Ellman highlights the passage of local government and education packages

SPRINGFIELD - On Wednesday, State Senator Laura Ellman and the Illinois Senate reconvened in Springfield to address the challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and work on the annual state budget.

Ellman strongly supported the passage of local government and education packages. Both addressed the outstanding needs that were created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Local governments have struggled to keep people safe during this crisis and face many of their own challenges,” Ellman said. “We need to give them the tools to respond and serve their local communities.”

The local government legislation establishes that any aid people receive under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act or any other federal money given out in response to the COVID-19 not be counted against them when they apply for township general assistance. General assistance provides resources to low-income people who may not qualify for other programs or who need additional help. House Bill 2096 passed the Senate with a unanimous vote of 54-0-0.

The education package includes a number of items like allowing remote learning days and remote learning plans. The package also allows for the suspension of clock hour requirements when a disaster is declared, allows mandated exams to be completed remotely and a number of other provisions.

“Making sure our schools are able to continue the education of our youth is essential in these uncertain times,” Ellman said. “This package is giving school districts and teachers the tool they need to continue.”

Senate Bill 1569 passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 42-13-0.

Ellman draws attention to drug addiction resources after news of increased opioid overdoses

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) would like to draw attention to drug addiction treatment options for citizens of DuPage County after news of a sudden increase in fatal and non-fatal overdoses over the past three weeks.

“As the state continues with the Stay at Home Order, we need to remember there is another epidemic that has been spreading across our communities, the opioid epidemic,” Ellman said. “Though COVID-19 continues to be an unprecedented threat, we need to remain attentive to the opioid epidemic and ensure that everyone knows help is available."

2019 data revealed that the age of people dying from opioid overdoses has increased. The average age of those who’ve died is 36, higher than it was last year. Many of those who died were living alone, having personal or marital difficulty, depression and recent drug rehab or treatment.

Read more: Ellman draws attention to drug addiction resources after news of increased opioid overdoses

Ellman: Get counted for your community

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) encouraged DuPage and Will County residents to fill out the 2020 Census, protecting their representation in government and share of federal funding.

“The census is essential for the federal government to determine how much funding will be given to both Will and DuPage County,” Ellman said. “Filling out the census has never been easier with the new online option. It only took me about five minutes to fill out.”

Read more: Ellman: Get counted for your community

Be counted! 2020 census

Dear friends,

We are living in an unprecedented time. To get through this situation, we have all relied on more financial help from the federal government than most of us have ever seen before – from unemployment insurance, to e-learning, to COVID-19 testing.

The best way to make sure our communities get the support they need – and deserve – from Washington, D.C. is by filling out the Census. The 10-minute questionnaire will impact how federal funds flow into states and provides information that will impact your community for the next decade.

By now, everyone should have received mail from the U.S. Census Bureau. The letter either contains your household’s Census ID number to be used when filling out the census online at my2020census.gov or the questionnaire itself.

The information you provide will impact your community every day — from influencing public health to school programs.

Please take time to help shape the future. Your response matters. More than that, you can help keep census workers and their families safe by reducing their exposure to COVID-19.

If you have any questions, please reach out to my office at (630) 453-5488.

Sincerely,

Laura Ellman

State Senator | 21st District