VILLA PARK, Ill. – In partnership with the Illinois State Treasurer’s office, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, is hosting an I-Cash event to help local residents claim their lost funds currently being held by the state. The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 14 at Conroy’s district office, located at 28 S. Villa Ave. in Villa Park. Appointments are required between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and walk-ins will be accepted between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. 

“Many Illinoisans are not aware that they have unclaimed property currently being held by the state,” Conroy said. “I’m hosting this free event at my district office to provide local residents with a quick and easy opportunity to find out if they have unclaimed property and to return those funds to those who are owed.” 

The State Treasurer is holding more than $3.5 billion dollars in unclaimed funds for Illinoisans. The state holds these lost funds until they are claimed by either the original owner or their heirs. Property is returned at no cost with the proper identification. Common types of unclaimed property include bank accounts, insurance policies, consumer refunds, payroll checks and more. Representatives from the Treasurer’s office will be on site at the event to check the I-Cash database, explain the process for claiming property and answer any questions. 

“Each year, hundreds of thousands of new properties are added to the I-Cash program and one in four Illinois adults who search the database finds property to claim,” Conroy said. “I strongly encourage local residents to attend this event to learn if they have unclaimed property to recover.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, issued the following statement upon the General Assembly’s adjournment this week:

“The Spring legislative session was unlike any I have experienced to date. An unprecedented pandemic offered several challenges for myself and my colleagues to overcome. Together, we elected a new Speaker of the House to lead us into the new decade so we can meet the moment that this pandemic has ushered in.

“The 2021 legislative session has been nothing short of historic. Earlier this year, my colleagues in the House united to elect Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch as Speaker of the House for the 102^nd General Assembly. Springfield needs new perspectives from fresh leadership so we can all benefit from new ideas in an honest, open forum. Speaker Welch provides that opportunity for us.

“Our state’s budget for 2021 lives within its means and is reflective of the challenging moment we are in. This budget honestly ensures that essential services are maintained to care for the vulnerable while we properly fund our schools and identify budgetary efficiencies and cost savings measures. My goal is to lessen the tax burden on working Illinoisans as they try their best to rebound from the pandemic.

“This month, I worked hard to pass House Bill 2595 which requires insurers and Medicaid managed care organizations to provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions. The bill also prohibits insurers from limiting benefits or coverage for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions to short-term or acute treatment at any level of placement.

“Additionally this spring, I passed House Bill 3498, the Telehealth bill. This measure guarantees that health insurance companies shall cover all telehealth services rendered by a health care professional. Any clinically appropriate or medically necessary treatment is now covered by insurers, just like a traditional, in-person visit would be. The pandemic highlighted gaps in healthcare coverage and revealed new ways for people to be consulted by their doctors. This bill helps Illinois adapt to these new practices. 

“I look forward to working in good faith with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle as we continue to enact meaningful and lasting reforms which are in the collective interest of Illinoisans across the state.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – Insurance companies will be required to cover mammograms for patients who have discovered breast tissue abnormalities under a measure backed by state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, which was recently signed into law.

“A woman who has discovered that she could have breast cancer should be able to see her doctor and get a proper diagnosis without worrying about whether their insurance will cover the screening,” said Conroy. “It’s long past time to close the loophole that has allowed insurance companies to skirt their legal obligations.”

Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans are mandated to cover preventative services for women without a copay. While regularly scheduled mammograms are currently covered, some insurance companies have refused to share the cost for necessary follow-up screenings after abnormalities are discovered. Under this new law, diagnostic mammograms occurring in between the first screening and an official diagnosis will be considered preventative care and therefore require coverage by insurance companies.

“When a woman and her doctor discover that something is not right, waiting just a couple of months for a mammogram can be the difference between life and death,” said Conroy. “The unanimous decision in both the House and Senate to hold insurance companies accountable for covering the cost of diagnostic mammograms is a critical step forward for women across Illinois.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – In an effort to combat the opioid epidemic, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, spoke at a recent event in Bloomingdale in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day.

“Raising awareness about addiction as a mental health issue and the opioid epidemic as a public mental health crisis is crucial to stopping it,” Conroy said. “I am grateful for yesterday’s event to act as a building block towards creating a strong support system and continuing the dialogue about mental health and addiction. I look forward to more events to provide resources and information to those in need and their loved ones.”

In 2018, there were nearly 100 deaths due to opioids in DuPage County. Although half of all Americans know someone affected by the opioid crisis, only a quarter receive the help they need to get better.

Wednesday’s event was held in conjunction with International Overdose Awareness Day, a global campaign to combat the severe rise in opioid addiction and deaths by reducing the stigma surrounding addiction and supporting those who need help or know someone that does. The event included training on how to administer Narcan, resource tables, and educational videos and discussions.

As Chair of the House Mental Health Committee, Conroy has advocated for a number of reforms to address the opioid epidemic as a mental health crises. She passed Senate Bill 1828 to encourage the creation of needle exchange programs across the state to prevent the spread of illnesses due to intravenous drug usage and needle stick injuries due to improper discarding. She also successfully advocated for an increase in mental health funding in this year’s bi-partisan, balanced budget to programs such as substance abuse prevention and the State Opioid Response Program.

VILLA PARK, Ill. – Seeking to create a new opportunity for students to have conversations about mental health with their parents and school administrators, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, introduced legislation to allow students to use excused absences, typically reserved for physical illnesses, for mental health reasons.

“A student who is struggling with their mental health should have the same ability to take care of themselves as someone with the flu or an injury,” said Conroy, who leads the House Mental Health Committee. “Unfortunately, the vast majority of young people are forced either to push through the day when they’re suffering or pretend that they are physically sick to get the day off. Both options teach kids to ignore their mental health rather than encourage the open dialogue necessary to get students the help they need.”

Rates of mental illness and psychological distress among youth are increasing. If a young person’s struggle with their mental health is unaddressed, they are more likely to develop substance abuse issues, become involved in the criminal justice system and even attempt suicide. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents and teens. Suicide attempts increased by 50 percent in just under a decade with out of ten Illinois high school students reporting that they have made an attempt.

“As rates of clinical depression, anxiety and suicide attempts continue to rise, our young people need open conversations about mental health now more than ever,” said Conroy. “Children and teens with unaddressed mental health issues are more likely than their peers to struggle in adulthood. Sometimes, all it takes is a day off for an overwhelmed student to feel better. Other times, it’s a conversation that leads to lifesaving resources like therapy. My hope is that this measure will encourage kids, parents and educators to consider mental health to be just as vital to a student’s wellbeing as physical health.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – As students and teachers in the community begin preparing for the new school year, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, is requesting donations from local residents for her annual school supply drive from now through Friday, Sept. 6.

“In previous years, we’ve been able to make a real impact for students, their parents and our teachers,” Conroy said. “Every child deserves to start the school year with the tools they need to learn, but it can be tough for parents to afford all of the supplies on their list in addition to the increasing cost of school fees and other expenses that come up every fall.”

Drop-off locations include:

• Conroy’s Constituent Service Office – 28 S. Villa Ave.,Villa Park
• Glenside Public Library – 25 E. Fullerton Ave., Glendale Heights
• RE/MAX All Pro – 66 Stratford Dr., Bloomingdale
• Glendale Heights Village Hall – 300 Civic Center Plaza, Glendale Heights
• Glendale Heights Sports Hub – 250 Civic Center Plaza, Glendale Heights

“I’m grateful to all of the local businesses and organizations who’ve come together to support local students year after year,” Conroy said. “The school supply drive is a fantastic way to give back to our community – even a little bit of help can make all the difference.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – A bill to help ease the property tax burden homeowners face, backed by state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, was recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“DuPage County families still pay some of the highest property taxes in the state, making it harder and harder for working families and seniors to keep their homes and stay in our community,” Conroy said. “The middle class carries too high of a tax burden and I am committed to working to provide meaningful relief to our families. The creation of this new fund to provide property tax rebates to homeowners is one step towards easing some of the anxieties faced by families.”

Senate Bill 39 creates the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund to provide rebates to Illinois homeowners. Beginning in 2021, the state Comptroller will divide the funds in the Property Tax Relief Fund by the number of homeowners as a direct rebate on their property tax bill.

“This refund fund builds upon a number of steps I have taken over the past few years to alleviate property taxes such as increasing the exemptions for seniors and veterans, and expanding upon our efforts to consolidate units of local government to cut the cost of government,” Conroy said. “I appreciate the governor’s shared commitment to uplift the middle class and look forward to continuing to find comprehensive solutions to the property tax crisis.”

VILLA PARK, Ill. – Dozens of DuPage residents concerned about the growing opioid crisis gathered to ask questions and learn more about local programs at an Addiction and Opioid Awareness Forum hosted by state Reps. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, and Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn.

The forum was held Monday evening at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park.

“Seeing so many attendees at this forum was a powerful reminder of just how widespread the opioid crisis is within our community,” said Conroy. “I’m grateful to all of the panelists who spoke about what addiction looks like, the impacts of drug abuse, and the resources available to people who are affected by addiction. These advocates inspire me every day in the fight to make mental health services and addiction treatment affordable and accessible for all.”

Conroy and Costa Howard were joined by panelists with expertise in addiction medicine and public safety: Richard A. Phillips, MD, an emergency medicine physician affiliated with AMITA Health-Glen Oaks; Dan Lustig, President/CEO of Haymarket Center; DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, and DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin.

“The opioid crisis is devastating communities across our country, and we must do everything we can to help the individuals and families who are struggling with the impacts of these drugs,” Costa Howard said. “It’s important for the people of DuPage County to learn more about opioid abuse and about the state and local programs that can offer treatment and support. We need more outreach efforts, such as this forum, to help raise community awareness about the opioid epidemic and the resources that are available to people in crisis. If we work together, we can save lives.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To combat one of the many harmful consequences of the opioid epidemic, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, recently passed legislation to expand safe needle exchange programs to prevent the transmission of diseases from intravenous drug usage.  

“Addiction and the drastic rise in the use of opioids must be addressed comprehensively including ensuring that public health measures are in place to protect users and the greater public,” Conroy said. “Through education and increasing access to clean needles, we can help those suffering from addiction use in a safe manner and begin to form the necessary connections to ultimately get them the help they need.”

The spread of transmittable diseases has increased due to unsafe needle usage with the rise of the opioid epidemic. Needle exchange programs have proven to be an effective tool to reduce the spread of blood-borne illnesses. Senate Bill 1828 creates the Needle and Hypodermic Syringe Access Program to encourage the establishment of needle exchange programs across the state. Conroy’s bill aims to reduce the spread of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, reduce the occurrence of needle stick injuries from the improper discarding of contaminated needles, and to build connections between users and treatment facilities.

“The pervasive rise in the use of opioids must be addressed as a serious public health epidemic. The establishment of trust is critical to combatting it,” Conroy said. “Through the expansion of needle exchange programs, we are letting users know that our community cares about their wellbeing and we will not turn them away when they need us the most.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Before the 2019 legislative session came to a close, state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, invited the North Elementary School Drumline to showcase their talent in Springfield.

“I’m incredibly proud of the boys and girls from Villa Park’s North Elementary School Drumline. Success takes more than just talent – the dedication and hard work these students have put into learning their instruments was evident during the performance these young musicians put on at the Capitol,” Conroy said. “I’m grateful to Patrick Holmes, the gifted instructor who has donated his time to teaching the drumline, and to the families who’ve supported these amazing students as they pursue their passion.”