Happy Holidays Stephanie,

Being stationed overseas and experiencing different cultures has instilled in me an interest in the many world holidays that are celebrated in the month of December. We live in an amazing country of so many different cultures and beliefs. Thus, this is why I hope you have a very Happy Holiday season with your family, whichever holiday you choose.

The year 2023 began with the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly, and we are ending with a 9th Credit upgrade and many good pieces of legislation signed into law. As I talk to individuals around the district, they seem to share my view that 2023 went by at warp speed. The year 2024 marks the 30th year of my Honorable Discharge Date from the Marine Corps, which means I'm a Vintage Veteran. Keep all our Veterans and our troops serving in your thoughts during this holiday time.

Keep in mind that this time of the year is tough on some individuals, so be kind to others and reach out to those in need. It is hard to know what someone is going through, either they lost a family member, fallen on hard times, or like me and have their kid serving far away and can't get home. Whatever the reason, kindness is always needed.

Starting December 25th - January 2nd our office will be closed. We will be occasionally monitoring email and checking voicemails. Of course if you need immediate assistance we will get back to you as soon as we can.

I personally will be visiting my son in Japan the beginning of January. I will have access to emails but might not be able to respond to text messages due to the time zone difference. For those who are traveling, I hope your trip is successful.

It does not seem like we are going to have snow, but I hope that you all have a great holiday season, celebrating as you and your family enjoy.

P.S. Read all the way to the bottom to participate in this week's Trivia Challenge!

Earlier this month I had the pleasure to meet with two SkillsUSA Illinois state officers from Argo Community High School along with Executive Director Eric Hill. It was a great chance to talk about the incredible opportunities that SkillsUSA and Career and Technical Education brings to their members in Illinois, and the value of the SkillsUSA Illinois' IL Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship.

A couple weekends ago I had a great lunch with the Women Marines Association, IL-2 Blanche S. Osborne Chapter!

I also recently had the pleasure of attending the 2023 North American Trade & Economic Ties Seminar hosted by the IPPFA and the Mexican and Canadian Consulates. The discussion explored the evolving economic relationship between Mexico, Canada, and the United States, highlighting the importance of North American trade and cooperation in a rapidly changing global economic landscape.

Finally, last Thursday I had the honor of being recognized by the ACLU for championing SB 2323 in 2021. SB 2323 ended the use of restraints to transport youth in the care of DCFS. It was great to be surrounded by many colleagues and friends, all committed to the mission of giving a voice to the voiceless, assisting the vulnerable in our communities, and protecting the dignity of all Americans.

Happy Birthday National Guard! The National Guard traces its origins back to December 13, 1636. Ever since, our citizen-soldiers have proudly and bravely served our nation. Today, we wish them a very happy birthday!

Happy Bill of Rights Day!

Ratified 232 years ago, the Bill of Rights further strengthened our civil liberties by limiting the scope of our federal government. To Celebrate, check out these Bill of Rights resources by the National Constitution Center: Resources

Applications for the Illinois Back to Business New Business Grant Program are open!

This grant program focuses on supporting businesses that started during the Pandemic, and applicants can receive up to $30,000 in funding. To see if your business is eligible, scan the QR codes below to learn more, or visit b2bnewbiz.com/ for more information.

Applications close January 11th at 11:59 PM.

LIHEAP: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep Illinois residents safe through initiatives that assist households with energy costs.

LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. Applications officially opened to the general public on December 1st. Eligibility requirements and applications can be found at deco.illinois.gov

NBC News takes a look at new education-related bill coming into effect. Highlights include:

SB 1709: The Department of Human resources shall partner with the Board of Education to provide technical assistance for the provision of mental health care during school days with the goal of increasing availability of mental health resources for students.

HB 3428: Schools shall maintain a supply of opioid-reversal agents.

HB 3559: A school building’s emergency and crisis response plan must include a plan for law enforcement to rapidly enter a school building in the event of an emergency.

HB 2503: Any person who wishes to take a course not offered by their local community college may take that course at another community college, and will be charged the price they would have been charged at their local school.

Read More Here

Traveling for the holidays? Preparing yourself and your vehicle for winter travel is key.  Before you hit the road, ensure your vehicle is serviced and ready to go. Learn more at idot.gov

Believe it or not, this week’s coffee chat was our last one of the year! We were joined by Jason Rosensweig, director of legislative affairs and policy at the Department of Human Rights, to celebrate Human Rights day and learn about rights and remidies under Illinois law. It was a fascinating conversation that you can watch here on Facebook or listen to here on Spotify.

Watch the most recent Coffee Chat on Facebook!

Or, subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧!

I continue to host Monday Morning Coffee live via Facebook at 9:00am-10:00am where you can post your comments and questions.

I realize not everyone has Facebook. The good news is that you can still participate. If you would like to join us on Monday mornings, you can join in via ZOOM! Once connected via ZOOM, you'll be able to interact just as if you were on Facebook. Don't worry you will not be on live - your video feed and mic will be muted.

The ZOOM link will be emailed to everyone separately for Monday morning participation.

If you would like to join us, please email Michelle@ILDistrict84.com or call the

office at 630.585.1308.

LAST WEEK's ANSWER:

Congrats to James Valastro for being the first to correctly answer that Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment.

Illinois quickly ratified the Amendment the day after it passed the U.S Congress!

THIS WEEK's QUESTION: