ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – With utility costs rising for working families as they transition to working and learning from home, State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) encouraged residents to participate in the Citizens Utility Board’s (CUB) ongoing Virtual Utility Bill Clinic to potentially save homeowners money during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Shifting our workplaces from the office to our homes means in some cases shifting our costs home, too," Gillespie said. “Those in need of economic relief should send their bills to CUB to see where they can save.”

Read more: Gillespie: Utility relief available for working families

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Seeing an increase in hate crimes and harassment committed against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) released the following statement:

“Since the outbreak of COVID-19 there has been a significant increase in crimes committed against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. It is on all of us to stand up against hate – especially in our own community.

“A welcoming state is more than just the law – it takes each and every one of us to actively call out discrimination when and where we see it. It takes courage to do this, but we must make it clear that hate is not welcome in our community. I urge anyone who experiences or witnesses harassment of any kind to report it to the Attorney General.”

You can report incidents on the Illinois Attorney General’s website, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by calling 877-581-3692.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) is reminding residents that independent contractors and employees in the “gig economy” can apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

“With the passage of the CARES Act, more employees are now able to receive economic assistance,” Gillespie said. “Those who work in the ‘gig economy’ should apply as soon as possible so they can be approved for the PUA program.”

Read more: Gillespie encourages independent contractors to apply for new unemployment program

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS –State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) and State Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook) released the following statements after the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced new rules that would continue to allow students to be restrained in a prone position:

“We are disappointed in the decision to allow for prone restraints to continue to be used in schools,” Gillespie said. “Prone restraints carry the most serious risk to students and are unacceptable. When students return to school after the Stay at Home order, they should not be put in a situation where their most basic dignity can be stripped away.”

“We’ve been working in good faith with all stakeholders to ensure that students are protected, and this decision undermines all that work,” Carroll said. “It’s disappointing that special interests have manipulated this process beyond the work we’ve done to produce a comprehensive bill. We will continue our work to make classrooms a safe learning environment for all students.”

Senator Gillespie and Rep. Carroll will continue to advocate for a ban on prone restraints in their pending legislation on seclusion rooms, Senate Bill 2315 and House Bill 3975.