SPRINGFIELD – The Senate and House Redistricting Committees today released a proposed map of new Cook County Judicial Subcircuit boundaries to reflect population shifts that have taken place over the course of three decades.

“The current Cook County subcircuits are extremely outdated and out of proportion population wise,” said Rep. Lisa Hernandez, Chair of the House Redistricting Committee. “These proposed boundaries allow for better representation of the diversity within Cook County for the first time since the subcircuits were created in 1991.”

“It’s important that our judicial system reflect our communities, especially as Cook County becomes increasingly diverse,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee. “These updates are long overdue and will give residents a greater and more equal say in who is trusted to interpret the laws of our state and oversee our legal processes.”

Under this proposal, the number of subcircuits in Cook County will increase from 15 to 20, largely due to the population growth in the Chicagoland area. The subcircuits will be substantially equalized to better reflect the population and demographic shifts that have occurred across the county during the past three decades.

This new map will not impact the tenure of the current judges in Cook County.

Members of the public may request to provide testimony, submit electronic testimony or submit electronic witness slips in advance of the hearings via the General Assembly website www.ilga.gov or through email at redistrictingcommittee@hds.ilga.gov and redistrictingcommittee@senatedem.ilga.gov. Those who wish to provide testimony at a hearing location will be given the opportunity to do so as well.

Cook County Subcircuit Hearing

• Thursday, December 16^th at 1:30 p.m. – Joint House and Senate Hearing

Hybrid Hearing – participants may testify via Zoom or in person

Location – Room C-600, 6^th Floor, Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N LaSalle St. Chicago, IL

Members of the public can also submit their own proposals through the online map portal located on the House and Senate redistricting websites. For that tool and to view the proposed map, visit www.ilsentateredistricting.com or www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting.

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AURORA, Ill. – This holiday season, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is collecting holiday cards to be delivered to residents staying at Hesed House, a local homeless shelter in Aurora.

“Families and individuals who are displaced from their homes or are lacking housing are going through struggles and tribulations that no person should ever have to go through,” said Hernandez. “While a card is just a small gesture compared to the larger fight to provide affordable housing to all and end homelessness, a handwritten holiday card can be a little spark of happiness to know that somebody out there is thinking about them. I encourage our community to spread some holiday cheer to those in need and send in cards.”

Hernandez is collecting holiday cards now until Dec. 15. Cards can be dropped off at her district office, located at 540 W. Galena Blvd. in Aurora from Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No envelope or postage is necessary. For more information, please contact Hernandez’s full time constituent service office by calling 630-270-1848 or emailing RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com.

CHICAGO – State Rep Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, was joined by several elected officials to deliver meals to nearly 200 area families on Thanksgiving. State Senator Tony Muñoz, D-Chicago, Ald. Michael Rodriguez, W-22, State Rep. Aaron Ortiz, D-Chicago, and Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya, 7 District, were among the local leaders that joined dozens of volunteers to personally deliver the hot, fresh meals prepared by Nuevo León restaurant, a Little Village institution.

“Now more than ever we need to provide assistance to our neighborhoods however we can,” Hernandez said. “Ensuring that families have access to a meal on Thanksgiving is just one way we have worked to fight hunger and bring cheer to hundreds of residents this holiday season.”

The initiative, which fed over 1000 individuals, was sponsored in part by PepsiCo, SALUD, Love Soldiers, the Power Seeds foundation, the Rotary Club of Little Village, and the Little Village Community Foundation.

AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is hosting a ‘Politics and Pastries’ event as part of a teenage girl empowerment event series on Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Alive Aurora, located at 78 S. LaSalle St. in Aurora.

“Mentorship was a critical component of my upbringing, and I was lucky enough to have several mentors who provided me with guidance and encouragement in my various endeavors,” said Hernandez. “I am thrilled to serve as a mentor to the next generation and talk with them at our Politics and Pastries event about trying new things, staying connected with your passions, and personal and academic development.”

Hernandez’s Politics and Pastries event is part of a girl empowerment series run by Alive Aurora, a local youth organization. At the event, Hernandez will discuss why she decided to get involved in public service and participants will be able to make desserts as they listen and ask questions. This event is designed for teenage girls in grades 6 through 12, is free and requires no registration. 

“Before I found passion in public service, I once dreamt of being a pastry chef. I am excited to share how I have been able to stay connected to my passion of baking while pursuing a different career with the participants at our event,” said Hernandez. “I am grateful for youth organizations in our community like Alive Aurora who work each day to provide opportunities for young people to explore their passions and succeed. I encourage anyone interested in eating some sweet treats to join me at this event.”

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

AURORA, Ill. – During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is highlighting her legislative efforts to expand access to lifesaving cancer screenings and promoting free screenings through the Illinois Department of Public Health.                         

“Breast cancer continues to be a leading cause of death among women,” said Hernandez. “Early detection and regular breast exams are critical and can provide you with an increased chance of recovery and a wider range of treatment options.”

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that women ages 40 to 44 should consult their physician about their personal risk factors for breast cancer and when to start annual breast cancer screenings. For women ages 45 to 54, the ACS recommends receiving an annual mammogram and that women older than 55 switch to receiving mammograms every other year, unless a doctor recommends more frequent screening.

As part of her continued efforts to expand access to affordable health care, this past session Hernandez helped pass a balanced budget that included millions of dollars for the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP), which provides breast and cervical cancer screenings for uninsured Illinois residents aged 35-64. For more information on the IBCCP, individuals can visit www.dph.illinois.gov or call the Illinois Women’s Health-Line at 1-888-522-1282.

“We are making sure that all women in Illinois have access to lifesaving cancer screenings, regardless of their financial status,” said Hernandez. “During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I urge all women to consult with a doctor to understand their personal risk factors for breast cancer and to seek a mammogram if recommended.”

AURORA, Ill. – In recognition for her efforts to curb violence in our community, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, was recently appointed by Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch to a bipartisan Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force.               

“Violence in our communities is a public health crisis, one that has escalated across the country this past year,” said Hernandez. “To effectively reduce crime and improve our communities, we have to address the root causes of crime. The Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force will take a systemic approach to looking at policing and how we keep our communities safe to create a long-term, comprehensive plan to address the violence crisis.”

The bipartisan Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force will be asked to study the rise in violence and identify legislative actions to improve public safety in Illinois communities. Hernandez has been a strong advocate for violence prevention efforts and policing reforms throughout her time in the General Assembly. She has been a vocal leader for common-sense gun safety reforms and supported funding to communities most plagued by gun violence. To address the root causes of crime and improve communities, this past legislative session Hernandez also supported measures to fund affordable housing, reduce food insecurity, support community organizations and improve access to affordable health care.

“As we work to address the violence crisis, it is critical that all groups have a seat at the table and community input is heard,” said Hernandez. “The Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force will bring together all stakeholders, including community organizations, law enforcement, public defenders and members from both sides of the aisle. I look forward to beginning this important work to find meaningful solutions to support our community.”

AURORA, Ill. – Thousands of Illinoisans recovering from substance abuse disorders will receive critical assistance because of recent work by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora.

“Throughout our community there are people struggling to overcome the terrible effects of substance abuse disorders,” Hernandez said. “Recovery is a long and difficult process, and we need to provide people with the support they need to successfully beat their disease. The primary way to address the problem is with legislative measures that support rehabilitative processes. However, during Recovery Awareness Month, it is also worth highlighting their struggle and offering survivors encouragement.”

Apart from highlighting Recovery Awareness Month, Hernandez has been part of consistently-successful efforts to expand mental health coverage in Illinois and overhaul how our medical system treats substance abuse. She worked to achieve cost parity for substance abuse treatment so no one in recovery will have to pay prohibitively-high fees for the health care they need. Hernandez also helped pass legislation to ensure hospitals admit anyone experiencing serious drug-related withdrawal symptomps.

“Illinois has the chance to be a leader in substance abuse care, and I will continue to ensure we take advantage of that opportunity,” Hernandez said. “It’s time we put an end to outdated ideas about what it means to be in recovery and start lending a hand to our neighbors who need support. Recovering from a substance abuse disorder is tremendously difficult, and our state should be providing the best are possible for those seeking help.”

AURORA, Ill. – Across the state, countless Illinoisans are dealing with mental health challenges, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified this problem. In recognition of their needs, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, has been working hard to improve mental health care and strengthen suicide prevention measures in our schools.

“Mental health problems like depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts are afflicting countless Illinoisans, and it has only gotten worse during the Coronavirus pandemic,” Hernandez said. “People facing these challenges deserve as much medical assistance as it takes to make their conditions managable. Just as important, this care needs to be affordable. Therapy and prescription drugs will not be helpful if they are paired with financially-crippling fees.”

With recents votes for laws to expand insurance coverage of mental health-related prescriptions, mental health councilors and telehealth services, Hernandez has made significant progress making mental health care more accessible. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Hernandez is taking this opportunity to raise awareness of the resources available to people in crisis.

• Those experiencing suicidal thoughts should call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
• Texting NAMI at 741-741 will connect anyone dealing with serious mental health problems to a free crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
• Anyone facing a medical emergency should immediately call 911.

“We’ve made good progress addressing mental health problems, but the issue is bigger than providing prescriptions and doctors,” Hernandez said. “Access to these services is only helpful if people are willing to engage with them. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is an opportunity to reflect on how positive attitudes towards mental health care can help those who are suffering. Many avoid asking for help because of the stigma associated with mental health care; changing that outlook will save lives.”

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate and House Redistricting Committees have updated an online mapmaking portal to reflect population and demographic information recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau, which will allow the public to review the data and submit proposed maps as lawmakers consider potential adjustments to legislative boundaries.

The mapmaking portal is available at www.ilsenateredistricting.com and www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting and comes ahead of a series of public hearings the committees will hold this week to gather input on adjustments to the legislative boundary map, which was passed in May. The portal continues the efforts of Democrats to engage in a redistricting process centered on public participation with more accessibility than ever before.

Members of the public are encouraged to submit any proposed legislative districts or communities of interest by August 29, 2021 for consideration.

Returning users that have previously used the portal do not need to create a new account.

“We want this census information to be easily accessible to encourage participation in the mapmaking process from community groups and organizations across Illinois,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee. “As we have said all along, it is important that all voices are heard in order to ensure that every person in Illinois receives fair and equal representation.”

“We know that people throughout Illinois have insight into their communities and it is critically important that the redistricting committees are able to listen to this information in this remapping process,” said Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, Chairperson of the House Redistricting Committee. “In addition to our public hearings, we want to ensure people have other avenues for participation, like this mapmaking tool, so we can be certain that we are hearing directly from the people of this diverse state.”

Public hearings will begin Thursday and will include a virtual component to ensure stakeholders from across Illinois can safely participate during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Members of the public may request to provide testimony, submit electronic testimony or submit electronic witness slips in advance of the hearings via the General Assembly website www.ilga.gov or via email at redistrictingcommittee@senatedem.ilga.gov and redistrictingcommittee@hds.ilga.gov. 

Those who wish to provide testimony in person at a hearing location will be given the opportunity to do so as well.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Juveniles being interrogated by Illinois law enforcement will no longer have to deal with any deceptive practices, such as lying about evidence, thanks to a new law backed by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora.

“While I support our law enforcement community and don’t want to restrict them unnecessarily, the people entrusted with protecting our communities should not be lying to children in order to coerce a confession,” Hernandez said. “Deceptive tactics can be a brutally effective approach to squeezing a confession out of a juvenile suspect, regardless of their innocence or guilt. It’s time for that behavior to stop.”

Senate Bill 2122 bans police from lying about evidence or engaging in deceptive activity while interrogating juvenile suspects. This law is part of a significant push from the state legislature to reform criminal justice in Illinois. The legislation passed the legislature almost unanimously and was recently signed into law by the governor.

“The last several months have brought major reforms to law enforcement in Illinois,” Hernandez said. “Banning cash bail and certain excessive restraint methods, such as chokeholds, are just a few other steps we have taken to improve the criminal justice process. I’m happy that getting rid of unfair interrogations of young Illinoisans is another change we can add to that list.”