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Working Families

Fostering job growth, providing for safe work environments and enabling parents the ability to be with their families in times of need are always on the legislative agendas of Senate Democrats.

working families

On the heels of landmark financial reform in Washington, a legislative package offered by Financial Institutions Chair Jacqueline Collins has been signed by Governor Quinn.

“The recent financial reform law signed in Washington will help prevent another economic downturn caused by risky mortgages, predatory lending and reckless investments. The legislation signed by Governor Quinn will help those who have fallen victim to the very practices that Wall Street reform seeks to eliminate,” said State Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D – Chicago).

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SPRINGFIELD, IL Governor Quinn signed legislation into law today sponsored by Illinois State Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago) which will allow employees to collect their unpaid wages from their employers.

"This legislation was brought to me by the Chicago Workers’ Collaborative and Working Hands Legal Clinic," Senator Delgado said. "The change in the administrative procedure at the Department of Labor would streamline the process and allow for the efficient resolution of small claims."

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alt SPRINGFIELD, IL State Senator A.J. Wilhelmi (D- Joliet) introduced legislation this spring to extend the term of the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority (JADA) Board and increase its membership. Today, Governor Quinn signed Senate Bill 3214 into law.

The Joliet Arsenal was built in the early 1940s and was in commission during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars becoming one of the largest employers in the Joliet region. The Arsenal was decommissioned in 1976 and declared excess property in 1993 by the U.S. Army. In 1995 the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority was created with the purpose of land development and job creation on the abandoned land.

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Legislation sponsored by Financial Institutions Chair Jacqueline Collins and passed by the Illinois Senate today will keep people in their homes and provide a face lift to communities affected by record foreclosure numbers.

"Without a doubt inner-city communities all over the country have been impacted by our national economic struggles. As property values sink due to the rising tide of foreclosures, this initiative will be a well-deserved life preserver for many Illinoisans," said State Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D Chicago).

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Springfield, IL An income tax credit designed to support affordable housing in Illinois was passed by the Senate today. Senate Majority Leader James F. Clayborne, Jr. (D- Belleville) is the sponsor of the legislation.

Since 2001 taxpayers have been allowed to deduct an income tax credit of 50 percent of donations made to affordable housing projects under the Illinois Housing Development Act. The current tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2011. But Clayborne’s bill, House Bill 6038, extends the sunset date on the tax credits until 2016.

"Access to affordable housing has become increasingly difficult in recent years," Clayborne said. "Providing access to it is extremely important, especially during this tough economic climate. As unemployment rises, so does the demand for this type of housing."

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Springfield, IL State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D Olympia Fields) passed legislation out of the Senate this week that would allow Link participants to redeem their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps, at nontraditional fresh food markets.

According to Hunger Illinois, formerly the Food Bank Association of Illinois, over 1.3 million residents, 607,000 households, in Illinois participated in the food stamp program in 2008. Also, 9.5% of Illinois’ population suffers from food insecurity or the lack of consistent access to nutritious food, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

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SPRINGFIELD, IL The Senate voted this week to provide additional mortgage foreclosure prevention measures for individuals throughout Illinois. State Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) is the chief co-sponsor of both legislative initiatives, designed to curb the rapid increase in home foreclosures.

House Bill 3762 provides that a court must "stay" a foreclosure proceeding for 90 days when it is determined that the homeowner in question is an active military servicemember and was deployed to combat while on active duty and serving overseas within the previous 12 months. The homeowner must appeal in local court in order to be eligible for the foreclosure "stay."

"Stemming the ever-increasing mortgage foreclosure rate is extremely important," Holmes stated. "When we are talking about homeowners who are serving in the military and are deployed on active duty when the foreclosure is imminent, special action is necessary. These brave men and women have sacrificed so much for our safety, the least we can do is assist them taking the appropriate steps to ensure they maintain their home."

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Chicago, IL- Over the weekend Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) along with volunteers handed out over 1,000 turkeys and hams to low-income senior citizens in the district.

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Collins says public works project will have a substantial impact on community

CHICAGO, IL State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D – Chicago) announced a public works project today which will bring jobs to Chicago’s South Side when construction crews begin working on a new Metra station on the Rock Island Line at 79th Street near Vincennes in the Auburn Gresham community.

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SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) have received bicameral support on House Bill 3923 which passed out of the House and awaits a vote in the Senate.

“This is a great example of the insurance industry, business groups and consumer advocates working together to improve transparency and disclosure for the people of Illinois while we wait for the federal government to move on the larger global issues of healthcare reform,” Representative Harris said.

House Bill 3923 instructs the Director of the Department of Insurance, working with a diverse team of business and consumer advocates, to develop a standard application form for small businesses to use when applying for coverage under a health benefit plan offered by an insurance company. The Director would also lead a team effort to develop a standard health statement for individuals to use when applying for individual or family coverage from an insurer. These standardized forms will aid individuals and small businesses to compare the coverage and prices offered by health insurers.

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