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SPRINGFIELD – Building on her previous work to assist law enforcement in proactively addressing gun violence, State Senator Ann Gillespie voted to pass legislation from the Illinois Senate that bans the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
“We have lost too many lives to gun violence and we must take proactive action to end this epidemic,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “Assault weapons are the weapons of choice for mass shooters, and they are too readily available for them to inflict acts of terror on innocent people. By banning the sale and distribution of these weapons in our state, we join eight other states in taking this preventative action. It’s time for Congress to follow the trend and take action nationwide.”
House Bill 5471 bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines from being manufactured or sold in Illinois. The comprehensive gun safety package also places a ban on rapid-fire devices intended to make semiautomatic firearms fully automatic, and increases the duration of a Firearm Restraining Order from six months to up to one year. A Firearm Restraining Order allows the family of a gun owner or law enforcement to obtain a civil order temporarily removing the firearm and ammunition from people who pose a risk of harm to themselves or others.
Read more: Gillespie supports Protect Illinois Communities Act, strengthens “red flag” law
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ann Gillespie advanced legislation from the Illinois Senate on Wednesday that would allow Illinois hospitals to operate under a new care model and expand access to vital health services for rural Illinoisans.
“Health care is a right we must protect and expand, especially in areas facing unique challenges in access to care,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “Rural hospitals will soon see additional help in offering the services their patients rely on, preserving access to care in all corners of the state.”
House Bill 4846 makes several changes to Illinois’ health care laws, most notably allowing qualifying Illinois hospitals to operate under a new, federal care delivery model as “rural emergency hospitals”. REH is a new Medicare provider designation intended to improve access to outpatient services and reduce health disparities in areas unable to operate a full-service hospital. Under the REH designation, rural hospitals will receive a higher Medicare reimbursement rate for the services they provide, reducing financial constraints on the hospital.
Read more: Gillespie spearheads effort to save rural hospitals
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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – State Senator Ann Gillespie announced that school districts across the 27th District will receive over $49 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.
“New funding will provide local schools with the resources they need to help students learn and grow,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “This investment will help to build a better learning environment for students across our community.”
The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula – an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate, the number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.
Read more: Gillespie: Local schools to receive $49 million in new funding
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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – With a new $300 million investment in the Help Illinois Families initiative, State Senator Ann Gillespie is encouraging neighbors in need to apply for utility assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
“No one should choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “Working families having trouble making ends meet can apply for tangible relief through LIHEAP, which has helped hundreds of thousands of households throughout Illinois.”
Starting Sept. 1, 2022, families that meet the below income requirements can apply for utility assistance through LIHEAP. LIHEAP provides one-time payments directly to energy service providers on behalf of recipients. Last year alone LIHEAP offered assistance to 302,000 households.
Read more: Help Illinois Families program receives $300 million for utility assistance