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Dear Stephanie,
I hope you and your family are well. It is hard to believe that June is finished and July is upon us. Last week was the Summer Solstice--the longest daylight period of the year--which means that the Summer is officially upon us. I hope you and your family are able to take advantage of all the public pools, parks, and community events that make summers relaxing and memorable!
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A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of addressing the Illinois Chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association at their annual meeting as the Chair of the House Personnel and Pensions Committee. I brought them up to speed on our work in the Pensions Committee and the progress we have made towards achieving a long-lasting pensions solution in Illinois.
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Afterwards, I went straight to the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry Radiothon. This is the largest fundraiser of the year for the food pantry, which served 15,802 people in May alone. It's never too late to support the food pantry's important mission and donate HERE
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Last Wednesday I attended the "Strong Women. Stronger Illinois" conference hosted by the Illinois Chamber which celebrated the talent, determination, and success of Illinois women. With the theme "Celebrate Success," the conference offered a robust agenda designed to foster networking, connect professionals, and provide invaluable takeaways to empower attendees in both their personal and professional lives, providing tools and insights to further their careers and contribute to a stronger Illinois. | |
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Finally, I hope to see you all at the City of Aurora's Independence Day Parade. It is always a wonderful community event and you can wish WWII Navy Veteran Dick Miller a Happy 97th Birthday as he rides by on the Roosevelt-Aurora Legion Post 84 trailer. As a reminder, I will not have a Facebook Live on Monday, July 3rd due to the holiday.
Wishing you a wonderful Independence Day,
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P.S. Please reach out to our office if you need assistance at (630) 585-1308 or send me an email. | |
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Earlier this month our office was honored to attend the incredible agricultural education event, “The Future is Ag”, organized by the Illinois Soybean Association and the DuPage County Farm Bureau!
The Tri-Town YMCA in Villa Park was buzzing with excitement as young minds delved into the wonders of farming, guided by passionate agriculture educators from the Farm Bureau and IL Soybean Association. Witnessing their enthusiasm and curiosity was truly inspiring!
Let's continue working together to strengthen our agricultural community in Illinois!
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Congratulations to the 13 High School Softball Players from the 84th District who were named class 2A, 3A, and 4A all-state by the Illinois Coaches Association! Students from Aurora Central Catholic High School, Benet Academy, West Aurora, Metea Valley, and Oswego East were selected. Congrats to Ashley Moore, Morgan Vagary, Kate Gambro, Sophia Delgado, Angela Horejs, Nina Pesare, Sara Tart, Alyssa Perkins, Genevieve Gonzales, Reese Valha, Finley Anderson, Ronnie Craft, and Mia Corres!
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Congratulations to two high school students from our community who were recognized earlier this Spring as part of the 59th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars! Maxwell L. Neri (Waubonsie Valley High School) and Tina Wang (IMSA) are part of a class of 161 scholars chosen nationwide, two or three from each state, who are selected annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.
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The Coast Guard Auxiliary was honored last Friday, for their invaluable contributions to maritime safety and security.
For over 80 years, the Auxiliary has exemplified the spirit of Semper Paratus, always ready to protect our coasts, waterways, and boating communities. Their commitment to promoting boating safety, conducting search and rescue operations, and supporting Coast Guard missions is truly commendable.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA, USCGAUX, CGAux, or USCG Aux) is the civilian uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. Congress established the unit on 23 June 1939, as the United States Coast Guard Reserve. On 19 February 1941, the organization was re-designated as the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary exists to support all USCG missions on the water or in the air, except for roles that require "direct" law enforcement or military engagement. As of 2022, there were approximately 21,000 members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Collectively the Auxiliary contributes over 4.5 million hours of service each year and completed nearly 500,000 missions in service to support the Coast Guard. Every year Auxiliarists help to save approximately 500 lives, assist 15,000 distressed boaters, conduct over 150,000 safety examinations of recreational vessels, and provide boater safety instruction to over 500,000 students. In total the Coast Guard Auxiliary saves taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
To all the members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, thank you for your selflessness, expertise, and unwavering commitment to keeping our waters safe. Your contributions are vital to our nation's security and the well-being of boaters nationwide.
Happy Birthday to the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary!
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Successful State ID Event to Empower Local Youth | |
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In an event held on Saturday, the Secretary of State, in partnership with my office and the Aurora Public Library, issued state identification cards to children aged 17 and under. The collaborative effort aimed to empower local youth by providing them with an official form of identification. A total of 23 minors received their state IDs, equipping them with a valuable tool for future endeavors, such as educational pursuits and civic engagements.
Thank you to everyone who came by!
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Pictured from Left: Myself, with Natalie Bronner of Talented Tenths, and Darrick Harris of AAMOU | |
Save the Date - American Legion Golf Outing | |
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3rd Annual Roosevelt-Aurora Post 84 of the American Legion Golf Outing
Join me and my fellow Veterans for the 3rd Annual Post 84 Golf Outing. It is a fun event and all the proceeds go to help area Veterans and Post 84.
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Community Services
Provided By My District Office
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Shred & Recycle Event
Saturday, July 22
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Constituent Education Card
Free Admission Across Chicago
Request the Card HERE
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Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed HB 3902, the Drones as First Responders Act, into law. This measure changes how law enforcement will be able to use drones. Now, police throughout the State will be able to proactively use drones to monitor large special events, such as parades and festivals, and to surveil and secure scenes during an emergency. This bill was written in response to the 2019 Pratt mass shooting in Aurora after careful review of the other states' use of drones for law-enforcement purposes. I was proud to cosponsor and support this new law. The law takes effect immediately. | |
Governor J.B. Pritzker has also signed into law our bill preventing book bans in Illinois. This makes Illinois the first state to legislate against the banning of books in public libraries, a practice that has been on the rise across the United States as Republicans look to suppress books dealing with race, history and LGBTQ topics. Under the new law, Illinois public libraries can only access state grants if they adopt the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, which stipulates that "materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval." The law takes effect January 1, 2024. | |
Watch the most recent Coffee Chat on Facebook! | |
Or, subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧! | |
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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.
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When you have PTSD, it’s hard to feel safe. The traumatic event – natural disaster, combat, sexual assault, accident - can take hold, and you find you can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe you have nightmares and trouble sleeping. Maybe you feel on edge and unsettled or don’t find pleasure in things you used to enjoy. Maybe you feel it’s just easier to be alone. Feelings like these are common after going through a trauma. For most people, they pass in a few weeks or months, but for others they are long lasting.
PTSD symptoms fall into four categories: reliving or re-experiencing the event, avoiding things or places that remind you of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings, and hyperarousal or being on guard. For someone to be diagnosed with PTSD, they need to have symptoms in all four categories.
PTSD symptoms can happen at any age, and they come and go. Only a mental health care provider can diagnose you with PTSD. And, knowing if you have PTSD is the first step to getting effective treatment. So, it is important to talk with a doctor if you think you have symptoms. There are effective treatments even if you have been living with symptoms for years.
Keep in mind that you’re not alone. And, there are treatments that will help you feel better and take back control of your life. Be the advocate – take that first step for yourself.
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Watch these videos to hear Veterans talk about how they turned their lives around with PTSD treatment. | |
Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month | |
During National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, we honor those affected by Alzheimer's and support their caregivers. We're investing in research, technology, and caregiver training to improve treatments and find a cure. Together, we can overcome this disease and provide hope for future generations. Learn More at alz.org | |
Traveling This Summer? Be Aware of the Signs of Human Trafficking | |
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Human trafficking can happen anywhere, but transportation hubs such as airports, bus stations, truck stops, and travel centers are particularly vulnerable. Though the crime doesn’t always require a border crossing or act of movement, traffickers often take advantage of America’s transportation infrastructure to exploit their victims and hide them in plain sight. Members of the traveling public are in a unique position to recognize and report potential human trafficking situations. If you plan on traveling this summer, be sure to check out the resources offered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign. Your awareness could save a life.
Remember: Do not attempt to confront a suspected trafficker or alert a victim to your suspicions. You can report suspected human trafficking to the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) tip line at 866-347-2423 or submit a HSI tip form online. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or local authorities.
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FREE MEALS EVERYDAY FOR KIDS | |
Free and nutritious boxed meals will be distributed each weekday to children 18 y/o and younger at four Aurora parks from June 5 through August 11 on the following daily schedule: | |
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11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Garfield Park playground, 825 Sheffer Road.
- Phillips Park Visitors’ Center, 1000 Ray Moses Drive
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12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- McCarty Park, 350 E. Galena Blvd.
- Plum Park, 337 Plum Street
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The Northern Illinois Food Bank returns this summer to Aurora with its annual Meals on the Move program for Aurora youth.
Meals on the Move also includes the Friday Fresh Market, where every Friday, take-home lunches for Saturday and Sunday, along with fruits & vegetables, will be provided to families.
All meals are completely free. No registration or identification is required. Weekday meals must be eaten on site.
MORE INFORMATION
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