CHICAGO – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, announced the release of funds for the launch of 13 clean energy contractor job creation hubs to be built across Illinois, with some set to begin operation in Chicago soon.

“The jobs created by these clean energy contractor hubs are just one instance of the economic benefits Illinois will see in our role leading the country’s growth of alternative fuel sources,’ Mah said. “Taking advantage of opportunities in emerging sectors is the key to securing a better future for families in this community.”

As part of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), is launching a $21 million dollar program to establish 13 community-based contractor incubator hubs around the state. The hubs are designed to assist clean energy contractors-especially those in underserved areas-with growing their businesses. Ultimately, the goal of this program is to establish an interconnected set of statewide workforce development support systems, and fuel the growth of the clean energy sector in Illinois.

“Chicago’s status as a major economic center makes us ideal to take the reins of a growing technological area,” Mah said. “Following the implementation of CEJA programs and dispersal of funding, I’m anticipating substantial growth in our community and across Illinois.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, is joining with the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) to present a 2023 Artist Fellowship Award (AFA) to saxophonist and composer Nick Mazzarella on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 6 p.m., at the National Museum of Mexican Art on 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago.

“With this award, we are recognizing Mr. Mazzarella’s wonderful additions to the Illinois Arts, both for the entertainment his work has brought to countless audiences, and for the impact he has made in our shared history,” Mah said. “From Sam Cooke to Mavis Staples, Illinois artists occupy a unique place in American music, and Mr. Mazzarella has made his own brilliant contribution to that tapestry. I feel privileged to offer him this honor.”

The IACA is proud to be able to provide Illinois artists with unrestricted funds to support their creative endeavors and artistic growth. The AFA Program offered funding in 8 artistic disciplines. This year’s Fellowship and Finalist Award recipients were selected from 283 Illinois based creative artists working in the disciplines of Choreography, Media Arts (category includes audio art, digital art, film and video), Music Composition, Music Improvisation, New Performance Forms, Poetry, Prose, and Scriptworks.

“The Artist Fellowship Awards celebrate the backbone of Illinois’ rich cultural history: its artists,” said Illinois Arts Council Executive Director, Joshua Davis-Ruperto. “Continued direct support to artists like Nick shows that the state of Illinois believes in the positive impact arts and culture can have on quality of life and the strengthening of local economies. I would like to personally thank Representative Mah for her continued support for Illinois’ creative sector.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, recently passed a measure to cut costs for workers purchasing transit passes by requiring certain large employers in the Chicago area to offer the option of paying for those passes with pre-tax wages.

“Commuting is an essential aspect of employment, and exacting a substantial financial toll on working people because they have to commute is an unfair burden,” Mah said. “This bill will empower workers to exercise their rights which will get us more transit riders, cleaner air and higher take-home pay for working people.”

House Bill 2068 would mandate businesses with more than 50 workers offer the transit benefit through their payroll system if they are located within a mile of regular transit service in the Chicago area.

It passed the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support.

“Especially for people who are paid entry-level wages, using pre-tax wages to purchase monthly transit passes can make a substantial difference in take-home pay,” Mah said. “I hope employers of all kinds start early and offer this benefit to their workers before the effective date of January, 1 of next year.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, is working to cap insulin costs for patients as part of her work to lower prescription drug prices for Illinoisans.

“It is wrong for patients in need of insulin treatments to be priced out of lifesaving health care,” Mah said. “In Illinois, we will put an end to large insurance corporations and prescription drug companies putting profits ahead of people.”

To ensure that individuals in need of insulin do not face outrageous out-of-pocket costs, Mah is sponsoring Senate Bill 667 to cap co-payments for insulin at $100 per month. Mah’s measure would also direct the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to investigate and report on additional consumer protections for insulin pricing. Mah’s legislation would make Illinois the second state after Colorado to cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin treatments.

“Building a stronger Illinois means lowering prescription drug prices for patients and protecting critical health care access,” Mah said. “No person should be forced to choose between having lifesaving insulin and keeping a roof over their head or putting food on their table. This measure will help ensure that drug companies aren’t putting patients in a bind by charging outrageous and unreasonable prices.”

Mah represents the 2nd District, which includes the Chicago neighborhoods of Back of the Yards, Bridgeport, Brighton Park, Chinatown, McKinley Park, and Pilsen.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, received recognition as an environmental champion for her 100% pro-environment voting record from the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) for the 2019 legislative session.

“I’m proud to take bold action for environmental stewardship in order for Illinoisans to access clean air, clean energy and clean water,” Mah said. “In this historic legislative session, I supported critical measures to allow our state to regulate greenhouse gases, invest in clean water infrastructure and achieve 100% renewable energy standards.”

Mah, a member of the House Energy & Environment Committee, worked with the IEC and other environmental advocates in support of a variety of measures to develop sustainable environmental policies. Mah cosponsored House Bill 3624, the Clean Energy Jobs Act, to put Illinois on a path to 100% clean energy and provide economic development opportunities throughout the state. Mah also supported House Bill 3481, which repealed a measure that prevented the state from regulating greenhouse gases to combat climate change, and Senate Bill 2146, the Clean Water Workforce Pipeline Act, which creates funding for job-training programs in water infrastructure and promotes clean water infrastructure.

“At every opportunity, Rep. Mah voted in the best interest of our environment, and because of their 100% voting record on these 22 key pieces of legislation, IEC considers Rep. Mah an environmental leader in Springfield,” said IEC Executive Director Jen Walling. “We are honored by Rep. Mah’s dedication to Illinois’ environment and we look forward to working together in the future.”

Mah represents the 2nd District, which includes the Chicago neighborhoods of Back of the Yards, Bridgeport, Brighton Park, Chinatown, McKinley Park, and Pilsen.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – Illinois landlords will now be prohibited from using immigration status to harass or threaten tenants with eviction under a new law from state Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago.

“It is more important than ever for Illinois to stand up as an inclusive and welcoming state,” Mah said. “This law reflects our state’s values of openness and tolerance by protecting immigrant families in our communities from discriminatory landlords.”

Mah sponsored Senate Bill 1290, the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act, to restrict the ability of landlords to threaten, punish or evict a tenant based on their actual or perceived immigration status. The law also prohibits landlords from disclosing a tenant’s immigration status to law enforcement agencies. Illinois joins California as the second state to enact an immigrant tenant protection law.

“Unlike the administration of President Trump, which attacks and dehumanizes immigrants every chance it gets, it is clear that Illinois will fight to protect immigrants and immigrant families from discrimination, hate and intolerance,” Mah said. “This law will help families in our communities to live without the fear of losing their homes.”

Mah represents the 2nd District, which includes the Chicago neighborhoods of Back of the Yards, Bridgeport, Brighton Park, Chinatown, McKinley Park, and Pilsen.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, state Rep. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, and fellow members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus worked to advance a series of reforms this spring that will put in place additional state-level protections to combat Donald Trump’s bigoted agenda and ensure Illinois supports and lifts up its immigrant community.

“A college education or technical training is key to move up the socioeconomic ladder and it’s unacceptable that talented young people are being denied that opportunity because of their immigration status,” Hernandez said. “The Illinois RISE Act will ensure equity and opportunity for all of our young people.”

The following initiatives were championed by members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and now await Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s consideration:

• House Bill 1637 (Villanueva) will prohibit local law enforcement from entering into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that permit them to enforce family separation policies;
• House Bill 2691 (Hernandez) will ensure state financial aid is available to Illinois students regardless of race, immigration status or gender identity;
• Senate Bill 172 (state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, D-Chicago) will expand student body representation among the University of Illinois’ Board of Trustees by allowing undocumented students to serve as student trustees;
• Senate Bill 1166 (state Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago) will allow trained individuals to obtain certain occupational or professional licensure, regardless of their immigration status; and
• Senate Bill 1290 (state Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago) will make it unlawful for landlords to evict or harass a tenant based on their immigration status.

“It is up to us at the state level to protect local families from being torn apart by the bigoted agenda of Donald Trump,” Villanueva said. “By prohibiting local police from being deputized as ICE agents, we are building trust in local law enforcement as immigrant families will feel safe to call when their safety is at risk or when they need to report a crime in their community.” 

“Immigrant families work hard every day to contribute to our society. No one deserves to be threatened or harassed because of their immigration status,” Mah said. “This legislation will protect immigrant families from unscrupulous landlords, providing them much-needed peace of mind.”

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. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, issued the following statement Monday after supporting a Fair Tax constitutional amendment that would allow Illinois residents to change the state’s tax structure, a critical first step toward tax relief for more than 99 percent of local residents. 

“As I speak with people in our community, from small business owners to the workers they employ, it’s clear that middle-class families bear too much of a burden. I voted today to take the first step toward a tax system that puts our families first.

“A Fair Tax would save families in our community money, while allowing important programs and organizations, as well as our public schools, to have more stable funding. After years of fiscal instability, we have an opportunity now to move our state forward in a way that helps secure a strong middle class for generations to come. While there is certainly more work to be done to put Illinois back on track, passing the Fair Tax amendment today was a step forward in that direction.”

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. – Cancer patients would have greater access to innovative treatment technology under legislation sponsored by state Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, supporting the accreditation of an additional National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in Illinois.

“Cancer is a devastating diagnosis regardless of who receives it,” said Mah. “No matter where they live or their level of income, every cancer patient deserves the highest quality care for the best chance at beating their disease. Having a third NCI-designated cancer center in Illinois means new research and treatment options to offer patients hope.”

Illinois currently has two NCI-accredited cancer centers, both of which are located in Chicago. Mah is sponsoring House Joint Resolution 4, which supports the accreditation of a third NCI-designated cancer center in Illinois. This designation is given to medical facilities that are at the forefront of cancer research, treatment and clinical trials, which become eligible for exclusive federal funding opportunities with accreditation. In addition to bringing in millions of dollars in additional federal funding for cancer research, an additional NCI-designated cancer center would attract leading doctors to Illinois to help train the next generation of health care workers.

“With this legislation, Illinois has an opportunity to become a national leader in improving cancer care outcomes, and addressing health disparities,” said Mah. “This will have a major impact on the future of cancer treatment in Illinois, ultimately saving lives.”

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.