End of session legislative update, townhall & more!

I'm finally back home in the 51st District for the next few months! We adjourned this past weekend and I'm so pleased to give you an update on some of our accomplishments from my first legislative session.

But first, **I want to invite you to my End of Session Town hall on Monday, June 12th at 6:00 pm to learn more about what we accomplished this session, and the work that is still ahead of us.** This is a great opportunity to share your opinions with me and ask any questions you may have.

End of Session Legislative Update

On My Bills 📜

My first spring session yielded a lot of great progress for our community. Here are some of my highlights:

Representative Syed defending a bill on the House Floor — **With bipartisan support, the Generic Drug Pricing Fairness Act is headed to the Governor’s desk!**

This bill protects Illinois consumers from skyrocketing prescription costs by banning price gouging of generic and off-patent drugs. I know from conversations I've had with you in the 51st District that the stress of affording your next prescription is constant. This bill can alleviate a part of that stress for folks who need generic medications, knowing that your prescription costs cannot triple overnight.

We've had so many legislative victories in Illinois! Here are some bills that I was proud to co-sponsor and support:

House Bill 218 – Holds the gun industry liable for the marketing and distribution of unlawful weapons that interfere with public safety.
House Bill 2296 – Allows the Department of Insurance to reject or modify unreasonable health insurance rate increases.
House Bill 2245 – Requires the Cook County Sheriff to establish a stolen car recovery hotline in coordination with other law enforcement agencies and car manufacturers in order to assist investigations of carjacking, stolen cars, and kidnappings.
House Bill 2507– Expands property tax exemptions for veterans.

Rep Syed defending a bill on the house floor. — My bill that would allow 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote also passed the legislature as part of an elections omnibus package. That means when they turn 18, they'll be registered and ready to cast their ballot!

From the Senate, I carried a bill through to the Governor’s desk that gives the State Librarian the power to negotiate with publishers of e-books and audiobooks on behalf of all Illinois’s libraries, helping to free up money and time for librarians to invest in community programming.

The current high rates benefit big corporations as they take advantage of local libraries by imposing unnecessary fees and short-term contracts.The goal is to save libraries money that can be better spent on community programming and other needs.

In the midst of regressive reproductive healthcare legislation being passed across our country, I am so grateful to be a part of a legislature that tirelessly fights for women's healthcare. I have been proud to put my support behind measures to guarantee access to emergency contraception on public college campuses, cut costs for lifesaving reproductive health medications and protect patients who are exercising their right to choose from out-of-state investigations.

On the Budget

I was thrilled to work with my colleagues to pass a fiscally responsible budget that prioritizes early education and invests in our K-12 public schools. A $250 million investment in Smart Start, which provides childcare and early childhood education, will lend a hand to working parents while evening the playing field for kids from underserved communities.

Rep Syed with the House Leadership Team — 103rd General Assembly Leadership Team

We've made progress on supporting Direct Support Professionals in this budget, but we still have a long way to go.

Learn more about why we must continue to fight for funding for people with disabilities in my recent Op-Ed in Chicago Sun-Times here: Illinois must provide more funding for people with disabilities.

And check out my recent City Cast Chicago interview where I reflect on my first session in office.

From the Community

Join me at this event. You can still sign up and walk with me for a great cause!

Updates & Opportunities from the State

Cream of the Crop Photo Contest

Grant Opportunities

Federal Support Grant Program
Nonprofits, educational institutions, local governments, and businesses seeking federal grants that align with the State’s economic development objectives can apply for this grant to have the State cover a part of the match. Applicants can apply for this program while they are preparing an application for a federal grant.

Application and more information can be found HERE.

Blue Collar Jobs Act
Provides tax credits for construction wages for businesses that are participating in an existing incentive program like EDGE or located in an Enterprise Zone.

This program is now active, and you can learn more HERE. You can sign up for the upcoming webinar HERE.

New Opportunity, Application Closes Soon: Girls Lead Program

The Office of Lieutenant Governor and the Illinois Council on Women and Girls are launching the ‘Girls Lead Program’ which will **give girls the opportunity to shadow members of the General Assembly.**
This program will emphasize the importance of teamwork and conflict resolution skills while giving girls the opportunity to explore their interest in a career in public service.
**Applications are due Saturday, June 10th!** Visit bit.ly/GirlsLeadIL to apply.

Reminder and Resources: Medicaid Redeterminations

If you are a Medicaid recipient and you received a letter in the mail this May, then you need to send in your redeterminations by June 1, 2023.

The soonest you can lose your coverage is July 1st, 2023. If you do not send in your form or renew online before your deadline, you can still do so before your coverage gets cut off.

To redetermine, you can either fill out the form you received in the mail by hand and send it back to the address provided via mail OR you can redetermine online at abe.illinois.gov. Once you get logged into your portal, click 'Renew My Benefits' in your 'Case Summary' tab and follow the prompts.

If you aren't sure when your due date is, you can check under the 'Benefit Details' tab of your online portal. Note that if your due date is July 1 or later, the 'Renew My Benefits' option may not be available to you yet. You should expect to be able to renew your benefits about a month before your due date.

Please contact our office if you are in need of assistance

Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. Our office number is (773) 916-6553 and our email is info@repsyed.com.

With gratitude,
Nabeela