VILLA PARK, Ill. – With the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment deadline approaching, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, is encouraging residents to sign up for health insurance coverage through the exchanges.

 “The individual market place is a great tool to find a plan that best suits the needs of your family and to find out if you qualify for subsidies to reduce your costs,” said Conroy. “With the Dec. 15 deadline approaching, I encourage all individuals in need of health insurance to learn more about their options and enroll for the best option for their needs.”

Residents can access the federal exchanges to view their options at healthcare.gov or by calling 800-318-2596 or through Get Covered Illinois at getcovered.illinois.gov or by calling 866-311-1119. DuPage residents may use dupagehealth.org/get_dupage_covered to find free assistance in navigating the marketplace at an upcoming event or through one-on-one assistance.

“Providing care to those with pre-existing conditions and reining in the prices of prescription drugs remain my legislative priorities,” Conroy said. “While there are those who ignore and dismiss the concerns of unaffordable or inadequate coverage, I will continue to fight to make healthcare affordable and accessible for all.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – In response to the recent Equifax data breach, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, co-sponsored House Bill 4095, which would prevent credit agencies from charging consumers fees to freeze their credit. The bill was signed into law last week.

“I helped introduce legislation that ensured that consumers who trusted the security of Equifax would not foot the bill for freezing their accounts due to the company’s reckless behavior,” said Conroy. “Equifax’s mistakes put the personal information of millions of Illinoisans at risk. This law is a big step in ensuring that the rights of consumers are put ahead of the profits of large corporations.”

Equifax announced it had suffered a massive data breach of sensitive consumer information from May to July of 2017, impacting as many as 143 million Americans. In Illinois, the breach is believed to have jeopardized the personal and financial information of more than 5.4 million residents. In order to protect oneself from identity theft, customers of Equifax were encouraged by the Attorney General’s office to consider placing a freeze on their credit and sign up for free credit reports. House Bill 4095 now requires that agencies like Equifax provide this service for free.

“The Equifax breach was a huge blow to the confidence of many consumers who trusted their services,” said Conroy. “It was unfair for Equifax to ask that customers pay for the mistakes of a large institution. This bill is a huge win for consumers. Residents who are still concerned about their risks after the data breach should reach out the Attorney General’s office for resources and more information.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – Continuing her efforts to remain accessible and bring the services of her constituent services office to every part of her district, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, is partnering with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi to host a satellite office hours on Wednesday, July 3rd from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Glenside Public Library located at 25 East Fullerton Ave in Glendale Heights.

“As your state Representative, I want to ensure that all my constituents have the opportunity to share their input regarding issues that face their community. These mobile office hours bring that opportunity and the services of our state office across the district,” said Conroy. “I hope concerned residents visit our mobile office hour and share their concerns.”

Conroy hosts mobile office hours throughout her district, which includes all or parts of Villa Park, Glendale Heights, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Addison, Lombard and Glen Ellyn. Conroy’s office will be available to answer questions about state issues and assist residents with issues with departments and agencies in the State of Illinois. A representative from Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi’s office will also be available for constituents who have questions about federal issues including Social Security, Medicare and immigration services.

“This mobile office hour is also an opportunity to have questions answered regarding federal legislation and agencies. A representative from Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi’s office will be present,” Conroy said. “Residents who have concerns regarding federal issues should take advantage of our mobile office hours.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – With the legislature’s adjournment from spring session on Thursday, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, is highlighting the balanced budget approved by the General Assembly and her work to strengthen gun safety measures, invest in affordable healthcare and protect the middle class.

“The General Assembly passed a bipartisan, balanced budget that invests in local schools and restores some of the state funding that goes to local governments, both measures that will help pave the way for local property tax relief,” said Conroy. “Our budget does not contain any new taxes while creating a surplus that will help to pay down old bills and ensure that the state lives within its means.”

The budget approved by the House and Senate invests an additional $350 million into public schools and funds critical services for domestic violence survivors, higher education, opioid addiction prevention programs and affordable in-home care for senior citizens. The budget does not contain any new taxes, and Conroy successfully helped to block proposals to create a new retirement tax to balance the state budget.

As chair of the House Mental Health Committee, Conroy has advocated strongly for addressing the lack of mental health care in the state. She has worked on a number of measures, including House Bill 3502, which creates an advisory council to develop recommendations to address the barriers to early and regular screening to identify mental health conditions in children and adolescents.

To reduce the escalating incidents of gun violence across the country, Conroy supported measures to ban bump stock devices that turn semi-automatic weapons into fully-automatic weapons, require a 72 hour waiting period for all handgun purchases while closing the gun show loophole, raise the age to buy an assault weapon to 21 years of age, require Illinois gun dealers to obtain a license, and allow family members to petition the court to temporarily take away a person’s weapons if they pose a danger to themselves or others.

“In the past few years, we have seen more and more cases of senseless gun violence,” said Conroy, a member of the Legislative Public Safety Working Group. “I now hear from children who tell me they are scared to go to school. That is never acceptable, and as a mother, this pains me to my core. This year, I worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass commonsense gun safety measures that will help to keep our communities and schools safe from senseless violence. I am hopeful that the governor will join our efforts and will put politics aside to work with us to keep our kids safe.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – To help middle class families save more on their taxes, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, is sponsoring legislation extending the standard income tax exemption for working families that is set to expire at the end of this fiscal year.

“Middle class families have been paying more than their fair share for years and we cannot allow that to continue,” said Conroy. “Instead of cutting unnecessary spending, increasing government efficiencies or raising taxes on billionaires, Governor Rauner has shown that he is willing to let tax exemptions for working class families expire to fund his budget proposal.”

Rauner’s budget proposal assumes the expiration of the standard income tax exemption in his revenue estimates, resulting in higher taxes for working families. Senate Bill 1437 would extend the current tax exemption that taxpayers receive, allowing Illinois residents to continue to save money each year. Without an extension, the standard income tax deduction would fall from $2,175 to $2,000.

”Working families depend on these exemptions to put a little extra money in their pockets each year, money that goes back in to the local economy,” Conroy added. “This is an important savings that we need to keep in place for middle-class families, not use as a political tool.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, allowing DuPage County to consolidate the functions of the county election commission into the office of the county clerk advanced unanimously out of House recently.

“House Bill 5123 is a step in the right direction in ensuring that our elections will be managed with the utmost integrity,” said Conroy. “This allows DuPage County, which is one of only two counties in the entire state with a separate board of election commissioners, to finally transfer the functions of the election commission to the county clerk. This change will bring more transparency and efficiency to the way elections are held in DuPage County.”

House Bill 5123 allows the county board to dissolve the functions of the election commission into the county clerk’s office. Currently, only two counties and seven municipalities in Illinois have election authorities independent of the county clerk. In every other Illinois county, election-related functions are executed by the county clerk. The bill and is supported by DuPage County, County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, and the Better Government Association.

“We are pleased with the bi-partisan support this measure has received and are grateful for Representative Conroy’s leadership.  Our goal is to create an efficient, effective system for administering elections in DuPage County,” said DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, who traveled to Springfield to testify on behalf of the legislation. “We believe dissolving the DuPage Election Commission and folding those duties into the County Clerk’s office will result in improved voter services.  We are eager to see this bill passed by the full Senate and to see the Governor sign it as soon as possible.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – State Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, hosted Civics and Coffee this past week with residents at the Funky Java in Villa Park, continuing her efforts to meet with constituents and discuss the civic process.

“It was so great to spend time with my constituents as we discussed the important issues facing our community and state,” said Conroy. “These conversations remind me how so many people in our community are eager to get involved in the civic process and help better their communities. I encourage all residents to attend future discussions and help me learn about the issues most important to you. ”

“Civics and Coffee” provides an opportunity for more open dialogue between concerned citizens and their local officials. These meetings allow concerned residents an opportunity to have their questions about state and local government answered. It is also an opportunity for a discussion about how residents can take initiative on issues facing their community.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, released the following statement in response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget address on Wednesday:

“Once again, the governor delivered an unbalanced budget that relies on fake savings and faulty accounting.

“Governor Rauner spent years derailing budget negotiations and moving the goal posts. Last year, I joined colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work around Governor Rauner and pass a balanced, responsible budget. Not only is Rauner’s budget unbalanced, it includes what would amount to one of the largest property tax increases in history by forcing local homeowners to pick up the tab for the state’s portion of the pension costs. This would increase local property taxes exponentially while taking vital dollars out of DuPage County schools.

“DuPage County families deserve better than Governor Rauner’s irresponsible budgets. I’m calling on my colleagues and the governor to craft a budget that helps us pay down the backlog of bills, funds mental health and addiction services, protects senior services, and gives our students and schools the resources they need to succeed. I’m ready and willing to work with Republican and Democratic legislators to get the job done. I hope the governor will finally be ready to join us.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. –Continuing her fight to support families of children suffering from a rare autoimmune condition, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, passed House Bill 1277, which ensures insurance coverage and treatment for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANDAS/PANS).

“I fought hard, along with families across the state, to make Illinois the first state to mandate insurance coverage for treatment of PANDAS/PANS,” said Conroy.  “The fight for children struggling with this disease has been long and difficult. This bill is an example of the kind of continued efforts we need to make, to ensure that insurance companies follow the laws we have set.”

Earlier this year, Conroy worked with local parents to pass legislation mandating insurance coverage for PANDAS/PANS treatment, making Illinois the first state to require coverage. This initiative was taken on four years ago when Kate Drury of Lombard and Wendy Nawara of Naperville shared with Conroy their families struggle with Pandas. After learning that despite the new law, some families were being denied coverage, Conroy passed House Bill 1277 to close a loophole that allowed insurance companies to delay coverage.

“It is not ok to deny or delay sick children access to necessary medical care ever, but especially after a law was passed with the intent of more readily providing insurance covered care,” said Lombard resident Kate Drury, whose son was diagnosed with PANDAS/PANS. “Children with PANDAS/PANS have a brain swelling, a kind of Autoimmune Encephalitis, and we as their parents, doctors, and even legislators must do what we can in order to get them the medical care they need. We are so grateful to Representative Conroy for her persistence and committed work on behalf of the children with PANDAS/PANS in Illinois!”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – State Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, joined members of the House on Wednesday to pass a 2-year property tax freeze and expand property tax relief for DuPage County families and seniors.

“Property taxes in DuPage County get higher and higher every year, making our communities less affordable for so many working families,” said Conroy. “This bill provides some relief to the middle class and seniors while ensuring that homeowners in our community get the same property tax relief that those in Cook County are already receiving.

Senate Bill 851 implements a two-year property tax freeze in the suburbs, including DuPage County. The bill also increases the general homestead and senior citizens homestead exemptions to $10,000 and $8,000, respectively, to give homeowners additional relief. Cook County homeowners currently receive this level of relief.

“This legislation is a bipartisan effort to give homeowners a little bit of relief from unaffordable property taxes,” Conroy added.  “This is one step to provide relief to struggling families across the state.”