Category: News

Hirschauer-Backed Voting Bill to Strengthen Ballot Access Now Law

Posted on by Office of Maura Hirschauer
Hirschauer-Backed Voting Bill to Strengthen Ballot Access Now Law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Measures initially put in place to expand voting access during the pandemic will become permanent in Illinois under a new state law supported by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia.

“Voting and participating in the democratic process are key privileges we have as citizens of Illinois and the United States,” said Hirschauer. “But we need to make sure that all those wanting to vote have the ability to do so, and that we aren’t making things harder for people with disabilities, health issues or seniors to vote. With expanded access to ballot drop boxes and curbside voting, we are making sure residents have every opportunity to use their voice.”

Hirschauer sponsored House Bill 1871, which was recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The measure allows local election officials to continue setting up secure drop boxes for mail-in ballots and also clarifies that all vote by mail ballots returned must be accepted, even those without proper postage. Additionally, the new law allows seniors and others who may be unable to stand in line to vote to cast their ballot from their car. While these modifications to state election law were initially designed to facilitate social distancing in response to COVID-19, Hirschauer acknowledges they had a positive impact and worked to make them permanent for all future elections.

“Voting is a fundamental right, and I am so glad to be a part of this bill to expand voting opportunities to residents,” said Hirschauer. “When other states around the country are looking to curb voting access, I am proud to see Illinois at the forefront of protecting voting rights.”

Rep. Maura HirschauerRep. Maura Hirschauer

(D-Batavia)
49th District

Springfield Office:
276-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1653

District Office:
946 Neltnor Blvd #108
West Chicago IL 60185

The post Hirschauer-Backed Voting Bill to Strengthen Ballot Access Now Law appeared first on Illinois House Democratic Caucus.

Illinois Redistricting Hearings- Make Your Voice Heard

Posted on by Office of Maura Hirschauer
Illinois Redistricting Hearings- Make Your Voice Heard

I’m working to make local voices heard in the redistricting process.

IL Redistricting process: Upcoming hearings in our area

The House Redistricting Committee wants to hear from youThe House Redistricting Committee will hold three hearings in our area to hear from people in our community about demographic changes in our area and communities with similar needs. 

April 5 – Elgin (virtual) – 5:30pm

April 8 – West DuPage (virtual) – 3:00pm

April 9 – Aurora (In-person) – 4:00pm

Aurora City Hall, 44 East Downer Place
info & create witness slip on ilga.gov

There are 2 steps if you wish to submit written testimony or to speak before the committee (oral testimony): 

  1. Create a witness slip by clicking the info link above for the appropriate hearing, then clicking ‘Create Witness Slips’- fill out the form (use ‘Self’ in the fields for firm/organization unless you are representing a specific organization), and choose ‘oral’ or ‘written’ depending on the testimony you would like to share.
  2. Email RedistrictingCommittee@hds.ilga.gov – include date & region of hearing – and either your written testimony attached as a pdf file (YourName.pdf), or a brief description of the oral testimony you wish to share and your contact information.

Other Ways to Participate

Draw your District Maps

Visit The Illinois House Dems Redistricting Site for information on all the hearings around the state, to draw your own redistricting map, for information on the maps from the 2011 redistricting, and, most importantly, for information on citizen participation in this process.

West Chicago factory vaccinates 600 front-line workers

Posted on by Office of Maura Hirschauer
West Chicago factory vaccinates 600 front-line workers

On Monday, around 600 essential workers were able to receive their 1st COVID vaccination conveniently at their workplace after a collaboration between Jel-Sert, Jewel-Osco, DuPage County Health Department, Senator Villa’s Office, and my own office. All the moving parts came together to give the best protection individually to these workers who have been on the lines for the past year. They have great physical protection in place at work and now will have their immune systems trained to fight COVID as well! Thank you to all the individuals who helped to make this vaccination event happen and to each worker who chooses to protect themselves and their community

Read the article at the Daily Herald

Workers prepare to receive their vaccination
Medical providers at vaccination clinic

Newsletter: March News Roundup

Posted on by Office of Maura Hirschauer
Newsletter: March News Roundup

Hi! I hope you enjoy learning what’s up in our district. Subscribe to these newsletters by entering your email at the bottom of any page of our site. To make sure you see these newsletters in your inbox, add office@repmaura49.com to your contacts!

 

Contents

District Office
Virtual Coffeehouse
Joint Advisory Committees
Youth Art Month

COVID-19

IDPH COVID Ambassadors
Vaccinations in Illinois
Hines VA – Vaccinations for Veterans
Help your Senior friends & neighbors

Illinois State

Dept of Natural Resources Grants

Virtual Coffeehouse

TOMORROW is our second Virtual Coffeehouse at 10am. Sign up now to share your questions, receive the link, and join me in conversation.

Sign up to Attend the Virtual Coffeehouse


In a joint effort with Senator Karina Villa’s office, the joint Advisory Committees exist to learn about and discuss specific topics in the scope of policy and legislation. Committees meet once each month and are led by community volunteers. Contact the respective email to join their list to receive information on upcoming meetings.

Education Advisory Committee – education.49th@gmail.com
Environment & Agriculture Advisory Committee – environment.49th@gmail.com
Mental Health Advisory Committee– mentalhealth.49th@gmail.com
Senior Advisory Committee – seniors.49th@gmail.com

Calling all youth artists! This month, I’m inviting local children and teens to brighten my social media to celebrate the importance of visual arts. Submitted artwork may be featured throughout the month as social media graphics. Please send your drawings, paintings or graphic art designs to office+art@repmaura49.com, along with your name, grade, school, and town. I can’t wait to see all that you’ve created!  

 

 

COVID Ambassadors

Illinois COVID-19 Ambassadors are Illinoisans across the state who play a vital role in supporting current state efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 by promoting and sharing information among their friends, family, peers and neighbors on prevention measures, testing resources, COVID-19 vaccine and other relevant information. Any Illinoisan can volunteer to be an Ambassador.

Become a COVID Ambassador

Illinois COVID-19 Vaccine deployment

Illinois has developed an equity-centric approach to vaccination based on guidelines from doctors and medical professionals at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our state is delivering the vaccine in phases, beginning with people who are the highest risk of mortality and exposure to coronavirus. 
Vaccinations occur by appointment and as a greater supply of vaccines become available, new vaccination sites are being created all around Illinois. You can find out where vaccinations are given locally by visiting bit.ly/VaccinationLocations.
COVID-19 vaccines are available free at the point of service through a partnership with the federal government. You will not be charged a co-pay or face a deductible just for getting a coronavirus vaccination.
You can find out more about vaccine safety and availability by visiting bit.ly/ILVaccineFAQs. If you have other questions about COVID-19, I encourage you to contact the Illinois Department of Public Health at 1-800-889-3931 or dph.sick@illinois.gov. You can also view the latest news about COVID-19 in Illinois by visiting coronavirus.illinois.gov.

Find Illinois Vaccine Locations

Visit your county’s health department site for more tailored information on current infection, transmission, and vaccination rates and new local vaccination sites.

Kane County Health Dept
DuPage County Health Dept 
Cook County Health Dept

Vaccines for Veterans- Hines VA

Currently, VA is offering COVID-19 vaccine to Veterans already receiving care from the VA, based on CDC and VA risk criteria. If you’re eligible to get a vaccine, your VA health care team will contact you. Check the Hines VA site here for further details.
Veterans who are not enrolled or do not currently receive care at VA can visit VA’s Eligibility web page to learn more: Eligibility For VA Health Care | Veterans Affairs

 

Help your Senior friends & neighbors

Access to COVID-19 Vaccines is available to all Illinois seniors age 65 and over. But access is limited if those seniors are not fluent in internet usage or even computers and email. Many have been helped by their children or friends to get an appointment, but many more do not have those resources to make appointments for them. 

The organizations listed below have agreed to help area seniors with technology issues/difficulty registering for vaccine appointments or information.
If you know of a senior who does not have access to a computer or do not have an email address, ask them to call:
Seniors Services Associates: 630-897-4035 (Aurora), or 847-741-0404 (Elgin).
AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois: 630-293-5990
Association for Individual Development (AID): 630-966-9393
Aurora Public Library District: 630-264-4117
Aurora Township: 630-897-8777 Ext. 1178
Batavia RSVP: 630-406-9993
Family Focus: 331-256-5980
Fox Valley Community Services: 815-786-9404
Gail Borden Public Library District: 847-742-2411
Geneva Public Library District: 630-232-0780
Hampshire Township: 847-683-9464
Kane Senior Council: 630-338-0999
Retina Health Institute – Dr Rashmi Kapur: 847-488-1030
St. Charles Public Library: 630-584-0076
Two Rivers Head Start Agency: 630-264-1444

 

 

 

IDNR Grants

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is now accepting applications for grants through four different programs: 

  • Volunteer Fire Assistance Program,
  • Special Wildlife Funds Wildlife Preservation Fund – Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities Program, 
  • State Furbearer Fund, and
  • Coastal Management Grants Program

Each grant program has specific eligibility criteria, project guidelines, application guidelines, and scoring criteria. Potential applicants for all of these programs can find more information on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.

View the Notice of Funding Opportunity for these programs or browse all State of Illinois grant opportunities.

 

 

 

Rep Maura Hirschauer
District Office

 

Hirschauer, Villa Help Secure COVID Vaccines for Manufacturing Workers

Posted on by Office of Maura Hirschauer
Hirschauer, Villa Help Secure COVID Vaccines for Manufacturing Workers

 

to best serve the frontline workers who have been serving us so well during this past year

BATAVIA, Ill. – Hundreds of local manufacturing workers received their first dose of the COVID vaccine at a pop-up clinic at Suncast Corporation in Batavia on Wednesday, thanks to advocacy by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, and Kane County Health Department officials.

“Yesterday we were able to bring vaccines directly to the workplace in order to best serve the frontline workers who have been serving us so well during this past year,” said Hirschauer. “Suncast, a leading employer in the area, has been transparent and proactive in their mission to keep their employees safe during the pandemic. They were a critical partner in getting the vaccine to their essential workforce.”

Hirschauer helped to secure a total of 1300 vaccines for the employees of Suncast Corporation, where more than 500 essential workers received their first shot on-site on Wednesday.

 

“Suncast, a leading employer in the area, has been transparent and proactive in their mission to keep their employees safe during the pandemic. They were a critical partner in getting the vaccine to their essential workforce.”

 

Hirschauer Backing Effort to End Taxpayer-Funded Exit Bonus for Legislators

Posted on by Office of Maura Hirschauer
Hirschauer Backing Effort to End Taxpayer-Funded Exit Bonus for Legislators

 

 

 

a simple change that we can make, not only to improve ethical standards in our state but to save taxpayer dollars

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. – State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, is sponsoring legislation that would end the practice of legislators claiming a full month’s pay for only one day of work.

“In most professions, employees only get paid for the days that they work and legislators should be held to that same standard,” Hirschauer said. “This is a simple change that we can make, not only to improve ethical standards in our state but to save taxpayer dollars.”

Under current state law, legislators can claim a full month’s salary for just one day’s work. Hirschauer is sponsoring House Bill 3104, which would change the legislative pay schedule to prorate legislators’ salaries so they only get a day’s pay for a day’s work. The issue came to light in recent years after a series of high-profile cases of Illinois legislators having to resign mid-term for ethics violations. In those cases when a legislator left office mid-month they were entitled to a full month’s pay.

“Unfortunately, this issue has been highlighted more recently as legislators from both parties have been forced to leave office in relation to bad behavior and ethics violations,” Hirschauer said. “Especially in those cases, it is wrong for taxpayers to be on the hook to pay a full month’s salary for a legislator who only worked several days.”

 

 

“…it is wrong for taxpayers to be on the hook to pay a full month’s salary for a legislator who only worked several days.”

 

Kane County Health Department Livestream Panel Discussion – Feb 16

Posted on by Office of Maura Hirschauer
Kane County Health Department Livestream Panel Discussion – Feb 16

LiveStream

Stream on Facebook

Stream on YouTube

Panel discussion Feb 16 7pm:
Kane county Health Department

I’m delighted to have this opportunity with the Kane County Health Department to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and other questions important to Kane residents.
Submit your questions for a live panel discussion with Interim Executive Director Kathy Fosser, Director for Health Protection Uche Onwuta, and Assistant Director for Community Health Michael Isaacson. Questions should be submitted to office@repmaura49.com no later than Friday, Feb 12 for inclusion in the discussion.

Thanks for coming to the Virtual Coffeehouse!☕

Posted on by Newsletter Campaigns



Thanks for coming to the Virtual Coffeehouse!☕



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Thanks for coming to the Coffeehouse!

While we look forward to the promise of in-person meetups in our great coffeehouses of the 49th, we thank you for coming to our Virtual Coffeehouse to share your voice with Representative Hirschauer.

Here are some links we wanted to share after our chat:

Contact our office, Community Advisory Boards
http://www.repmaura49.com/contact-us
(you are signed up to receive newsletters- use the link at the bottom of this email to set your preferences or update your information) 

Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA)
https://ilcleanjobs.org/who-we-are/clean-energy-jobs-act/

COVID-19 Vaccine

ISBE- The Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards
These will be voted on by JCAR this Tuesday, Feb 16. 

Please reach out any time to discuss or share your position on legislation or if you need help navigating the many state agencies that exist to serve the people of Illinois. 

Representative Maura Hirschauer
District Office
946 Neltnor Blvd #108
West Chicago, IL 60185
331-465-9661

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Register and submit questions for the Virtual Coffeehouse ☕

Posted on by Newsletter Campaigns

Register and submit questions for the Virtual Coffeehouse ☕




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Virtual Coffeehouse – Feb 13

Join Maura on Zoom for her first Virtual Coffeehouse on February 13! The Virtual Coffeehouse will serve as an open-office for her to address constituent questions and to give updates on proceedings in Springfield and initiatives in the 49th District. Registration is required and also gives you the opportunity to submit questions and topics of interest that you would like to have discussed. 

Click Here to Register

The representative is committed to open and transparent communication with constituents. These Virtual Coffeehouse events will happen approximately every other week for those who prefer a face-to-face style group meeting. If you prefer, you can always call (331-465-9661) or email the office with specific questions or concerns and follow the representative on social media @RepMaura. 
 

Rep Maura Hirschauer
District Office

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Newsletter: Rep Hirschauer is in the House!

Posted on by Office of Maura Hirschauer
Newsletter: Rep Hirschauer is in the House!
Hi! I hope you enjoy learning what’s up in our district. Subscribe to these newsletters by entering your email at the bottom of any page of our site. To make sure you see these newsletters in your inbox, add office@repmaura49.com to your contacts! View this email as sent to subscribers .

Hello Friends,

On Wednesday January 13, I was sworn in as a member of the 102nd General Assembly. It is an honor to represent the hard working people of Illinois House District 49, and I am proud to be a part of significant change in the Illinois House of Representatives. On the heels of the passage of historic criminal justice reform, the 102nd General Assembly elected Emanuel “Chris” Welch, to be the first Black Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Together as a General Assembly, and with guidance and support from our communities, we will navigate the challenges ahead with grace, grit, and unity.

Maura on her Inauguration Day

Reps Welch and Hirschauer

I would like to give a special note of gratitude to my family, who joined me on the house floor for the swearing-in ceremony via zoom. It was lovely to celebrate this moment, that we all worked so hard for, with them, together, although we are apart.

I was fortunate to spend the days before our swearing-in observing and absorbing the action of lame duck session. I sat in on committee hearings, watched floor debates, and attended democratic caucus meetings. The lessons I learned in those few days, and the relationships I formed in the wee hours of session with freshman and veteran legislators on both sides of the aisle, will be valuable in the coming years. 

Throughout the course of our campaign I had the opportunity to meet many of you; you were generous with your time at the doors and on the phone. I listened to all of your concerns including those about the pandemic, access to healthcare, and our state finances. Above all you expressed the need for honest, transparent, ethical leadership and I promise to provide that. There is much work to be done, and I will center your voices, ideas, and needs in every decision I make. 

To assist in the work ahead we have an amazing district team in place. I am pleased to introduce you to Miguel and Kat, who are already hard at work, helping our communities access the support they need to lead full, equitable, healthy lives. 

Miguel Molina-Ventura is our District Director. He comes to the 49th district hot off of a successful voter outreach position in Georgia and played a critical role in flipping the U.S. Senate. Miguel graduated from Valparaiso University with a degree in Political Science, with a focus on Public Policy and Public Administration. Miguel also brings with him experience as a field organizer for the Elizabeth Warren campaign. Miguel is bilingual and will provide critical support for our Spanish speaking community. We are lucky to have his passion and commitment to constituent service in our office. Welcome Miguel!

Kat Maggio is our Technology Director. Through her work with local non profits, Kat brings strong ties to the communities of the 49th district. Her comprehensive knowledge of technology and her 20+ years of experience in IT, including project management, helpdesk, systems design and management, and digital communications, perfectly suit her for this new, exciting role. She has been hard at work developing our website and social media platforms and is the brains behind our digital presence. Kat lives in Batavia with her husband and two children.

Together, Miguel, Kat, and I are here to answer your questions and provide support on issues big and small. We are officially open for business and here to serve you!

946 Neltnor Blvd #108
West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone: 331-465-9661
Email: office@repmaura49.com

Please call, email, or use the form on our website to request an appointment during regular business hours. Throughout Illinois’ phased Coronavirus response, we will continue to meet with constituents via appointments- in person or on virtually.

In the coming days I will have more information to share on my committee assignments and legislative agenda. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to this District 49 newsletter using the sign-up at the bottom of any page of our new State Representative site to receive updates from me and our team on the latest developments in Springfield. If I learned one thing from my experience attending lame duck, it is that democracy never sleeps!

Coming in our next newsletter
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
We’ll help you navigate the resources to your vaccination.

Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the 102nd General Assembly. There is a lot of work ahead; beginning with mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus, overseeing the distribution of vaccines, and helping our communities to rebuild after a year of job loss, school interruptions, and health scares. I am ready to take on these challenges and more as we move forward to a bright, healthy future.

With gratitude,


Maura

 

Copyright © 2021 State Representative Maura Hirschauer, All rights reserved.