AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is collecting winter coats and other winter clothing items to donate to residents in need during the week of Nov. 15 through Nov. 19.

“Many families in our community do not have the resources to use for new clothing items each year to keep them warm in the winter months, especially with the financial hardships brought on by the pandemic,” said Hernandez. “No family should have to risk their health because they cannot afford the proper clothing and protection during the cold winter months, so I am committed to advancing a legislative agenda that provides proper funding for public benefit programs, and truly addresses the issues of homelessness and housing insecurity to help families most in need.”

Hernandez is coordinating her winter clothing drive with Good Morning Aurora and Alive Aurora. Items needed include new or gently used winter coats, socks, long underwear, jackets, scarves, gloves, mittens, hats and snow boots. Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:

• Rep Hernandez’s District Office, 540 W. Galena Blvd., from Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Good Morning Aurora, 5 E. Downer Pl. Suite T, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Alive Aurora, 78 S. LaSalle St., on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2:45 p.m. – 6 p.m.

“Many people enjoy the winter months and holiday seasons, but for some members of the community it can be a time of hardship,” said Hernandez. “I want to help eliminate any distress and allow every resident to have a safe and warm holiday season. I hope that residents who are able to donate will consider giving clothing items for a family in need.”

For more information, please contact Hernandez’s constituent services office at 630-270-1848 or email RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com.

​AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Hernandez, is hosting a diaper drive from Monday, Sept. 27 through Oct. 3 to benefit local families in need.

“Working families face dynamic and competing challenges that come with raising children day-in and day-out, and that’s even without issues caused by the pandemic layered on top of that,” said Hernandez. “Parents should not have to choose between putting food on their tables or purchasing necessary diapers for their children. I encourage all those who can to consider donating diapers during our supply drive and help local families in need.”

National Diaper Need Awareness Week draws attention to the issue of diaper need in the U.S. A study conducted by the National Diaper Bank Network found that one in three U.S. families struggle to provide enough diapers to keep a baby or toddler clean, dry and healthy. Hernandez is asking local residents to donate unopened or open packages of diapers in all sizes, baby wipes, and diaper bags. Donations can be dropped off at her district office from Monday through Friday, located at 540 W Galena Blvd. in Aurora, or at the following locations in Aurora: Tredwell Coffee, Good Morning Aurora, Family Focus, Endiro Coffee, McCarty Mills, Santori Library and the Aurora Business Center. For a convenient contactless option, individuals can donate on-line via an Amazon Registry by visiting, bit.ly/diaperdriveaurora.

For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Hernandez’s full time constituent service office by calling 630-270-1848 or emailing RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com.

AURORA, Ill. – Illinois college students will receive financial relief due to a new law passed by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora. The measure will cap fees on student loan debt relief services.           

“Making higher education affordable is a priority for me, but that will never happen if predatory student loan debt relief companies continue to take advantage of Illinois graduates,” Hernandez said. “A few months ago, I earned my Masters degree from Aurora University along with hundreds of other committed students. Unfortunately, the reality is that, on top of the growing tuition costs, many of my classmates and other students throughout the state will face targeted financial abuse by companies that thrive on manipulating recent graduates with student loan debt. Ending those practices is a critical step to improving higher education in Illinois.”

Representative Hernandez helped pass Senate Bill 669, legislation that restricts a wide range of excessive fees that student loan debt relief companies are currently imposing on Illinois graduates. Financially exploiting young people, many of whom have just entered the workforce, has created a financial disincentive to strive for educational advancements by making costs nearly prohibitive. This legislation passed the state House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker several days ago.

“The burdens many unethical debt relief services are adding can financially cripple new graduates for years,” Hernandez said. “If attending college in Illinois becomes an unattractive option and higher education enrollment drops, it will take a toll on our childrens’ futures and our state’s economy. I’m proud that Illinois is taking important steps to prevent that.”

AURORA, Ill. – A bill sponsored by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, to include mental health days in students’ excused absences was recently signed into law. 

“It’s critical that schools are offering support to students who struggle with their mental health,” said Hernandez. “Just as we would allow a student with a cold or a fever to stay home from school, students should be able to have the same treatment for days where they need a break for their mental health.”

Hernandez sponsored Senate Bill 1577, which expands excused school absences to include mental or behavioral health, allowing for students to have up to 5 mental health days without needing a medical note. This measure passed unanimously through the House and Senate and was signed by the governor last week.

Throughout her time in the General Assembly, Hernandez has been a strong advocate for increasing awareness of mental health struggles among children and teens. This past session she also helped pass a bill to create a mental health task force to help determine methods and programs for K-12 students to receive mental health care. She supported a measure to urge Illinois schools to provide education for all students in grades six to 12 on how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of addiction and mental illnesses, as well as provide instruction for how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

“Students of all ages can experience struggles with their mental health, and the pandemic has likely exacerbated that for many,” said Hernandez. “By allowing students to take a day off from school to take care of their mental health, we are not only giving them the support they need, but also validating their feelings and showing them that taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of physical health.”

AURORA, Ill. – Illinois will have stronger gun safety protections under a new law supported by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, that was signed Monday to streamline and modernize Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cards and concealed carry licenses.

“Too many families across Illinois have had to feel the horrible impact of losing a loved one to gun violence, and the situation calls for decisive legislative action to prevent further tragedy,” Hernandez said. “Right here in Aurora we are sadly familiar with what can happen when gun safety measures fail. Just two years ago, our community lost five lives in a mass shooting at the Henry Pratt Company. This legislation could have prevented the shooter from carrying a firearm and ultimately stopped that tragedy.”

House Bill 562 modernizes a wide range of aspects about current FOID card and concealed carry licensing regulations with the goal of eliminating loopholes in gun safety legislation. Some of the changes include expanding background checks to all gun sales in the state, investing in trauma mental health programs and instating stronger identification factors for FOID cards such as fingerprints. This bill passed the legislature with strong support and was signed into law on Monday.

“The steps we are taking with this law undoubtedly make our community a safer place,” Hernandez said. “Ensuring people in our community are secure from the threat of gun violence is a priority for me. My goal is to make Illinois free of the danger of gun violence. This bill represents significant progress to making that goal a reality.”

AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Herandez, D-Aurora, is hosting her Senior Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 4, from 5 p.m to 6 p.m. at the Aurora Public Library to share resources and discuss issues impacting elder residents in the community.

“Seniors were some of the hardest hit by the pandemic, and it is important that we connect them with services and resources to help them get back on their feet,” said Hernandez. “While I encourage all residents in the district to contact me any time with their concerns, it’s important to me to have an open, accessible forum which seniors can attend together to discuss issues of particular importance to them and learn more about the state and local resources that are available to them.”

‘Senior Advisory Committee Meeting’

Wednesday, August 4

5 p.m. – 6 p.m

Aurora Public Library

101 S. River St

Hernandez will be joined by representatives from Xilin Association, a non-for-profit that services the needs of families in the greater Chicago area, providing resources for families, children and the elderly. The meeting will include a brief presentation on the services that Xilin Association offers to Aurora residents, as well as time for attendees to ask questions and provide feedback,

Hernandez’s event is free and open to the public. For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Hernandez’s full time constituent service office by calling 630-270-1848 or emailing RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com.

AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is informing residents of news from the Secretary of State’s Office that driver’s licenses and state ID card expiration dates have been extended.

“Many driver’s facilities have experienced high volumes of individuals visiting since facilities have reopened during the pandemic, so the Secretary of State’s Office has been making various accommodations to reduce long lines at the DMV,” said Hernandez. “Individuals who need to complete DMV services should be aware that expiration dates for driver’s licenses and state ID cards have been extended and that the Secretary of State’s Office offers many of their services online, giving everyone added convenience.”

Hernandez backed Senate Bill 2232, to allow Secretary of State Jesse White to extend expiration dates for driver’s licenses and state IDs from Aug. 1, 2021 to Jan. 1, 2022 so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities, especially during hot weather. This legislation and the extended timeframe for renewing driver’s licenses and IDs will allow for more effective management of backlogs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits.

The Secretary of State’s Office is encouraging residents to consider using online services when possible to decrease heavy in-person customer volume at driver’s facilities. To renew a new driver’s license or state ID card online, as well as purchase license plate stickers, individuals can visit the Secretary of State’s office website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

“I am pleased to see the Secretary of State’s Office extend license and ID card expiration dates, lift certain fees and improve their online services, so that individuals are not disadvantaged or forced to wait in long lines,” said Hernandez. “I encourage anyone who needs to use DMV services to visit the Secretary of State’s website and avoid a trip to the DMV if possible.”

For more information, please contact Hernandez’s constituent services office at 630-270-1848 or at RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinoisans will not be responsible for returning overpaid unemployment relief under a bill backed by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, which was recently signed into law.

“The COVID-19 pandemic created enormous financial challenges for many Illinois families, and forcing them to wade through government red tape while they are just beginning to recover is a pointless and unfair burden,” Hernandez said. “Rebuilding a healthy middle class will drive our economy up to and beyond where Illinois was before the pandemic.” 

Hernandez backed House Bill 2643, which allows for the waiver of repayment for non-fraud overpayments for unemployment insurance recipients. This will effectively ensure Illinoisans are not falsely held responsible for government errors with their unemployment payments. The bill passed the legislature unanimously and was recently signed by Gov. Pritzker. 

“Helping people get back on their feet is my top priority right now. This legislation is one critical step to providing the requisite aid to Illinois families across the state,” Hernandez said. “I will continue to work to help our state overcome the physical, medical and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, was recently appointed by Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch to a bipartisan Statue and Monument Review Task Force as an effort to ensure that statues and other ceremonial landmarks on state property reflect the values and morals of the state.

“This past year, we have seen a national movement of communities calling for the removal of certain statues and artwork that tell a perpetual, offensive and untrue narrative about history,” said Hernandez. “It is important that our government’s art reflects the values and diverse makeup of our state, and that requires us to review the public art we have and remove any that promote a narrative of white supremacy or one-sided history as well as add more representation of historical figures from communities of color.”

The Statue and Monument Review Task Force will host several public hearings to hear firsthand from historians, advocates, organizations and other members of the public. The task force will then produce recommendations for the removal of existing statues and may also recommend the construction of new statues to ensure Illinois’ public art is historically accurate and reflects the diversity of the state.

“This task force will provide the opportunity for us to have a long, overdue discussion about the historical context of our public art,” said Hernandez. “I am looking forward to beginning this important work on the task force with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle and bringing this important change to our state.”

For more information, please contact Hernandez’s constituent services office at 630-270-1848 or at RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com.

AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez is encouraging residents of her district to take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, this Saturday, Oct. 26, by dropping off old or expired prescription drugs to local collection locations.

“Prescription drugs can be extremely dangerous, addictive and potentially life-threatening if they are in the wrong hands,” said Hernandez. “It is not uncommon for families to have old prescription drugs in their medicine cabinets, and it is imperative that these drugs are properly disposed of if they are not in use.”

The National Drug Enforcement Agency is addressing the prescription drug addiction problem in the country by facilitating thousands of take-back sites in communities for residents, free of charge, to securely dispose of old drugs and unused medications. According to a 2018 national study on drug use and health, 9.9 million Americans misused prescription drugs, many of which were obtained from friends or family members’ home medicine cabinets. Kane County has several options for residents to safely dispose of prescription drugs; more information on those locations can be found at https://takebackday.dea.gov/.

“We must continue to work towards fighting the opioid epidemic and drug addiction problems in our communities,” said Hernandez. “One simple way of protecting ourselves and our families is by disposing of our old, unused prescriptions, and ensure that our family members and friends do the same.”