In This Issue
Legislative Updates
Mental Health Awareness Panel
May Virtual Coffee & Conversation
Upcoming Events
Museum Pass
Dear Friends,
I hope you have been able to enjoy the warmer weather as we say goodbye to April and hello to May.
Today marks the beginning of the final four weeks of Illinois’ spring legislative session. There’s much to do in this final month in Springfield, as House bills work their way through the Senate and Senate bills do the same through the House. Budget negotiations also ramp up, and I’ll be spending more time in working groups as a member of the Appropriations-Higher Education and Appropriations-Elementary/Secondary Education committees, where we go through these areas of the budget on a line-by-line basis.
The feedback from our community shapes the priorities that I will champion for our district in these important areas, as well as more generally through our state’s other budget pillars (Health & Human Services, Public Safety, and General Services). I look forward to reporting back to you the outcomes of these negotiations in future newsletters, town halls, citizen advisory panels, and monthly coffees.
You should have received information on all these events, plus more, in a recently sent district postcard. Next week, for example, I’m excited to host a panel that will highlight some of the key mental health resources available in our community. At any time of the year, you can also sign up for our district’s museum pass--its especially popular over the summer months, so I encourage you to sign up as soon as you think you might use it.
Please never hesitate to let me know if there is anything you would like to share with me and my office, as we are here to help and serve you.
Sincerely,
Janet
Legislative Updates
In the March newsletter, I provided details on the bills from the 41st district that have passed the House. Those bills must now pass through Senate committees and the Senate floor.
By the same token, Senate bills must now make their way through House committees and the House floor. (Illinois’ legislative process is very similar to that of the federal process, and the classic School House Rocks “I’m Just a Bill” is a great refresher on the steps.) These are the Senate bills that I will be working on over the coming weeks:
SB2682 - Women in Technology Task Force. This grassroots effort by local constituents focuses on getting more women into the workforce in technology positions. The task force is charged with using evidence-based best practices to carry out its mandate.
SB3349 - Global Scholars Certificate. We worked with a local educator on this bill, which provides students throughout Illinois with greater access to the State Global Scholars Certificate by providing them with a remote option.
SB3547 - Mammography Pamphlet. This bill updates the information provided in published materials on screening and detection of breast cancer by removing outdated language and focusing on mammography as the primary method for early detection.
Mental Health Awareness Month Panel
Join me and a panel of local mental health experts and providers to learn about the signs and symptoms of mental health concerns, as well as how to help those around you who may be struggling.
What: Mental Health Awareness Month Panel
When: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 beginning at 7:00 pm
Where: Virtual Event
Virtual May Coffee & Conversation
Because the Illinois House is scheduled to be in session almost each day in May, including weekends, we’re scheduling a virtual Coffee & Conversation for May. Please join me and your neighbors as we gather for informal catching-up and conversation.
What: Coffee & Conversation with me and your neighbors
When: Saturday, May 25, 2024 from 10:00 to 11:00 am
Where: Virtual over Zoom
Upcoming Events
We hope you received our mailer with all the 41st district’s upcoming events for the next few months. We have lots planned to meet your needs and would love to see you at any or all of these events in the coming months. As a reminder, here are a few that are coming up:
Monthly Coffee & Conversations – We meet on a Saturday of each month so be sure to visit our website to ensure you have all the details.
Shred Day – While this year’s shred event has already taken place, we generally expect to sponsor a shred event on the weekend following April’s tax filing deadline each year.
Mental Health Awareness Panel – Taking place May 7; see above for details.
Citizen Advisory Panels – Help set our district’s legislative priorities at these topic-specific panels that will cover education, women rights/ issues, small business & economy, health care, senior citizen issues, environment, and diversity & inclusion.
Town Hall – Listen and ask questions about this year’s legislative activity.
Heroes & Helicopters Showcase – This third annual event, which features a helicopter landing demonstration, is always fun for the whole family.
Waterway Cleanup Hike – Join me in helping to keep our waterways clean—key to creating a sustainable environment and future.
Mobile Museum of Tolerance – Learn about a wide range of important topics, including the civil rights movement and media literacy.
Museum Pass
Many in our community have already been able to use our district’s Museum Pass, and we’re excited to offer it as you make your spring and summer plans. More than a dozen Chicagoland museums and parks offer complimentary visits for you and up to three additional visitors with the pass.
The pass is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be picked-up and returned to our district office. Once we have your request, we will contact you to arrange a time to pick up the pass and accompanying authorization of use letter.
Below is the current list of institutions that participate in this program:
Adler Planetarium
The Art Institute of Chicago
Brookfield Zoo/CZS
Chicago Academy of Sciences/ Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Chicago Botanic Garden
Chicago Children’s Museum
Chicago History Museum
DuSable Museum of African American History
The Field Museum
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
Lincoln Park Zoo
Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Science and Industry
National Museum of Mexican Art
National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
John G. Shedd Aquarium
