Lisa Hernandez To Champion Education, Cost of Living Reform in New House Term

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Hernandez, D-Cicero, was sworn in to a new term in the Illinois House on Wednesday, where she will continue working to cut the cost of living, strengthen access to the resources people need to be their best, and defend the fundamental rights of Illinois families. Hernandez released the following statement:

“As we begin a new General Assembly, now is the time for us to rededicate ourselves to the issues families face in their day to day lives. Childcare affordability, access to quality public and higher education, paying the bills on time and in full, and more: these are a few of the issues everyday people, especially those in my community, are talking about and facing.

“I have dedicated my life to serving the children of Cicero’s public schools, to making college more affordable and accessible for first generation students, and to creating stronger connections between aid and those affected by natural disasters. Because of this commitment, we saw record numbers of students taking advantage of MAP grants, FEMA dollars going to our families, legislation enacted to clarify flood insurance policies and the development of a first-of-its-kind department to create and manage affordable childcare facilities across our state. I am dedicated to expanding on these developments in the coming session.

“We could not have accomplished these without our House Democratic Caucus. The beauty and strength of this group of colleagues is that we hail from every corner of our state, champion different issues and bring something new to the policymaking process. We will need this strength to tackle the challenges ahead of us.

“During the last session, we made great strides in creating new, innovative ways to fund critical services and save people money. We generated over $1 million in new revenue through my specialty lottery scratch off: we cannot overstate how important these types of revenue streams can aid our efforts. Continuing my fight for a fair wage for all restaurant workers is top of mind for me. We cannot let wage inequality run unchecked just because it has always been that way. Lastly, I want to be a support for single parents everywhere, and this starts with expanding access to baby changing tables and equipment to more public spaces. My constituents are not alone in their struggle to take care of their baby while out running errands.

“Our community is a home for immigrants, lifelong Illinoisans and everyone in between. We understand that this diversity is what creates the best solutions to the challenges we face, and I will carry that value, strength and support into the next two years of policymaking.”