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Para español haga clic aquí Dear Neighbors, Happy 2024! This week marks the beginning of the 2024 Spring Session, I am proud to continue to work on behalf of the 85th District. There is still much work to be done and I am excited to build on the measures we passed during the previous legislative session. I am eager to unveil more details on community-centered legislation in the next upcoming weeks focused on healthcare access, consumer protection, education, mental health and more! I am not done working on legislation and I urge constituents to please fill out our constituent survey here. Our office is happy to report that we have already received numerous submissions that have resulted in legislative ideas that I will bring forward this year. Currently, over 62% of respondents said healthcare is in their top priority, with affordable housing and the environment following. Check out a few of the new laws that went into effect on January 1st. To view a full list, click here. HB2719, Rep Avelar Sponsored: Helps prevent medical debt by requiring hospitals to pre-screen patients for benefits before sending them a bill. SB1555, Rep Avelar Sponsored: Creates a Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment which forms an advisory council that will study how best to deal with paper and packaging recycling challenges in Illinois. HB1591, Rep Avelar Co-Sponsored: Ensures that same sex couples residing outside of Illinois will be allowed to marry in the state, even if Obergefell vs. Hodges is overturned. HB2789: Adopts the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights that indicates books should not be removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. HB3957, Rep Avelar Co-Sponsored: Prohibits manufacturers or wholesale drug distributors from price gouging of essential generic drugs. SB850, Rep Avelar Co-Sponsored: Requires DCEO to provide grants to grocery stores located in food deserts. SB1741: Requires landlords to provide an itemized statement of damages before withholding a security deposit within 30 days of vacation or end of possession. Paid Leave for All Act, Rep Avelar Co-Sponsored: Requires workers to earn up to 5 days of paid leave from work each year. Workers earn 1 hour of paid leave for every 40 hours they work.
Wishing you a healthy month,
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2023 IN REVIEWWe had a great 2023 in the 85th District! See below for some of our top stats.
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NEW GRANTS ANNOUNCEDThe Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is now accepting applications for a $312,000 suicide prevention grant. The federally-funded grant will fund a single organization to improve the ability of staffers in education, child welfare, and juvenile justice to identify, assess, and help young people who may be at risk for suicide. Applications will be accepted through 5:00pm on February 2, 2024, with the announcement of the grant award expected in March. Prospective applicants can get more information and apply online at CSFA. ————————— DCEO is now accepting applications to the B2B Local Chambers grant. The Back to Business (B2B) Local Chambers program provides recovery grants for local chambers of commerce. Eligible local chambers of commerce are eligible to apply for $5 million in available grant funding as part of our efforts to support ongoing recovery from the negative economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. All applicants will receive a grant as long as they meet eligibility requirements, and submit proper documentation and attestations required by the program. Applications will be accepted from January 11th, 2024 until 5:00 p.m. February 15, 2024. DCEO encourages applicants to familiarize themselves with program eligibility requirements and other program details prior to applying. More information here.
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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 am so humbled to receive the Warehouse Workers for Justice Pillar of Support Award. As a former warehouse worker myself, it was a true honor to be recognized by an organization so near to my heart. You can read my full remarks here if you missed the event. |
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I had the great opportunity to participate in Oak View Elementary School’s winter family night. I read A Snowy Day to students and parents after they had a fun filled night of crafts and hot coco. Thank you for the invite! |
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I joined Mayor Noak and the Romeoville Golden Age Club for their annual Christmas party. I had a lot of fun with everyone playing games and having great conversations. |
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I attended Bolingbrook’s Breakfast with Santa a few days before Christmas! It was great seeing the kids interact with Santa. |
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I met with FOCUOS Leader, Willie Pole, to discuss the future of their youth programming. FOCUOS is a non-profit whose mission is to empower youth from the community to be productive members of society. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & RESOURCES
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NEW IN 2024: We will be hosting our Lockport Mobile Office Hours at the Lockport Township Building on the last Wednesday of the month from 9:30-11:30am. We will be continuing our Bolingbrook and Romeoville hours as normal.
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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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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. Warming CentersWarming Centers are available throughout Will County. To see the list of all centers, click here.
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