ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – As part of her efforts to provide useful services to residents, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, will be holding a free “Drive Thru Shred Event” with Romeoville Mayor John Noak on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Romeoville Village Hall, located at 105 W. Romeo Rd in Romeoville.

“Whether it’s to get rid of clutter or to protect yourself against someone potentially getting access to your sensitive information, this shred day is the perfect opportunity for residents to get rid of papers laying around their home,” said Manley. “I would like to thank Mayor Noak for partnering with me to offer this service to our community.”

Manley’s shred event provides residents with the opportunity to safely dispose of their documents that contain personal information. Residents may bring up to three boxes of documents to shred. The Will County Sheriff’s Department will also be at the event to offer residents the opportunity to dispose of their unneeded medicines. The event is free and open to the public.

“Bringing services into the district to help make the lives of residents easier is an important part of my work as a state representative,” said Manley. “I highly encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of their unneeded documents.”

For more information, please contact Manley’s constituent office at (815) 725-2741 or email repmanley@gmail.com.

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Ahead of the launch of the Illinois Secretary of State’s new Illinois Insurance Verification System (ILIVS), state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is promoting road safety and urging drivers to verify they are insured.

“Getting behind the wheel of any motorized vehicle and driving on our roadways comes with an enormous amount of personal responsibility. That includes the responsibility to carry insurance,” said Manley. “When we are on the roads we should have peace of mind that other drivers are practicing safe driving habits and are insured. Accidents happen, so maintaining automobile insurance is incredibly important.”

To keep local roadways safer, Manley is alerting residents to the importance of maintaining auto insurance. Starting July 1, the Illinois Secretary of State will begin cracking down on uninsured drivers through the new ILIVS, which will randomly check the insurance status of vehicles registered in Illinois twice per year. If a vehicle is found to be uninsured, the owner will receive a letter requesting proof of insurance. Drivers who are uninsured will be fined $100 and will face license plate suspension. For more information, visit cyberdriveillinois.com.

“In Illinois, maintaining auto insurance is the law. The new insurance verification system will crack down on uninsured motorists and keep our roads safer,” continued Manley. “Driving while uninsured is illegal. To avoid plate suspension or other penalties, uninsured drivers should get insurance coverage immediately.”

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – In order to help provide additional resources to survivors of domestic abuse, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, helped pass legislation that would create easy-to-carry cards containing vital information that keeps survivors safe.

“While we have mechanisms in place that help protect survivors of domestic abuse, they are not helpful when people do not have enough information to use them properly,” said Manley. “Orders of protection are important ways to keep abusers away from those they may harm, and this legislation will help ensure that orders of protection are being utilized and enforced.”

Currently, orders of protection are written on paper, which can degrade over time. To ensure these vital documents are legible and easily accessible, Manley co-sponsored House Bill 3485 which creates “Hope” cards. These laminated, wallet-sized cards contain identifying information about the respondent of an order of protection that can be given to co-workers, friends, or others to ensure they have the information they need to recognize the abuser.

During her time in the General Assembly, Manley has worked to provide support to survivors of abuse. This session, she backed legislation that would allow civil no-contact orders to be permanent against those convicted of sex crimes. She also supported legislation creating the Domestic Violence Task Force, which would review current Illinois law and law enforcement practices regarding domestic violence.

“After everything that they have been through, it is critical that we provide as much support and protection to survivors as possible to ensure they can live safely,” said Manley. “While we have made progress in ensuring that Illinois law is as supportive as possible to survivors, there is still more that can be done, and I will continue to work in Springfield to ensure that we are working with survivors to address their needs and keep them safe.”

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – In order to incentivize businesses to help their employees save for college, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, helped pass legislation out of the House of Representatives extending a tax credit for businesses that contribute to employee college saving plans.

“With college expenses a major barrier to entry for many working people, it is important that we are providing ample resources to those looking to pursue a higher education,” said Manley. “Incentivizing companies to pitch in to their employees’ college saving plans is a great way to help residents achieve their goals.”

Manley voted in favor of the bipartisan Senate Bill 340, which extends a tax credit given to employers matching an employee’s contribution to a qualified college savings account from Dec. 31, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2024. Employers receive a tax credit equal to 25% of the employee’s contribution up to $500 per employee.

Manley has been a strong supporter of helping residents pursue a higher education. This session, she supported the Know Before you Owe Act, which protects students from taking on unnecessary and expensive private loans when they are still eligible for federal loans, which generally have more favorable interest rates. Manley has also held Financial Aid Seminars in the past, helping parents and students maximize their potential savings.

“When it comes to investing in the future, there is little more important than ensuring that those who want to go to college have the ability to do so,” said Manley. “Not only does this enrich the lives of residents, it also makes Illinois a more attractive place for companies and helps grow our economy.”

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – In order to keep guns out of the wrong hands, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, helped pass legislation that would strengthen Illinois’ “Red Flag” laws, which allow family members to petition the court to remove guns from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others.

“With the potential dangers that guns present, it is critical that those who have access to guns use them responsibly,” said Manley. “In order to keep everyone safe, there must be avenues to alert authorities if guns fall into the hands of someone who may use them in unsafe ways.”

Illinois currently has laws in place allowing family members and law enforcement to petition for a firearm restraining order (FRO), which temporarily prohibits an individual from access guns if they are found to be dangerous to themselves or others. To help strengthen these laws, Manley voted for House Bill 1092, which creates a public awareness campaign about FROs, requires annual trainings for law enforcement on how to use FROs, and allows more family members to petition the court for an FRO.

Throughout her time in the General Assembly, Manley has been a staunch supporter of commonsense gun laws. In previous sessions, she supported commonsense licensing standards for gun dealers. Manley also was a cosponsor for the bipartisan legislation that created FROs.

“While it is important that responsible gun owners are able to exercise their rights, it is also critical for the safety of our community that we have laws in place to crack down on illegal and unsafe gun ownership,” said Manley. “I remain committed to protecting our community and will continue to find ways to increase gun safety in Illinois.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As the legislative session for the 101st General Assembly comes to a close, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, reflects on legislation passed by the General Assembly to help people in her district.  

“My job in Springfield is to make tough decisions that are going to benefit our community and the state as a whole. After years of feeling like we were just taking on water, this year we finally passed significant reforms that will help build a stronger middle class across the state,” said Manley.  “We passed a realistic, balanced budget that will absolutely control spending while paying down the enormous backlog of unpaid bills racked up by the previous administration.  This progress will allow for greater investments toward health care, education and services for our most vulnerable citizens.”

Manley’s focus this legislative session was to provide financial relief to middle class families. She was able to accomplish this by raising the minimum wage, taking steps to seriously overhaul the state’s property tax system eliminating double taxation on residents who live in Illinois and work out of state, working to close the wage gap for women and minorities, and passing a balanced budget that will address the backlog of unpaid bills that the failed Rauner administration’s left us to deal with. Manley also voted for the Fair Tax amendment which will provide tax relief to 99% of taxpayers in the 98th District if it’s enacted.

Manley also sponsored and passed legislation recommended by her very active legislative advisory committees. House Bill 3503, suggested by her Retirees Legislative Advisory committee will help make hearing aids more affordable by requiring insurance companies to help cover the cost. House Bill 2188, advocated by her Women’s Legislative Advisory Committee, to change the school physical form to include questions that will provide doctors with the opportunity to educate parents about the mental health of their children.

“While lawmakers passed legislation to address many issues facing our state, I am incredibly proud to have led efforts to pass legislation that came from members here in our community,” continued Manley. “Their expertise and input helped me to be a strong advocate for our local families while in Springfield.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As part of her work to raise awareness and support efforts to end all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is spearheading a measure that would establish a full-time Dementia Coordinator position at the Illinois Department of Public Health. The coordinator would be responsible for implementing the existing Illinois Alzheimer’s Disease State Plan which has been neglected due to a lack of funding throughout the state budget impasse.

“The previous administration’s unprecedented budget impasse decimated funding for research and care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. My legislation will expand the care, support, education, and awareness provided by the Department of Public Health to families and caregivers who are impacted by this terrible disease,” said Manley. “Each year more and more people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and at earlier ages. This bill will address the vital needs of Illinois families and caregivers who face daily emotional, physical and financial challenges that come with all forms of dementia-related illnesses.”

The creation of the Dementia Coordinator position will have no fiscal impact as it will be funded with existing dollars raised from an income tax check-off program, which is comprised of voluntary contributions from Illinois residents who check a box on their income tax return for Alzheimer’s funding each year. Manley has been a long-time advocate for policies that help individuals facing Alzheimer’s disease, and through this legislation, Illinois can better coordinate care and support for the over 230,000 Illinoisans living with Alzheimer’s and their over 590,000 caregivers without a fiscal impact to the State.

“If we’re going to beat Alzheimer’s we need to focus on how and where we direct resources, and using an existing revenue source from the income tax check-off, which continues to increase each year, helps us toward our goal,” continued Manley. “Alzheimer’s and other related dementia diseases are one of the most expensive diseases to manage and treat. It effects hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans, so we need to focus on a well-managed coordinated effort of care.”

For more information, please contact Manley’s constituent service office at 815-725-2741 or RepManley@gmail.com.

JOLIET, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is partnering with State Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, D-Shorewood, to host a free community shred and prescription recycling event next month.

“Shredding documents with personally identifiable information, like tax returns, bank statements and old bills, is very important to help protect yourself from scammers and identity thieves,” said Manley.  “I encourage area residents to stop by our shred day to safely destroy their old documents for free.  This is not only an opportunity to protect yourself from identity fraud, but is also a great chance to do some spring cleaning and get rid of old paperwork you no longer need.”

Local residents are encouraged to join Manley and Bertino-Tarrant’s for their free community shred and prescription recycling event on Saturday, June 15 from 9 a.m. to noon at Troy Craughwell Elementary School, located at 3333 Black Rd. in Joliet.  Residents are invited to stop by with a maximum of two boxes full of documents with sensitive information like medical bills, bank statements, and old credit cards to shred. The Romeoville Police Department will also be providing free medicine disposal.

“Shredding old, unneeded documents helps to ensure that they do not get into the wrong hands, and decreases your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft,” said Bertino-Tarrant. “We encourage local residents to stop by our free community shred day.  We hope to see you there.”

JOLIET, Ill. – Illinois House Assistant Majority Leader Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, recently attended the groundbreaking for Joliet Area Community Hospice’s (JACH) facility expansion. Hospice staff, elected officials and community members gathered on April 24 to celebrate the next phase of JACH’s $3.5 million expansion.

“I’d like to congratulate Joliet Area Community Hospice for breaking ground on the expansion of the hospice home,” said Manley. “Last year, I passed legislation to increase the number of beds that hospice homes may have, which has helped Joliet Area Community Hospice to make services available to more people that need them.” 

The expansion will improve the patient and family experience with a larger, brighter and more efficient environment. The Hospice home will add more patient beds and the central nursing station will be replaced by nursing cubbies throughout the facility so nurses can be closer to patients. The kitchen and spiritual space will be expanded, and each patient room will have a refrigerator, sink and access to a private patio.

“We gathered here 17 years ago for the first expansion of the facility,” said JACH Board of Directors Chair Geoffery Tyron. “It’s time to refresh due to the need for more inpatient care. It’s a valuable service to the community.”

JOLIET, Ill. – To help raise awareness about sexual assault, State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, recently attended the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.

“While we continue to make positive strides to protect women, the statistics show that one in five women will be the victim of sexual assault at some point during their lifetime,” said Manley. “I will continue to fight for legislative action that addresses violence against women.”

Manley, pictured left, has made it a priority to advocate for legislation that protects survivors of sexual violence, including House Bill 2135, which if signed into law will remove the statute of limitations on the prosecution of sex crimes.

“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an annual event that emphasizes the critically important role men play in ending sexual assault against women,” said Ines Kutlesa, CEO of Guardian Angel Community Services. “While we had the worst weather, we had the highest turnout out at this year’s event. The rain and cold didn’t deter the wonderful men in our community symbolically taking a stand for women and walking a mile “in her shoes.” We are grateful to everyone who joined us to raise awareness and funds in support of vital programming provided through Guardian Angel’s Sexual Assault Services Center.”