Dear Neighbors:
The season is beginning to change and I’m proud to report that we’ve made real progress fighting climate change here in Illinois. As our family settles in for another school year, I look forward to working with our community and my colleagues in Springfield to ensure that our students and small businesses can thrive again.
As always if you are in need of any assistance, please call my office at 847-486-8810.
Sincerely,
Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Legislative Review
Energy bill signed
Last week Governor Pritzker signed SB2408, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. This will make Illinois a national leader on green energy policy. This ambitious legislation will put our state on a path toward a 100% green energy future while also protecting consumers, jobs, promoting equitable energy policy and improving ethics standards.
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act:
- Establishes timelines to close fossil fuel plants putting Illinois on track to have 40% of the state’s energy needs being met by renewable sources by 2030, 50% by 2040 and 100% by 2050.
- Requires the Prairie State and CWLP Dallman coal-fired plants to be carbon-free or close by 2045, with a significant interim emissions reductions goal by 2035.
- Establishes a goal of 1 million electric vehicles in Illinois by 2030, and provides $4,000 credits to consumers purchasing EVs.
- Requires the ICC to initiate an investigation into how ratepayer funds were used in connection with the conduct outlined in ComEd’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement, potentially putting refunds back into residential ratepayers’ pockets.
- Keeps the nuclear power generation facilities at Byron and Dresden open to ensure continued power supply as we work towards the decarbonization of the energy sector.
- Diversifies workforce development, the bill establishes a statewide program to work with community-based organizations and ensure equity-focused populations are able to enter and compete for green energy jobs.
COVID-19 Recovery
Back to Business (B2B) Grant program is still accepting applications.The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is still accepting applications to the $250m Back to Business grant program. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, October 13th. For more information on the program and eligibility requirements visit DCEO’s website HERE.
The Skokie Public Library will be hosting a walk-in event on Thursday, September 24th for business owners looking for assistance with filing a grant application. You can find more information about this HERE.
Flick Park testing continues The COVID-19 testing center run by Northshore Clinical Labs in partnership with the Glenview Park District at Flick Park will continue to run through December 31st, 2021. Registration is required, you can make an appointment HERE.
Hours at the testing facility have been updated and are now:
Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (closed from 2-3 p.m.)
Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Get Vaccinated! As we continue to recover from COVID-19 I strongly encourage anyone who is able to get a vaccine to do so. It is easier than ever to get a safe and free vaccine.
You can easily find a list of providers close to you HERE
Education Expense Credit reminder. With school starting up, the Illinois Department of Revenue would like to remind parents they may qualify for the Education Expense credit.
This credit allows parents or legal guardians of a full-time K-12 student under the age of 21 to take a 25% tax credit on qualified education expenses over $250. You can read more about the credit on IDOR’s website HERE.
Combating Anti-AAPI Hate event October 14th
The evening of Thursday, October 14th I will be participating in a panel discussion alongside MWRD Commissioner Josina Morita and Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum. We will discuss the rise of Anti-Asian American hate crimes in the past year and what we can do to combat anti-AAPI racism and hate, educate about the history and stories of the AAPI community, and raise awareness of what individuals, communities, and institutions can do to be allies in this important work.
You can register for the event HERE. Masks will be required.
Manufacturing Job Fair – September 23rd
The Symbol Training Institute is hosting a manufacturing job fair this Thursday, September 23rd in Skokie! Click on the image below to register to attend!
WINGS Clothing Drive
Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton will be hosting a clothing drive on behalf of WINGS this afternoon, as well as on September 28th. Come drop off any gently used or like new clothing! All donations will be helping victims of domestic violence move on to self-sufficient and independent lives.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th through October 15th. This month is a time to celebrate the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history and culture of our country.
Evanston Public Library is hosting a series of events over the next month in order to celebrate, you can read the schedule HERE.
District Shout Out – District 225
In its annual report on school districts across the country, Niche has named Glenbrook District 225 as the second best school district in the country! You can read the district’s report card on Niche’s website HERE.
Events in the District
- Bike the Ridge! The City of Evanston will be closing Ridge Avenue between Howard and Church streets on Sunday, September 26th from 9 AM to 1 PM for bicyclists. There will also be live music and food trucks available at Ridgeville Park, more information can be found HERE.
- National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday, September 28th. The League of Women Voters will be at the Skokie Public Library helping individuals register to vote from 4 PM to 7 PM.
- The Wilmette Park District will be opening registration for late Fall programs to residents on September 28th, and to non-residents on October 5th. To see a list of the programs available visit the Park District’s website HERE.
Where’s Jen?
- I was invited by the Rutgers Asian Resource Center for Minority Aging Research to speak at their annual retreat about TEAACH and the importance of education among lawmakers and the public around AAPI issues.
- I joined my colleague Senator Omar Aquino, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the Cook County Public Defender’s office and other organizations to celebrate the signing of my bill, HB2790, into law. The bill, also known as Defenders for All, will allow the Cook County Public Defender’s office to represent immigrants who are in removal proceedings.
- As part of the Illinois Farm Bureau’s Adopt-A-Legislator program, I visited Lee County to tour several renewable energy sites including CHS Ethanol, a new community solar project in Paw Paw and the Mendota Hills Wind Farm. It was great to see the different forms of renewable energy being utilized in Illinois and how they can be effective in meeting our energy needs in the future.
- I was honored to receive the Excellent Community Service Award from the South Asian Welfare society and my friends Syed Ullah and Shah Qureshy.
