Thanks for following along with my efforts as the State Representative for District 47. Please enjoy the April edition of my newsletter and as always, please reach out if you need any level of assistance from my office.
Legislative Updates
Last week, the 103rd General Assembly adjourned for spring break recess. My colleagues and I will be back down again on April 18th to start the second half of our spring legislative session. We are then scheduled to adjourn for the Summer on May 19th.
The following section will include how I spent March hard at work supporting honest legislation in the first half of the 2023 Legislative Session.
Foster Parent Bill – House Bill 2995
My heart was full when I became co-sponsor on House Bill 2995.This legislation fixes a problem many foster care parents face. Under the bill, families see their first payment within 21 days of a new foster placement – rather than having to wait for their first full stipend from the state 60 to 80 days after the placement occurs.
This allows foster parents to purchase items like baby supplies, clothes, car seats, and other childcare necessities which can rack up a hefty bill for foster families. The best part of the proposal is that it simply moves up a foster family’s payment without costing the state any extra money. I am so happy for the many Illinois foster families that are going to benefit from this change if the bill successfully navigates the legislative process.
Fentanyl Bill – House Bill 3203
This month, the Illinois House of Representative’s unanimously passed legislation sponsored by Minority Leader Tony McCombie to combat Illinois’ fentanyl epidemic and save lives.
I was a firm YES vote on HB 3203, because it allows pharmacists and retail stores to sell potentially life-saving fentanyl test strips over the counter. Currently, test strips are classified as drug paraphernalia, which has made it impossible to make progress on identifying fentanyl in other drugs. The test strips will be able to identify if fentanyl is present in any drug, which is essential considering only a small dose (only 2 milligrams) of fentanyl can have fatal consequences.
The opioid crisis is out of hand and as State Representative, I want to do anything I can to help those suffering from addiction break the cycle.
Human Trafficking – House Bill 2418
Another bill that received unanimous approval was legislation sponsored by State Rep. Jeff Keicher. House Bill 2418 creates a pathway to expunge criminal records for victims of human trafficking as they seek to recover from the trauma they have experienced and pursue a normal life. Human trafficking victims are often forced to participate in unlawful activity by their traffickers.
I was honored to vote YES on HB 2418 because it helps trafficking victims by allowing them to petition for vacation, expungement, or immediate sealing of their sentence. It also allows the victim making the petition to attend hearings remotely to avoid undue hardship or create a risk of harm. In addition, the bill allows the petition to be filed under seal if a public filing may expose the victim to future harm. These steps help ensure a victim is able to avoid future victimization from their former abuser or abusers.
Proton Therapy Cancer Treatment – House Bill 2799
Lastly, I voted YES on legislation sponsored by State Representative Norine Hammond that requires health insurance plans to provide coverage for proton beam therapy cancer treatment.
House Bill 2799 would require that a health insurance policy provide coverage for medically necessary proton beam therapy for the treatment of cancer. The bill further provides that the policy shall not apply a higher standard of clinical evidence for the coverage of proton beam therapy than for any other form of radiation therapy treatment.
For more information about the bills I am supporting, visit my bill page here.
Women’s History Month
For women’s history month, I rose to recognize a women who lives a life centered on faith, family, and community. Click here for full video.
After serving as a teacher, high school counselor, and family therapist, Ginger Johnson’s heart for women and children led her to enter the world of community service.
Most impressively – and how I was introduced to the wonderful woman that she is – Ginger spends most of her time working with a faith-based, DuPage County organization – Hearts of Grace.
Most of her efforts with the charity are spent at the Jubilee Village Furniture Store. The proceeds from the furniture shop’s sales are used for the Jubilee Village – which provides transitional housing for single, formerly homeless young mothers.
Ginger Johnson is a perfect example that life is about how much you can give – and not about how much you can get. Happy Women’s History Month to all women who always goes above and beyond for those who need it most!
View my full comments here.
Upcoming Events!
My office has many events planned for the upcoming months! You can follow our calendar at repgrant.com/events
| National Prescription Drug Takeback Day with Senator Lewis | Shred Event with Senator Lewis |
| April 22nd | May 20th |
| 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
| Wheaton Police Department | Wheaton Park District |
| 900 W Liberty Dr, Wheaton, IL 60187 | 1777 S Blanchard Street, Wheaton, IL 60189 |
March Photo Round-Up
I’m always meeting with different stakeholders while representing the 47th District in Springfield. Among some of my favorite are representatives from the law enforcement community, pictured below.
I also got a chance to speak with these bright ladies about University of Illinois’ Extension 4-H program. 4-H is America’s largest youth development organization and they serve youth in all of Illinois 102 Counties.
Our young people need organizations like this so they can be empowered and encouraged to change the world.
Contact Us!
If you are experiencing any troubles with Illinois government, have policy questions, or any other requests, please feel free to contact my district office at grant@ilhousegop.org. You can reach us by phone at (331) 218-4182