AURORA, Ill. – Continuing to protect Illinois Veterans, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, has passed legislation to create the Veterans Service-Related Ailments Task Force to work along the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) to find new, efficient ways to help the IDVA advocate for Veterans so they can receive world-class healthcare.

“Over the years we have fielded many complaints from Veterans and Veteran Organizations stating that something needs to be done to systematically improve how they receive health care and medical claims,” said Kifowit. “The Veterans Service-Related Ailments Task Force is a task force made by Veterans, for Veterans to find new solutions that will make healthcare for our service men and women more efficient and effective.”

After reports that various community based hospitals are experiencing a backlog of unpaid VA medical claims dating back years, the legislature is seeking legislative changes to address many issues. Kifowit passed legislation to create the task force to review and make recommendations regarding Veterans’ service-related ailments that are not recognized by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA); and assess ways in which the state can improve the rate at which disability compensation claims are approved by the federal government, solving disparities between state and federal jurisdictions.

The task force will be required to meet once every two months and report their findings to the General Assembly and the Governor by the end of 2022.

“Creating this task force is a good first step to find ways we could better protect Veterans in Illinois,” said Kifowit. “I’m excited to work along the task force to provide oversight and solutions to the IDVA to ensure our service men and women can receive some of the best health care in the country.”

AURORA, Ill. – In response to constituent concerns about the increased cost of trailer fees, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, co-sponsored legislation to lower the annual registration fee on trailers to help residents save money.

“By working in a bi-partisan fashion with my colleagues to pass a bill that reduces this fee will save not only Illinois residents and small non-profits, such as Boy Scouts, significant money,” said Kifowit. “We identified an issue that constituents and groups such as A.B.A.T.E. brought to us and we worked together, to provide an agreed solution by both parties.”

 Kifowit co-sponsored Senate Bill 58 to reduce the annual registration fee for flat weight trailers weighing 3,000 lbs. or less from $118 to $36. The previous fee of $118 annually was extremely burdensome for Illinois residents, small businesses, non-profits and outdoors groups that are required to use a trailer to transport heavy objects, vehicles or supplies and gear that would otherwise not be able to fit in a vehicle. SB 58 passed both the House and Senate with unanimous, bi-partisan support. When signed by the governor, the fee reduction will take effect on January 1, 2022.

“This was an important measure that we were able to support in a bipartisan manner to directly respond to the concerns of Illinoisans and groups all across the state,” said Kifowit. “This is an example of how we can work across the aisle to listen to our constituents as we move forward to work on bigger issues like ethics reforms, getting the state back on the right fiscal track after a global pandemic and creating jobs and programs to protect our more vulnerable residents.”

For more information about Senate Bill 58, or any other legislation discussed over the recent spring legislative session, please contact Kifowit’s full-time constituent service office at 630-585-1308 or email Stephanie.kifowit@att.net.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, issued the following statement upon the General Assembly’s adjournment of the spring legislative session this week:

“Earlier this year, we underwent a refreshing, long-sought-after change to House leadership as my colleagues and I came together to elect a new Speaker of the House, Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch. He will continue to bring a new prospective to Springfield as we work together to focus on solutions that will help every day residents of Illinois.

“After the past year and a pandemic-induced economic recession, the General Assembly was tasked to work together to find bipartisan solutions for a post COVID-19 Illinois with proposals that will create jobs, put residents back to work and get our economy back on track. To address the immediate needs of all Illinoisans, we passed legislation making healthcare more accessible, providing emergency housing relief to renters and landlords, improving energy savings for homeowners and providing tax credits to small businesses.

“As Chair of the Veteran Affairs Committee, I worked with Democrats and Republicans to investigate the failed practices at Veteran homes in Illinois during the pandemic. We’re working to hold individuals accountable for the mistakes that were made and to find solutions for protecting these honorable men and women.

“We were also tasked with putting together a responsible budget that must reflect the difficult year we’ve had in 2020 and early 2021. It was necessary to craft a budget that had significant cost savings while ensuring we would help our local economies out of the aftermath of a global pandemic. It was important that we were able to maintain care for our more vulnerable residents, reduce the tax burden felt by so many Illinoisans and fully fund our public schools.

“I look forward to continuing the hard work we have started this past spring as we look to rebuild our communities and rebound from the global pandemic.”

AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is hosting a veterans’ issues panel alongside state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Aurora, on Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Gillerson’s Grubbery, located at 33 W. New York St. in Aurora.

“I am extremely proud that we have such an active veteran community here in my district, with many different organizations and local leaders coming together daily to help address the issues facing veterans and other military personnel,” said Hernandez. “These brave men and women hold the highest honor of having served our country, and I am honoring this service by working hard to ensure they have the necessary benefits, aid and other important services they need. I encourage all veterans, serving military personnel, and military families to come to this panel to listen, ask questions about what we are doing in Springfield to properly serve them.”

Hernandez and Kifowit will be joined by acting director of Veterans’ Affairs, Linda Chapa LaVia, a long-time Aurora resident, as well as Hernandez’s seat predecessor in the Illinois House of Representatives. Additional panel members include Michael Wallace of Vet Tech US, Celia Rodriguez of the Aurora Veteran’s Council and members from Hernandez’s Veterans Citizens Advisory Committee. The panel will consist of 30 minute presentations from the panelists, followed by 30 minutes of open discussion from attendees. This event is free and open to the public.

“I hope that by providing a space for local veteran’s to discuss their issues and concerns with me can further advance the work we are doing in Springfield to address their needs,” said Hernandez. “These men and women have sacrificed so much in serving our country, and I am committed to doing everything I can to give back to this community. There is still more work to be done to address concerns of housing, healthcare, and financial stability for veterans, and I look forward to continuing that conversation right here in the district.”

For more information on this event, or to RSVP, please contact Hernandez’s constituent services office at 630-270-1848 or email RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com. 

AURORA, Ill. – Continuing her efforts to increase local economic growth, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, backed a measure to support businesses that invest in local jobs and apprenticeships that lead to good-paying employment opportunities.

“We must help grow local communities by expanding economic opportunities for Illinois residents,” said Kifowit. “It is important that we find ways to create sustainable jobs with fair wages and expand the apprenticeship programs here in Illinois.”

The Kifowit-backed Senate Bill 1591 creates a new tax credit for employers who employ apprentices in their businesses. There is a $3,500 limit on the credit, but can be raised to $5,000 in situations where the business or apprentice is in an area with high poverty or unemployment. The measure extends a tax credit for a wide range of research and development projects including software programs, manufacturing materials and an array of consumer products.

Senate Bill 1591 passed both the state House and Senate and was signed into law earlier this month.

“Illinois is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers,” said Kifowit. “We must do everything we can to get Illinois back on the right track, and this bill will help us to build a stronger Illinois and provide hands-on education for a new generation of skilled workers, allowing us to quickly rebuild local economies.”

AURORA, Ill. – Reiterating her support for local Veterans, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, is being joined by State Senator Christina Castro, and is inviting Veterans from Kane County to a Veteran Town Hall meeting next Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the Elburn American Legion Post 630, located at 112 N. Main St. from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

“I encourage all local Veterans who have questions about their benefits or would like to network with other Veterans to please stop by our meeting next Wednesday,” said Kifowit. “We will have a discussion about what work is being done in Washington and Springfield to benefit our Veterans.”

Kifowit will be joined by state Sen. Castro, D-Elgin, U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, and representatives from the Chicago Regional Office Veterans Benefits Administration. The event is intended to provide a legislative update to Veterans about what progress has been made in Washington and Springfield.

“The benefits afforded to veterans can often be complicated and difficult to understand,” Castro said. “This town hall gives us a unique opportunity to answer questions directly from veterans to ensure that the brave men and women who served our country are receiving the full scope of the benefits they deserve.”

AURORA, Ill. – To help local families access critical services, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, will host a Developmental Disabilities Resource Forum next Thursday, August 15 at 6 p.m. at the Aurora Library – Eola Branch, located at 555 South Eola Road. 

“Throughout my tenure as a state representative, I have heard from many individuals who have loved ones with special needs, and time and again they are struggling with the system that is in place” said Kifowit. “Next Thursday, we will be hosting a resource forum to highlight some of the services available to residents with developmental disabilities and their families; but also to try and provide guidance for those needing help.”

The Developmental Disabilities Resource Forum is a a featured event of Kifowit’s Third Thursday series, when she hosts an event free and open to everyone every third Thursday of the month. This August event, Kifowit will welcome Mariel Hamer from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, Kathy Ward from the Illinois Department of Human Services and Patti Boheme from Little Friends to discuss state and local resources available for people with developmental disabilities. This event is free and open to the public.

“I encourage anyone who has questions about providing for their disabled loved ones to come by our event next Thursday.,” said Kifowit. “Unfortunately the system is not user friendly, but my hope is that attendees can connect with resources or information that can help them.”

For more information about the event, or to RSVP, please contact Kifowit’s full-time constituent office at 630-585-1308 or email RSVP@ILDistrict84.com.

AURORA, Ill. – Continuing her advocacy for property tax relief for middle and working class families, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, was appointed to the Property Tax Relief Task Force this week after Governor J.B Pritzker signed legislation Kifowit sponsored into law.

“Providing tax relief to families in my district is one of my top priorities,” said Kifowit. “I am eager to use my appointment on the task force to demand much needed tax relief for local families.”

Kifowit co-sponsored Senate Bill 1932, which creates the bi-partisan Property Tax Relief Task Force. This unpaid task force will be charged with reviewing best practices in public policy strategies to create short and long term property tax relief for homeowners. The task force will work alongside the Department of Revenue and will collaborate with the State Board of Education and the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget as necessary. The task force is expected to deliver a report with recommendations by the end of the year.

Kifowit has voted for property tax relief legislation many times while in office and has shown to be a strong advocate for reducing property taxes. Every year, she proactively hosts events to help residents appeal their property taxes by inviting professionals to discuss the appeal process and provide information on property tax exemptions and relief programs that might be available for residents.

“The people in my community need real property tax relief,” said Kifowit. “I am ready and willing to get to work and find real solutions that will help lessen the tax burden for my residents.”

AURORA, Ill. – Continuing her efforts to help Veterans and their families, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, a fellow Marine Veteran, recently passed legislation that would move into Illinois and give Illinois Marine Organizations more oversight over the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund.

“It is important that our local Marine Organizations have input in where the collected money goes, and that we can keep the money we collect from our Marines here in Illinois to benefit Illinois Marine Veterans and their families,” Kifowit said. 

Prior to Kifowit’s legislation, owners of the U.S. Marine Corps license plates were charged an additional $5 fee, which was collected by the Secretary of State (SOS) and deposited into the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund. The revenues in that fund were then paid to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Inc. which is based in Pennsylvania, to provide grants used for college tuition by the children of former members of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Kifowit introduced House Bill 2293 to effectively change the beneficiary of the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund from the Pennsylvanian located Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Illinois, Inc, to allow Illinois Marine Veterans to have more oversight of the money they collected. Her legislation also expanded the eligibility for the scholarship program and the organizations that could use the grants.

In order to be eligible for the scholarships, students must be an Illinois resident, attend a college or university in Illinois, and maintain a minimum accumulative GPA of 2.00. Scholarships can only be used for the applicant’s first bachelor’s degree.

“Advocating for Veterans and military families is always a top priority of mine,” Kifowit said. “This legislation now provides more oversight of the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund assets to Marine Veterans here in Illinois and provides more opportunities to our Marines and their families here and not out of state.”

AURORA, Ill. – Continuing her advocacy for veterans, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, passed legislation to streamline the veteran ID process for the Secretary of State. Her legislation will make it easier for current and former men and women of our armed forces to obtain ID’s signifying they are veterans, and cutting away clerical mishaps and red tape.

“One complaint I always hear from fellow veterans is that the process to receive a veteran ID card issued by the Secretary of State’s office is flawed and difficult to manage,” said Kifowit. “Veterans are proud to have had the opportunity to serve our country and are honored to have the prestigious distinction on their ID cards and this legislation will make it easier for them to do so.”

Kifowit’s House Bill 3216 streamlines the process of the Secretary of State (SOS) to issue drivers licenses or identification cards (IDs) with the word “veteran” to qualified veterans by accepting a Department of Defense form DD-2 or a United States Department of Veterans Affairs summary of benefits letter without first requiring the veteran to have their paperwork stamped by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA).  

Kifowit believes that the current process to obtain a veteran ID is frustrating and requires too many steps that might prevent someone from even attempting to follow through the entire system. Kifowit’s legislation would streamline the process much like the Secretary of State’s process for veteran license plates.

“We have a successful method for veterans to receive their specified licenses plates from the Secretary of State and this legislation would take that process and similarly implement it for veteran ID issued by the same department,” said Kifowit. “It’s a simple fix for our veterans so they don’t have to continue to jump through more hoops just to obtain a veteran ID.”

The legislation passed unanimously through both the house and senate. Governor Pritzker signed it into law Monday.