinois to ensure we’re living by our values, and being a welcoming state for migrants. |
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Brooks Middle School had an Open House for their new School Based Health Center, and I was happy to attend and learn more about this vital investment. Will County Health Department is now able to provide physicals, vaccines, mental health resources, and more without students having to be taken out of school for a full or half day. Congratulations to Brooks Middle School and Will County Health Department! |
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I joined members of the Latino Caucus to tour the Reyes Coca Cola facility in Alsip. We discussed their sustainability plan, corporate responsibility, and saw the process of bottling their products! |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & RESOURCES
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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 PantriesWill County HeroesWill County is investing $10 million of American Rescue Plan Act dollars to ignite the next generation of heroes in nursing and teaching. The Will County Heroes Nursing & Teaching Scholarship, which formally launched today, encourages students to pursue degrees in these high-demand professions and incentivizes them to work in Will County after graduation. Eligible students can receive $2,500 per semester to support their pursuit of a nursing or teaching degree. Students can apply for the scholarship grant through the participating Will County higher education partners: Governors State University, Joliet Junior College, Lewis University, and University of St. Francis. Learn more about the program at www.willcountyillinois.org/heroes. Utility Assistance with LIHEAP EndingThe Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ended on May 31st, 2023. We realize that despite the ending of the program, residents in our district still may need assistance with their utility bills to keep the lights on and stay cool in their homes. We encourage those in need to contact their provider as they may have programs to assist based on your situation. ComEd has the following programs available: Catch Up and Save, Fresh Start Services, Your Neighborhood Fund, Supplemental Arrearage Reduction, Flexible Deferred Payment, Budget Billing, Flexible Payment Options, etc. For a full list and explanation of programs click here. Customers can sign up for services through the Smart Assistance Manager Assistance (SAM) or by calling 1-888-806-2273. For further assistance with utility bills, we encourage those struggling to call 211 to be connected with a financial assistance provider in your area. Cooling Centers in Will CountyWith the weather getting hotter, there are cooling centers throughout Will County. To view the list, click here. Be cautious and aware of heat related illnesses: Heat Cramp Symptoms: Painful muscle cramps/spasms usually in legs and abdomen; heavy sweating. Heat Exhaustion Symptoms: Heavy sweating, weakness of tiredness, cool, pale, clammy skin; fast, weak pulse, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache, fainting. Heat Stroke Symptoms: Throbbing headache, confusion, dizziness, body temperature above 103°F, hot red, dry or damp skin, rapid and strong pulse, fainting, loss of consciousness.
Student LoansThe pause on federal student loans ends this month. Here’s what that means: Interest rates on all federal student loans will start accruing on Sept. 1st, with payments starting Oct. 1st and servicers contacting all borrowers with their exact due date. IDFPR (Illinois Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation) is expecting very long wait times for borrowers who call either Federal Student Aid (aka “FSA”) or their servicer with questions. To help assist Illinois borrowers, IDFPR is partnering with the University of Illinois system to provide free webinars focused on return to repayment. Here’s the link to register: https://go.uillinois.edu/repay. President Biden recently announced his SAVE Plan, which allows some borrowers to pay $0/month. This plan ensures borrowers don’t see their balance grow if they are keeping up with their payments. To learn more about the SAVE Plan, talk to your loan provider or visit studentaid.gov/save. IEPA RebatesThe next round for EV rebates will be open November 1, 2023 through January 31, 2024. The application and instructions will be available prior to the round opening on October 18, 2023 on IEPA’s Electric Vehicle Rebate Program webpage. Eligible low-income applicants receive priority for rebate processing and rebates are subject to the availability of funds. The General Assembly appropriated $12 million to IEPA for FY24, and actual funding amounts will be determined by the amount available in the Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund. Applicants must apply during the rebate cycle window and within 90 days of vehicle purchase. We would encourage interested constituents to apply as early as possible during the rebate cycle window.
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