SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The 21st Century Employment Grant Program, to be created through a measure backed by state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, will bring community colleges, high schools, and employers together to prepare workers for high-wage jobs and expand the Illinois economy.

“Employers across Illinois are facing a shortage of workers who have the skills and training needed to succeed in today’s workforce,” said Costa Howard. “We need to invest in vocational and technical training for the next generation, to make sure they have the right qualifications to get high-paying jobs and enjoy fulfilling careers. With the 21st Century Employment Grant Program, we’re working with employers and educators to build a prosperous future for all of us in Illinois.”

Costa Howard supported Senate Bill 1919, which creates the 21st Century Employment Grant Program. Under this legislation, employers who need workers with specific skills can enter into public-private partnerships with high schools and community colleges to create customized job training programs. The bill, backed by the Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and other business groups, passed the Illinois House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support.

“To rebuild Illinois’ middle class, we need to make sure that our young people have the skills that are highly valued in today’s economy,” Costa Howard said. “Every young person in Illinois deserves the opportunity to access training programs, transition smoothly into the workforce, and make a real contribution to our state economy. I am proud to support this investment in our state’s workers, and I urge the governor to sign this legislation and help Illinois employers to create more good jobs.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Throughout the spring legislative session, state Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, worked to strengthen the middle class by providing tax relief to working families, expanding training programs for high-wage, 21st Century jobs and securing access to affordable health care – all while affirming that Illinois is welcome to all, regardless of what Donald Trump and politicians in Washington say.

“Any conversation about moving Illinois forward must take into account the unique, valuable contributions of immigrant families,” said Mah. “As Donald Trump’s rhetoric against immigrants seeks to inflame and divide communities, I will never stop fighting for fair treatment and full protections under the law for those who came to this country with hopes of building a better life.”

As part of her plan to improve economic outcomes for all families, Mah supported a Fair Tax to relieve the high burden that low-income and middle-class residents bear under the current regressive system. The Fair Tax provides tax relief for more than 99% of local residents, while making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share to fund education, health care and other critical services.

“Working families pay double their income compared to the top 1% under our broken system,” said Mah. “The Fair Tax plan I supported would provide tax relief to the overwhelming majority of small business owners and working families who drive our local economy, while providing stable funding for local schools, senior health care and other critical services.”

To further strengthen the local economy and prepare job-seekers for high-wage jobs, Mah voted to expand access to tax credits for employers, and invest additional resources in career and vocational training programs that evolve to keep pace with developing technology.

“Investing in our next generation of workers is critical to sustaining long-term economic growth,” said Mah. “This means expanding access to financial aid and student loan repayment options, while also recognizing that a degree from a four-year institution is not the only ticket to a middle-class career. Illinois has a serious shortage of skilled workers for high-wage jobs that didn’t exist even a generation ago, and to fill these positions, we need to reevaluate what our high schools and community colleges are teaching.”

In addition to fairer taxes and an economy that creates high-wage jobs, Mah’s commitment to strengthening the middle class also includes improving health care access for working families and seniors. As Donald Trump continues to try to strip away health care for people with pre-existing conditions, Mah backed measures to make health care more affordable by cracking down on greedy insurance companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Mah also introduced and passed legislation creating an education program for prescribing physicians, which would help improve the delivery of care and better control medical costs.

“No family should ever have to go without filling a lifesaving prescription because they can’t afford it,” said Mah. “In addition to controlling high prescription drug prices set by manufacturers, we must also ensure physicians have access to unbiased, objective information about new medications as they enter the market to increase patient access to safe, effective and affordable care.

Mah is serving her second term representing the 2nd District, which includes the Chicago neighborhoods of McKinley Park, Pilsen, Chinatown, Bridgeport, Brighton Park and Back of the Yards. For more information, please contact Mah’s district office at 872-281-5775.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, took critical steps toward building a stronger Illinois this session by advocating for good-paying jobs, affordable health care and tax relief for the middle class while passing a responsible, balanced budget.

“My goals as a new state representative were to strengthen Illinois by strengthening the middle class,” Hernandez said. “We must continually take steps that will grow the economy and create jobs that will pay well, relieve the tax burden on a middle class that has borne the brunt of an unfair system for too long, and ensure health care is affordable for all Illinoisans. While I have taken some significant first steps, there is more work to be done.”  

Hernandez passed a budget that manages spending while sustaining investment in crucial services. Hernandez’s budget further invests $375 million for public schools, and provides much-needed funding for health care, senior care and veterans’ services. Over $1 billion has been set aside to pay bills remaining from the Rauner-era budget crisis, and makes required pension payments.                               

Hernandez also helped pass several economic develop bills which were designed to spark the growth of good-paying across Illinois. These bills included the 21st Century Employment grant program, legislation that grants funding to community colleges, high schools and greater access to vocational and practical skills-based education that is available to all Illinoisans. She also backed the Worker Protection Unit in the Attorney General’s office, which was created to ensure workers received steady wages, safe working conditions and fair treatment.

“We need jobs that are paying $35, $40 dollars an hour or more,” Hernandez said. “Those jobs require a good functional education. It is also crucial that we make sure workers are well-treated. It doesn’t matter how well-compensated people are if they never get a paycheck, and it doesn’t matter what work someone is doing if conditions are unsafe. Our new Worker Protection Unit will fight for workers’ rights.”

Affordable health care was also a crucial focus for Hernandez. She supported the Pharmacy Benefit Manager’s Article and the Prescription Drug Pricing Transparency Act, both of which focused on forcing pharmaceutical companies and insurance agencies to price medications clearly and fairly. Hernandez also worked against the radical Trump agenda that targeted the Affordable Care Act, putting millions of Illinoisans’ health coverage in jeopardy.

“Filling a new prescription or visiting a doctor should not force people to have to dip into their savings,” Hernandez said. “Medical care is a major cost for many households, and that has to change. Staying healthy isn’t optional. Skipping an emergency room visit because it will cost too much is not a choice anyone should have to make. There are special interests dead set on putting profits over the wellbeing and even the lives of the people of Illinois. Massive pharmaceutical companies and insurance agencies are now even the president are trying to make care unaffordable. I will not let that happen.”

Hernandez passed the Fair Tax amendment, which shifts the tax burden off middle-class taxpayers and onto the wealthy. While middle-class families bear too much of a burden under the current tax system, Hernandez’s Fair Tax plan cuts taxes on 99.7% of local residents, while making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share to balance the budget and fund critical services like education and health care.

“The Fair Tax is crucial legislation that will form the foundation of our plans for Illinois’ future,” Hernandez said. “While there is plenty more work to do to make our tax system completely fair, this is a critical step toward putting the middle class first. The tax relief this brings to 99.7% of people here in our community, combined with the money it brings in for schools, health care and other essential services, which will have a huge positive impact for years to come.”

Hernandez also recently helped pass the Reproductive Health Act. While states like Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and more are passing outrageous restrictions with the goal of stripping away the federal protections of a woman’s right to choose, Hernandez voted to make women’s health care a fundamental right in Illinois. The bill ensures women here will always have the right to make their own medical decisions – regardless of what Donald Trump and extreme politicians in other states do.

“Everywhere we look, women are having their rights taken away,” Hernandez said. “States all over the Midwest are limiting access to needed women’s health care, and we have radical Supreme Court justices who have gone on record saying they are against reproductive rights. Illinois has to act to keep these freedoms safe and ensure that women everywhere have control over their bodies.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, advanced significant progressive reforms during the spring legislative session, fighting for fair taxes on the middle class, higher wages for working families, and affordable health care for Illinois families.

“Building a stronger Illinois starts with building a stronger middle class, and that’s been my focus,” Lilly said. “That is why I have supported major legislative efforts to protecting health care, provide tax relief and create better paying jobs.”

Lilly supported Senate Bill 1, which raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour. This will give families extra income to invest in themselves and their communities. Lilly also supported House Bills 2093 and 1594, which will help Illinois offer high-wage jobs for people seeking employment through tax credits and vocational training.

Lilly supported the Fair Tax amendment, which will balance the scales to reduce taxes on middle-class families, make the wealthy pay their fair share and stabilizes Illinois’ finances. Her plan will offer relief for 97% of taxpayers in Illinois. She also supported the balanced budget plan that controls state spending, but honors commitments to human services and education. That budget includes an infusion of $375 million toward public education, commits more than $1 billion to paying old bills left to pile up by former Gov. Bruce Rauner, makes all required pension payments and protects health care services to local seniors and the most vulnerable.

“Families in my area have paid too much of their income to local taxes while the wealthy have paid half of what middle-income families pay,” Lilly said. “That is unfair, and it must stop. The Fair Tax will help bring better balance by reducing the burdens on middle-class families. And passing balanced budgets bring additional relief to all Illinoisans by properly funding our schools and bringing Illinois’ debt down. This budget is a step in the right direction to help the state recover from the devastation of the past four years with progressive solutions.”

Fighting to protect people’s health care, Lilly supported House Bills 471, 156 and Senate Bill 2026. All of these bills will protect access to health care by preventing Illinois from undermining pre-existing conditions coverage from the Affordable Care Act, empower the Illinois Department of Insurance to review massive rate increases on insurance policies and takes steps to rein in the high costs of prescription drugs.

“Health care is a basic human right and necessity, and if you don’t have your health, you don’t have much else,” Lilly said. “Extreme Washington politicians should not be attempting to demolish health care protections for people, when they should be focused on making health care more accessible and affordable.”

Lilly fought to bring tighter tobacco laws for Illinois by passing her House Bill 345. This law, commonly known as Tobacco 21, requires anyone who wants to buy tobacco products be at least 21 years old. She was also instrumental in passing legislation that will teach great civics education courses to middle-schoolers in Illinois’ public school. Lilly’s House Bill 2265 passed both Houses of the General Assembly and awaits approval from Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

She also fought for legislation that would increase fees on FOID applications to crack down on senseless gun violence. Her Senate Bill 1966 will help prevent dangerous firearms from falling into criminal hands while empowering local law enforcement to confiscate the weapons from those who lose their FOID privileges. She also supported House Resolution 433, which treats violent acts like gun crimes as a disease and public health crisis.

“Gun violence has plagued our communities for too long, and reform is not coming fast enough, said Lilly. “That is why I supported legislation to crack down on gun crimes with requiring finger-printing for new FOID applications, along with new fees supporting mental health services. Gun crime is a public health crisis, as lives are being taken, and it needs to be treated and addressed accordingly.”

Lilly sponsored legislation to help subcontractors be paid on time to prevent minority small business owners from closing. She sponsored Senate Bill 104 to expedite the timeframe when subcontractors can be paid, shortening it from 15 to seven days. She also introduced legislation, House Bill 2288, to free inmates in correctional facilities from paying exorbitant co-pay fees that they would normally pay after receiving reentry services.

Lilly also supported legislation that will bring more accountability to the Chicago School Board by making the board and elected one, rather than appointed. She supported House Bill 2267, which would establish a 21 elected member board whereby local residents would be able to choose who they want representing them.

“So much control has been given to the mayor when it should belong to the people, especially the families who I represent,” Lilly said. “My residents deserve to have their voices be heard so they can have fair and equal representation on this board, giving them more say on how their children’s education.”

CALUMET CITY, Ill. – State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, worked to move Illinois forward and build a stronger middle class during the spring legislative session, passing legislation to make taxes fairer, make the economy stronger and make health care more affordable. Jones also chaired the House Insurance Committee this year, dedicating his work to lower health care costs for middle-class Illinoisans.

“Building a stronger middle class and a stronger Illinois has been my top goal as a legislator,” said Jones. “I am happy to report that I have supported numerous initiatives that will make health care more affordable, raise wages for families and provide tax relief for a majority of my taxpayers in my area.”

During this year’s spring session, Jones fought for proposals that build a stronger middle class and Illinois. Early on, Jones supported Senate Bill 1, which over the next few years sets the minimum wage to $15 an hour, helping local families keep more of their money and invest in their community. Jones also supported measures that will create a high-wage economy for job seekers with both House Bills 2093 and 1594, which offer tax credits for employers who hire people and vocational job-trainings.

Jones also supported the Fair Tax plan that would cut taxes on 99.8% of local taxpayers. The wealthiest would be required to pay more, generating more than $3 billion in new revenue every year to stabilize state finances, and fund schools, health care and other essential services for local families. The Fair Tax would also help families save more money on their property taxes and offers middle-class families new child tax credits.

“It is extremely unfair that families in my area pay more in taxes than the wealthiest in Illinois,” said Jones. “The Fair Tax amendment is the right thing to do to begin offering people tax relief, which will also help strengthen the middle class.”

Jones supported House Bill 471, which tasks the Department of Insurance to conduct rate-reviews on big insurance companies and block double-digit premium increase. This measure will keep a necessary check on insurance companies from over-charging their consumers on plans that are supposed to protect from a medical emergency. Another measure Jones championed was Senate Bill 2026. While the Trump administration is offering states waivers which would strip protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions, this would prevent Illinois from entering into such agreements that deny people care.

“I have fought to protect is people’s access to affordable health care,” said Jones. “Donald Trump and his allies are fighting every day to strip away health care protections for the most vulnerable, but I supported vital legislation to prevent that from happening in Illinois.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Community colleges, high schools and major regional employers would be able to apply for state funding to create and operate new job training programs under legislation sponsored by state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, which passed both houses of the General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support and is expected to arrive on the governor’s desk.

“Illinois has a serious shortage of skilled workers for jobs that pay $35 an hour or more,” said Halpin. “This legislation gives employers the resources they need to create customized job training programs that keep pace with quickly-evolving technology, therefore preparing the next generation of workers for long-term, high-wage jobs.”

Halpin’s Senate Bill 1919 brings together community colleges, high schools and employers to help grow the economy and prepare workers for high-wage jobs by creating the 21st Century Employment Grant Program. The program would enable employers to enter into public-private partnerships to create customized job training programs specific to skills that are in the most demand and the hardest for businesses to find.

“As business’ demand for skilled workers continues to increase, we need to address the disconnect between what high schools and community colleges are teaching and what skills employers are looking for in workers,” said Halpin. “This means directly involving employers in efforts to expand vocational and technical education, so that their needs are being met and prospective workers are prepared for good-paying jobs.”