SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, issued the following statement after the end of the 2021 Spring Legislative Session:

“Coming together to create a responsibly crafted state budget was a major focus for my colleagues and me during our time in Springfield these past few months. We knew that we needed to protect critical services while still making sure that working families were not burdened with high taxes.”

“The pandemic showed us how important having equitable access to the correct health care services is to the residents of our state. We also saw the importance of mental health services for our essential workers and our children as we had many citizens from every community adjusting to new ways of living because of the global health crisis.”

“This session I was proud to support bills that expanded health care services in underserved communities, protected critical services for families, and invested in job creation. The passing of all four pillars of the Legislative Black Caucus agenda let us create better outcomes for not only the communities that I represent but minority communities statewide.”

“There is still a great need for continual support for our families and small businesses as we all recover from such an unprecedented global pandemic. I will continue to represent the best interest of my constituents and the people of Illinois as we make strides toward a better future for Illinois.”

CHICAGO – In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly is highlighting resources for victims of domestic violence.

“Domestic violence is an urgent and critical issue that touches every part of our state and can happen to any person from any background,” Lilly said. “During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it is imperative that each of us recognize that domestic violence isn’t a personal issue, but a societal issue that demands we take action to support victims and survivors.”

The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ILCADV) reports that one in three women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lives. Signs of domestic violence according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline include emotional, physical and sexual abuse that features coercion, intimidation and threats centered on the control and power of the abuser. The impacts of domestic violence are wide-ranging according to data compiled by the ILCADV, including abused partners being more likely to experience asthma, heart disease and strokes and domestic violence being the chief cause of injury for women aged 18-44. Economically, ILCADV reports that direct healthcare costs from domestic violence total over $4 billion annually across the country with nearly $2 billion in additional economic costs due to injuries or deaths.

A range of resources exist for people experiencing domestic violence. The following free resources are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week and include confidential support, multilingual advocates, and victim-centered services regardless of disability, ethnicity, gender, income, race, religion or sexual orientation:

• the Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line at 877-TO END DV (877-863-6338)
• the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233) or with online chat service at org
• the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 866-331-9474, by texting loveis to 25222, or with online chat service at org
• the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673) or with online chat service at rainn.org

“Each and every day there are people we know experiencing domestic violence, including colleagues, family and friends,” Lilly said. “This October, we all need to take the time to become familiar with the signs of domestic violence and the resources available for victims and survivors so that we can make sure no one experiencing domestic violence goes without the help they need and deserve.”

OAK PARK, Ill. – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, recently took part in Township Day hosted by Oak Park Township in order to highlight the vital services townships provide for Illinoisans.

“Township government is one of the oldest forms of government in the United States and the closest form of government to the people, providing a direct, grassroots way for citizens to interact with local government,” Lilly said. “In Illinois, township governments like Oak Park Township provide critical services to local residents, including property assessment, maintaining certain roads and bridges and providing general assistance for citizens in need.”

In Illinois, township government is the closest form of government to citizens and annually features a town meeting that allows citizens to have a direct say in how their government functions. At town meetings, held each April, township citizens are allowed to vote on items including the ability to offer new services, eliminate existing services and local regulations.

Many townships, such Oak Park Township, offer additional services for citizens. Oak Park Township has a community mental health board to help coordinate and fund mental health services, an at-risk youth intervention program and a senior meals program.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is highlighting a new law expanding mammogram coverage as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.

“One of the leading causes of cancer death among women is breast cancer,” Lilly said. “Mammograms are a critical part of determining whether a women has breast cancer, yet insurance companies in Illinois are leaving coverage gaps for a critical preventative measure.”

Under the Lilly-backed law, Senate Bill 162, health insurance companies in Illinois will be required to cover both screening mammograms and diagnostic mammograms without charging a copay as part of preventative care coverage. Currently, health insurance companies in the state are required to cover only screening mammograms as part of the Affordable Care Act’s preventative care regulations. Screening mammograms are first-look procedures and diagnostic mammograms are ordered as a follow-up procedure if an abnormality is suspected or seen on a screening mammogram. Under Lilly’s law, these follow-up diagnostic mammograms will now be covered without copays as part of preventative care for patients.

“Early detection and proper screening is critical for women afflicted with or at risk for breast cancer,” Lilly said. “This new law expanding mammogram coverage will help save lives by ensuring that mammograms are covered as part of proactive, preventative care.”

CHICAGO – During Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is drawing attention to the availability of free breast cancer screenings for women through the Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP).

“If you don’t have your health, you don’t have much else. Early detection based on appropriate screening is critical for women at risk for breast cancer,” Lilly said. “Unfortunately, too many Illinois women who may be without health care coverage do not know that free resources exist to get mammograms and breast cancer screenings.”

Through IDPH, the IBCCP offers free breast exams, mammograms, Pap tests and pelvic exams for uninsured Illinois women between the ages of 35 and 64. Women who are eligible for IBCCP screenings can also receive treatment benefits once enrolled in the program if medical issues are detected during a health screening. For more information on joining the program and to learn how to enroll, Lilly is encouraging women to visit IDPH’s breast cancer screening website at cancerscreening.illinois.gov or to call the state’s Women’s Health Line toll-free at 888-522-1282.

“Women can receive exams and treatment regardless of their income from the Illinois Breast and Cervical Program and this can be the difference between life and death,” Lilly said. “I encourage all women to take time during this Breast Cancer Awareness Month to understand the screening and treatment options that are available for themselves, their friends and their families.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, recently met with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Mayor Lori Lightfoot at a retreat for House members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC).

“In my role as House chairperson for the ILBC, I was proud to welcome Lt. Gov. Stratton and Mayor Lori Lightfoot to the ILBC House members retreat to speak about their priorities and how we can all work together to build a stronger Illinois by fighting for a fair tax system that puts the middle class first, a growing economy that creates high-wage jobs and lower health care costs,” Lilly said. “Both Lt. Gov. Stratton and Mayor Lightfoot are history makers, each serving as the first Black women in their respective positions, which is a testament not only to each of them as individuals, but to the people of Illinois who elected them.”

Lilly serves as the chairperson for the 22 members of the Illinois House of Representatives within the ILBC. The ILBC was founded in the 1960s to promote equitable representation of African Americans in government and the progression of the African American community in Illinois through business enterprise and job creation, criminal justice reform, education and health care.

CHICAGO – During Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is spotlighting the importance of proactive health screenings for women.

“During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is important that women arm themselves with the knowledge of breast cancer risk factors,” Lilly said. “Since breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women, it is imperative that women are also aware of recommended health screening guidelines.”

For woman in her early-to-mid 40s, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends consulting with medical doctors about personal risk factors breast cancer, which can include aging, alcohol use, family history, lack of exercise and weight. Beginning at age 45 and until their mid-50s, the ACS recommends that women should receive an annual mammogram. For women age 55 and older, the ACS suggests women can switch to receiving mammograms every other year, or continue annual exams based on a doctor’s recommendation. The ACS also advises that women should be familiar with the normal look and feel of their breasts and to report abnormalities to a health care provider.

“For women at risk for breast cancer, appropriate screening and early detection can be the difference between life and death,” Lilly said. “This October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I highly encourage at-risk women to proactively screen for breast cancer.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is drawing attention to a new law to increase job training in the building trades and help rehabilitate abandoned homes.

“Building a stronger Illinois means equipping young people with the skills they need for careers in the modern workforce,” Lilly said. “This includes the crucial jobs in building trades, from operating and stationary engineers to ironworkers and electricians.”

Lilly backed House Bill 2304, which provides grants to community organizations to establish job training and entrepreneurship programs in buildings trades including construction, electrical, painting and plumbing trades. Under the new law, the Training in the Building Trades Program would provide formal training in a chosen trade from a recognized journeyman or tradesman. Organizations participating in the program would be able to partner with local financial institutions or municipalities to rehabilitate abandoned residential properties in order to develop hands-on experience for participating trainees. Additionally, organizations could establish entrepreneurship programs to provide participants access to capital to launch businesses as building trades contractors or subcontractors.

“With the Training in the Building Trades Program, Illinois has the opportunity to provide people with critical job training skills that will help them build strong middle-class lives,” Lilly said. “And once workers are equipped with skills in the trades under this program, they will also have the opportunity to develop skills to create their own businesses, building a stronger Illinois with an entrepreneurial spirit.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is spotlighting a new law to increase transparency regarding school class sizes.

“Over the past four years, class sizes at Chicago Public Schools have risen over 13.5% and we need more information about the effect of this increase,” Lilly said. “This law will put critical additional information about class sizes in front of parents and the public.”

Lilly supported House Bill 254, which requires all school districts, including the Chicago Public Schools, to beginning reporting more information about class sizes to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), which will include the information on its annual Illinois Report Card, a compilation of educational metrics measured statewide as well as by individual district and individual school. Currently, the Illinois Report Card contains only the basic student to teacher ratio, but under the Lilly-backed transparency measure it will now include additional information on the total number of teachers employed by district and school, the number of class instructors by grade level and subject in each district and the class size for every class at each school and the total number of classes in each school that exceed class size guidelines.

“Parents are rightfully concerned about increasing class sizes and this law will help parents and the public have a greater understanding of class size management in our public schools,” Lilly said. “When classrooms are too crowded, teachers don’t have the time or resources to adequately see to the needs of their students. With more information available about class sizes, we can work to remedy existing problems and prevent other classrooms from becoming too crowded.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is highlighting an upcoming tax amnesty program offered by the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR), which offers local taxpayers the opportunity to eliminate back taxes that may be owed to the state without penalty.

“For whatever reason someone may owe back taxes, a tax amnesty program gives them the ability to become current and relieve a debt,” Lilly said. “The weight of outstanding taxes not only burdens an individual with a tax debt, but it can also harm our economy by preventing otherwise eligible people from being able to make critical investments in their life, such as purchasing a home.”

The IDOR tax amnesty program was created as part of a Lilly-backed law, Senate Bill 689, and gives consumers and businesses the opportunity to pay outstanding taxes with penalties and interested waived if the tax liability occurred between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2018. In order to have interest and penalties waved, a taxpayer must pay all outstanding tax from the period covered by the amnesty. Taxpayers who failed to file tax returns during the applicable amnesty period and those who need to make changes to previously filed returns are eligible for the program. Additional information on tax liabilities that qualify for amnesty and payment options can be found at IDOR’s website, tax.illinois.gov.

“If you’ve made a mistake and you owe back taxes to the state of Illinois, now is the time to become current. You can pay what owe and do it without interest or penalty payments,” Lilly said. “I highly encourage anyone who has a tax debt to the state to check their eligibility for this amnesty program.”