WEST CHICAGO, Ill. – To ensure families have the proper resources necessary to live, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, is highlighting the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG).

“For families struggling to make ends meet, these community assistance programs are necessary to ensure every resident has the resources necessary to live a healthy life,” said Hirschauer. “Many families struggled financially prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID has only made the situation worse. These funds are a lifeline for many families.”

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity just announced $327 million in new funding for LIHEAP and CSBG. LIHEAP and CSBG offers financial assistance for vulnerable residents to use on rent, utilities, food and other household expenses. To qualify for LIHEAP, households must demonstrate they meet the expanded income requirements of 200% of the poverty level, regardless of immigration status.  Recommended documents for application include Social Security Number, or I-TIN, or other identification and proof of income. Applicants need to supply their utility bill for LIHEAP and lease for rental assistance. The remote application for LIHEAP and CSBG is available now on helpillinoisfamilies.com. To help eliminate any barriers to the application process, the State also provides a hotline service with multilingual assistance in over 30 languages. Residents may visit their local CAA in-person or call the hotline at 1-833-711-0374.

“This program is essential for helping our neighbors in need,” continued Hirschauer. “I highly recommend sharing this information with anyone it could help. As a state, we are focused on supporting all families.”

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. –  To help local residents safely dispose of old documents, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, is hosting a Free Community Shred Day on Aug. 28 at Leman Middle School in West Chicago. 

“This shred event is an easy way to get rid of old, sensitive documents without worry,” Hirschauer said. “Instead of simply throwing out old bills, tax returns or any other documents with confidential or personally identifiable information, residents can bring their old papers to Leman Middle School and dispose of them safely.”

Hirschauer is hosting a Free Community Shred Day in partnership with state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, on Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Leman Middle School, located at 238 E. Hazel St. in West Chicago. The event is free and open to the public. Residents can bring up to 3 boxes or 2 paper bags of old documents with all paperclips and staples removed previously. Attendees are encouraged  to take precautions against COVID-19 by wearing a personal protective mask since children or other vulnerable individuals might be present. 

“Identity theft can affect anyone and shredding old documents can help reduce the chances of scammers or criminals getting ahold of personal information,” Hirschauer said. “I encourage all local residents to take advantage of this opportunity to protect themselves against identity theft and to make their homes cleaner by getting rid of old documents in a safe manner.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Hormonal contraceptives will soon be available without a doctor’s prescription in Illinois under a new law backed by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia.

“Birth control is not only a safe and effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy, but also commonly used to manage painful periods and symptoms of certain medical conditions,” said Hirschauer. “Birth control saves and changes lives, and it should be easily accessible. This new law reduces barriers to reproductive health care, giving more women the ability to choose the birth control method that’s best for their health, lifestyle and priorities.”

Signed into law on Thursday, the Hirschauer-sponsored House Bill 135 creates a pathway for pharmacists to dispense hormonal contraception in Illinois. By making birth control available over the counter, the measure eliminates the need to visit a doctor’s office to obtain or renew a prescription.

“There are a variety of circumstances that may make it difficult for women to fit in a doctor’s appointment, including a busy work schedule, lack of child care or unreliable transportation,” said Hirschauer. “Allowing women to get birth control directly from a pharmacist is a critical step toward improving equitable access to reproductive health care in Illinois, and I am glad to see this bill signed into law.”

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Fighting to curb the flow of illegal firearms and prevent violence, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, passed legislation Saturday to strengthen the state’s gun licensing system. Hirschauer’s House Bill 1091, dubbed the Block Illegal Ownership and Fix the FOID bill, now moves to the Senate for consideration.

“Gun violence is a public health issue that affects far too many families and communities,” said Hirschauer, a longtime volunteer with the gun safety group Moms Demand Action. “As the Aurora shooting tragically illustrated, there are loopholes in Illinois’ gun laws that allow dangerous criminals to possess and use firearms, even after their FOID card has been revoked. This bill takes crucial steps toward preventing the ongoing plague of gun violence and mass shootings.”

The evidence-based gun safety measure makes several changes to Illinois’ gun owner licensing laws by:

• Requiring background checks for all gun purchases, including person-to-person, private sales;
• Verifying the identity of FOID card applicants through a one-time fingerprint check; 
• Enabling the Illinois State Police to retrieve guns once a FOID card is revoked; and
• Dedicating life-saving mental health funding for communities most impacted by gun violence.

“As a longtime commonsense gun reform advocate, I commend my colleague Rep. Maura Hirschauer for her leadership on this bill which shuts the door on existing loopholes in current law to prevent firearms from reaching the hands of bad actors,” said Rep. Kathleen Willis. “The proliferation of gun violence in our communities and across the country needs to be met with evidence-based gun violence prevention measures, and that is precisely what this bill does.”

“Protecting loved ones from gun violence is a visceral issue that connects with people across the state, especially parents,” said Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “I’m proud to support Rep. Hirschauer’s bill because it offers proven measures that will keep kids and families safe. This is a straightforward proposal to address gun violence given the decades-long stalemate at the federal level, and I hope my Senate colleagues give it strong consideration.”

Numerous studies have shown the widespread threat of gun violence. Nearly 1,400 Illinoisans die every year due to gun violence, one in 10 being children or teenagers. Nearly 40% of gun deaths are due to suicide, also highlighting the importance of another gun safety bill passed by the House earlier this session: Rep. Stoneback’s bill, House Bill 1092, to improve Firearm Restraining Orders to prevent those who may pose harm to themselves or others from acquiring a gun.

For more information about either bill, visit ilga.gov.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Menstruating students in 4th through 12th grade would have free access to tampons and pads in school bathrooms under a plan sponsored by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, which passed the House last week.

“Everyone who menstruates can relate to the discomfort and embarrassment that comes with not having access to period products when you’re bleeding through your clothes,” said Hirschauer. “There are so many reasons why students might not have a tampon or pad with them. For those from low-income families, it’s often an added expense they simply can’t afford. And regardless of their financial situation, younger students who are starting their period for the first time will probably be caught off guard and without a pad.”  

Under current state law, schools are required to make menstrual products available to students in at least one bathroom in the building, which is typically located within the nurse’s office. The Hirschauer-backed House Bill 156 aims to make these products more easily accessible by requiring they be stocked in all bathrooms that students use.

“If a student realizes they’ve started their period during the school day, we want them to be able to quickly and discretely get what they need so they can return to class,” said Hirschauer. “This bill recognizes that periods are a normal part of life and that menstrual products are as much of a necessity as other hygiene items like soap and toilet paper. I was glad to see it pass the House recently and look forward to this bill becoming law.”  

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Measures initially put in place to expand voting access during the pandemic will become permanent in Illinois under a new state law supported by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia.

“Voting and participating in the democratic process are key privileges we have as citizens of Illinois and the United States,” said Hirschauer. “But we need to make sure that all those wanting to vote have the ability to do so, and that we aren’t making things harder for people with disabilities, health issues or seniors to vote. With expanded access to ballot drop boxes and curbside voting, we are making sure residents have every opportunity to use their voice.”

Hirschauer sponsored House Bill 1871, which was recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The measure allows local election officials to continue setting up secure drop boxes for mail-in ballots and also clarifies that all vote by mail ballots returned must be accepted, even those without proper postage. Additionally, the new law allows seniors and others who may be unable to stand in line to vote to cast their ballot from their car. While these modifications to state election law were initially designed to facilitate social distancing in response to COVID-19, Hirschauer acknowledges they had a positive impact and worked to make them permanent for all future elections.

“Voting is a fundamental right, and I am so glad to be a part of this bill to expand voting opportunities to residents,” said Hirschauer. “When other states around the country are looking to curb voting access, I am proud to see Illinois at the forefront of protecting voting rights.”