I hope you and your family are doing well and staying healthy as we make our start in 2021. Although we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the health and economic impacts of the crisis, hope is on the horizon. Vaccines are being administered for our front-line healthcare workers and starting at the end of January 2021, anyone over the age of 65 and many essential workers are eligible for the vaccine. Supply of the vaccine is expected to ramp up in the coming weeks and months as the Biden Administration has made vaccine production and distribution a national priority. In the meantime, everyone should continue to wear a mask when in public and adhere to CDC guidelines. More information regarding vaccines, the state’s response to the pandemic and relief for residents facing unemployment or housing issues is provided in this newsletter.
Due to reduced infection rates and hospitalizations, the Governor and IDPH have loosened restrictions on indoor dining and other business activities. This is welcome news for our hard hit small businesses. The pandemic has taken a hard toll on so many of our restaurants, entertainment venues and the hospitality industry. That’s why I was a strong supporter of assistance to small businesses in the CARES Act and 2021 FY Budget. Small businesses in the 43rd District have received over $700,000 in grant assistance in the past several months.
On January 13, 2021, I was sworn in to serve another term as your State Representative, which is an honor and responsibility that I am very grateful for. This year’s inauguration was also historic as we elected a new Speaker of the House, Emanuel “Chris” Welch, after 36 years of the same leadership under the former Speaker, Michael J. Madigan. I was proud to be part of the effort to bring change to the highest level of leadership in the Illinois House of Representatives.
During the coming session, I will take on a new leadership role as the Chairwoman of the Human Services Committee, where the House considers legislation and public policy affecting our state’s social service agencies that provide services and care for seniors, residents with disabilities, domestic violence shelters, homeless individuals and other vulnerable populations. I was honored to be appointed to this leadership position and look forward to working with residents, advocates and colleagues on this critical area of public policy.
On January 25, 2021, my office welcomed Evangeline Bero as our new District Director. She previously interned in my office several years ago and recently graduated from Lake Forest College. She is enthusiastic to help constituents with any questions, concerns or problems they may have related to state services and issues. She joins Elsa Hernandez, my district Community Outreach Coordinator. If you have any feedback, questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office at staterepmoeller@gmail.com or 847-841-7130. We look forward to serving you.
Warmest Regards,
Anna
Health in Illinois
Food and Childcare Assistance Updates
The Illinois Department of Human Services has extended approval periods for an additional 6 months for SNAP. IDHS also announced that parents in the Child Care Assistance Program will pay a maximum of $1.25 in monthly co-pays in January and February 2021.
On January 26, IDPH announced that Regions 8 (DuPage and Kane Counties) and 9 (Lake and McHenry Counties) are moving to Tier 1. See what that means for you. IDPH also reported eight new cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 in Illinois. New variants are to be expected and the vaccine will still be effective.
Illinois is committed to helping families and residents during this crisis. You can seek economic and housing relief. For IDPH updates about COVID-19, text the word COVID to 312-500-3836 or go to the IDPH COVID-19 Webpage. For a map of testing sites, click here.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are safe and effective. Their multi-step clinical trials enrolled more than 70,000 people and have shown that the vaccine is 95% effective. By getting a vaccine, you have the opportunity to ensure your own health and safety as well as the health and safety of your family and community. Vaccines are tested, monitored and one of the safest ways to protect health. Para español.
Starting Monday 2/1/21, IDPH will have a mobile COVID-19 testing site in Elgin. They will be set up at Elgin Community College, which is located at 1700 Spartan Drive in Elgin. This site will operate every day from 8am – 4pm during the week of 2/1/21- 2/7/21.
We all have a vested interest in rebuilding trust between police and the communities they serve. Rebuilding that trust begins with accountability. This package addresses obstacles advocates have encountered as they have worked for justice on behalf of victims and seeks to reform the elements that contribute to different experiences with the legal system. The package also reflects many months of discussion with law enforcement groups to address many of their concerns.
The education reform package takes necessary steps to address critical disparities while also pursuing necessary education reforms statewide. Many of these proposals will provide direct benefits to school districts and students within our diverse community in the 43rd District.
To promote greater opportunity and equity, this package supports businesses and workers by expanding opportunity for those who have often been left behind. Everyone benefits when we make Illinois a place where everyone can live, work, and raise a family.
On January 13th, the Illinois House elected a new speaker, Representative Emanuel “Chris” Welch. He will be the first black speaker in the state’s history and the first new speaker in decades as he replaces the former speaker, Michael Madigan.
Elected members of the Illinois House and Senate were also sworn in to start the 102nd General Assembly. Representative Moeller was sworn in for her fourth full-term in office and is looking forward to the upcoming two-year legislative cycle.
Spring Community Advisory Committees
In order to enlist ideas from the community, Representative Moeller regularly convenes six different community advisory committees. These advisory committees address the following topics: veterans, public safety, the environment, seniors, education, and economic development in Illinois.
ComEd Warns of Imposters approaching customers at home to steal money, possessions, and personal information. An individual may pose as an employee from ComEd to lure the resident outside while an accomplice will enter to steal valuables and documents. Read the News Release.
Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who sent in clothing and toys for my office Winter Coat Drive and Children’s Clothes and Toy Drive, benefiting children in foster care, experiencing homelessness or in the DCFS system. Due to generous donations from the community, our drive was a great success. We look forward to doing this again at the end of the year.
State Representative Anna Moeller 
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