Patient & Provider Protection Act

As we wind down the final days of the 102nd General Assembly, we’ve been working in session to complete our work before our swearing-in on Wednesday. It’s a time to complete work on bills that didn’t get finished in our truncated spring session such as HB2542, my bill that will remove Illinois’ prohibition on accessing legal name change for people with felony backgrounds, which has a devastating and disproportionate impact on transgender people, human trafficking survivors, and gender-based violence survivors. The bill passed our chamber with a supermajority but wasn’t taken up by the Senate before they adjourned. This week, it was moved out of committee and is poised for a floor vote before Wednesday.

In the House, in addition to regular business related to pending bills from the Senate, we’ve also been working on legislation crafted by various working groups over the summer to address significant issues requiring immediate action. As the chair of the Dobbs Decision Working Group, I was proud to stand as a group and present the results of our work. The Patient and Provider Protection Act (PAPPA - SB1534) reflects the outcome of our 6 months of meetings and research, hearing directly from the people most directly impacted by the threats of civil and criminal penalties and overreach by hostile states about how we can best protect providers, patients, families, and supporters seeking or providing reproductive and gender-affirming care.

The Gun Violence Prevention Group’s work resulted in SB2226, the Protect Illinois Communities Act. PIC seeks to curtail the flow of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines into our communities. This bill bans the sale, manufacture, delivery, and purchase of assault weapons in the state. It also requires anyone that already owns the list of weapons banned to register them with the Illinois State Police within 300 days of the bill's effective date. This bill awaits Senate action.

As the weekend draws to a close, the Senate is back in town and reconvening session Sunday evening. Tomorrow, the statewide officers will be sworn in at a ceremony in downtown Springfield, with an inaugural celebration tomorrow evening at the State Fairgrounds. The House will reconvene Tuesday for what I expect will be a rather long day as we approach the end of the 102nd General Assembly where we will adjourn “sine die,” meaning the end of all work for that session with the swearing-in of the 103rd General Assembly on Wednesday at noon. In next week’s newsletter, I’ll take a moment to introduce you to the newest members of the House.

Neighborhood Shoutouts

Howard Brown Workers Protest

On Tuesday 1/3 my team joined along with the striking workers Howard Brown Health Centers, Alderwoman Maria Hadden & Representative-elect Hoan Huynh to demand that the organization prioritize their patients and staff and bargain in good faith.

Howard Brown is a vital resource to so many in our community that I have long supported and I am hopeful that the action this week will bring the parties to the table in earnest so that they can get back to doing what they do best: caring for our friends and neighbors in our community.

In the District

Christmas Tree Recycling

Help protect the environment by recycling your old Christmas tree! Trees can be dropped off at Margate Park, 4921 N Marine Dr. and dozens of other locations throughout the city from January 7 - 22.

The mulch that is created from recycling Christmas trees is used in local parks to protect and nourish plants and soil. Mulch is also available to Chicago residents—free of charge—at six park locations, including Warren Park, starting on Monday, January 9.

Only live/natural trees without flocking are accepted (no garlands or wreaths). Because the trees are mulched, all tinsel, ornaments, lights and stands must be removed. Plastic bags used for transport should also be removed before putting trees in the stalls.

The City of Chicago recycles thousands of Christmas trees every year, diverting hundreds of thousands of valuable organic material from landfills. With your help, this year can be even more successful! For more information and a map of all the recycling locations, click here.

Recycle Old Holiday Lights at the 48th Ward Office

Township Officials of Illinois Highschool Scholarship

Each year Township Officials of Illinois award scholarships to departing seniors who are going to an Illinois College or University. The completed application must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2023. For more information including the application click here.

Winter Bryn Mawrkets

Winter Bryn Mawrkets & Gallery Invites You to Explore More

Come watch, learn and shop from makers, vendors and artists at the Winter Bryn Mawrkets!

This weekend the Mawrket will feature beekeeping experts, clean-green self-care product extraordinaire, sweet treat makers, coffee roasters, hot sauce connoisseurs, three brilliant artists and so much more! Make sure to follow @edgewatermarkets on Instagram to learn more about this weekend's makers!

The Winter Bryn Mawrkets & Gallery are open Fridays 3-7pm and Saturdays/Sundays 1-5pm through February 12.

Upcoming events:

1/8- DMApothecary product demonstrations

1/14- Kids crafts, dance and ice cream party

1/21- Face painting

1/28- Puppet show

January 6- January 8 Small Businesses:

COVID-19 Updates

January 6th Update

Friday, January 6th Update:

Total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 IL residents: 127.8
Daily new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 IL residents: 166
Percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by IL COVID-19 patients: 15%
Statewide Totals: 3,981,275 confirmed cases and 35,814 deaths

For more details regarding the status of COVID in Illinois click here.

Please click here to see the status of COVID in our zip codes.

Being vaccinated and boosted is critical to limit the major impacts of future pandemic waves we are to face as new variants come along. Please be up to date with your vaccines and continue to test when needed.

To find a vaccine clinic within the City of Chicago click here.

For questions or info regarding COVID-19 testing click here.

If you have questions related to COVID-19 you can contact the

Illinois Department of Public Health:

Hotline: 800-889-3931

Email: dph.sick@illinois.gov

City of Chicago's Department of Public Health:

Hotline: 312-746-4835

Email: coronavirus@chicago.gov