Happy Spring! Warmer spring weather is coming, and so is the end of Spring Session in Springfield. Last week, we took necessary action to address the ongoing issues regarding the unemployment trust fund, which took a hit due to the pandemic. The House of Representatives dedicated $2.7 billion of ARPA funds to help replenish the unemployment trust fund. It also supplements the current FY22 budget with new payments for pensions, the Prepaid Tuition Fund, and the state's group insurance plan, yielding more than $1 billion in savings. This is another step toward stronger credit, paying down debt, and developing the financial stability we need to get to work for families.
As we continue to move forward with legislation, take a look below at the senate bills I've sponsored this session. If you have any questions or concerns about these bills or any other, please reach out to my office at 815-372-0085 or info@repdagmara.org. For a list of all the bills I have sponsored and co-sponsored, click here. Sincerely, |
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Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund application opens on April 11th and will close at 11:59pm on May 31st. Those behind on their mortgage, property tax, homeowners insurance, or homeowners association fees may be eligible for IHAF. The first step is to talk to a HUD certified counseling agency OR your service lender OR legal assistance to discuss your options. You will need to supply documentation that shows you have met with one of the above options and that you have exhausted your other options. In order to see HUD certified agencies and to find all the documents needed to apply, please click here. If you would like to make an appointment with my office to assist you with the application for mortgage assistance please call 815-372-0085 or email info@repdagmara.org. |
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My office will be hosting an informational session about the Homeowner Assistance Fund on April 14th at 6pm at the Bolingbrook Community Center: 201 A Canterbury Lane, Bolingbrook IL. The Illinois Housing Development Authority will be there to walk you through the application, and we will have HUD certified agencies present to assist you with your options. You will also be able to talk to my office and Rincon Family Services about application assistance. |
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Congratulations to the Girls and Boys Bolingbrook High School Basketball Teams for both placing at IHSA State Finals this year! The Girls team placed 3rd and the Boys team placed 4th. We are so proud of these incredible young athletes! |
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Congratulations to Megan Hillegrass for winning ISBE Those Who Excel Teacher of the Year! What an incredible achievement that shows just how dedicated Megan is to her students. I couldn't be more proud to have teachers like her in my district! |
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My staff attended the virtual Age Guide Advocacy event, where they learned about the amazing work Age Guide has been doing in the communities they serve. They also discussed the services they offer and legislation they support that will benefit seniors. |
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I had the opportunity to talk with AFSCME members from community disability agencies when they traveled to Springfield. They urged the General Assembly to support higher wages for Direct Support Personnel. |
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My District Director, Jasmine Rubio, attended the Will County Farm Bureau Lunch with other legislators to review legislation as a group. It was a great time collaborating with elected officials and the Will County Farm Bureau. |
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I was honored to join Lewis University's Social Work Advocacy Day Panel. I talked with Social Work majors about how they can continue to advocate for their communities and clients. |
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Representative Lilly and I co-hosted a panel hosted by U of I Systems on Women in STEAM. It was inspiring to see so many women exceling in fields that they have historically been left out of. |
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At the end of March I participated in the annual Latino Unity Day where I, along with other members of the Latino Caucus, presented our legislative priorities for this year. It was a wonderful day hearing from Latino leaders across the state making sure Latinos are at the table. You can watch part of the panel here. |
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I sponsored HR94, which supports fully funding Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is a leading organization in providing resources, education, and information on reproductive health. Illinois must set an example for other states by fully funding Planned Parenthood, which serves some of our most vulnerable residents. HR94 was adopted on March 31st. Click here to watch the speech I gave on the House floor regarding how important funding Planned Parenthood truly is. |
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OPPORTUNITIES IN MY DISTRICT OFFICE |
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My office is looking for summer interns! We have 2 track options to allow for multiple interests and educational opportunities. Interns will be eligible for course credit or a stipend. Click here to apply. |
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We are also accepting high school students for my youth advisory council. This is an opportunity for students to learn more about government, have their own bill ideas heard, get more involved in the community, and more. Students must live in the 85th District and are will receive community service hours for their participation. Click here to apply. |
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COMMUNITY EVENTS AND RESOURCES |
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O’Hara Woods is a mesic upland forest and savanna once common to the Chicagoland region. Now an island in the middle of developed Romeoville, O’Hara Woods acts as a refuge for many native plant and animal species in the region. A BioBlitz is a citizen science project where a large number of people walk through a natural area and take pictures of any and all living organisms they encounter. No background knowledge or experience is necessary to participate! This project utilizes a free mobile device app called iNaturalist which helps which helps with species identification. We welcome anyone who is willing to download the app and is excited to go out and take pictures in the woods to help us with this project! The Conservation Foundation is a local not-for-profit land preservation and river protection organization based in Naperville. We improve the health of communities by preserving and restoring natural areas and open space, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting the stewardship of our environment. www.theconservationfoundation.org |
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Join Senator Connor, Representative Walsh, and myself at Senator Connor's District Office for a shred event on Friday, April 29th from 10am-1pm! This event is free and open to the public, but has a 2 box per person limit. Please leave boxes in the back seat or trunk for distribution of shredding. If you are unable to make this event, you may drop off one box per person at my office for my staff to bring to the event. Please call or email my office to arrange drop off: 815-372-0085 | info@repdagmara.org Senator Connor's office is located at: 20660 Caton Farm Rd. Unit D, Crest Hill |
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