Lewis a Leading Force in Opposition to Anti-Homeschool Bill
My office has received thousands of emails and calls from those who oppose House Bill 2827, known as the Homeschool Act. The legislation seeks to put a series of new mandates in place for homeschool families and private schools. As written, I believe it represents an extreme overreach into parents’ ability to make autonomous decisions regarding their kids’ education. HB 2827 also places cumbersome mandates on private schools and on regional offices of education.
I have been meeting regularly with homeschool families across the 24th District- both in the district office and in Springfield- and I share their opposition to HB 2827. The photo above shows just two of the many groups I have met and/or spoken with about this very important issue.
Thousands of homeschool families have traveled to Springfield to lobby against this legislation. They flocked to the Capitol for Homeschool Lobby Day on March 6 and returned two weeks later when HB 2827 was heard by the House Education Policy Committee. Despite more than 49,000 individual witness slips being filed in opposition to the bill at the time of the hearing, HB 2827 advanced out of the committee with a vote along party lines.
I will continue to follow this legislation closely and will provide updates.
Lewis to Co-Host Youth Job Fair
Summer break will be here before we know it, and I have an exciting opportunity to share.
On Thursday, April 24 I will be hosting a Summer Job Fair specifically for high school students. State Representatives Amy Grant and Jennifer Sanalitro will be co-hosts for this high-impact event.
We are bringing together business leaders who are actively hiring for summer help and/or internships. Students can get some valuable work experience that will help build confidence and look great on college applications, resumes, and future job applications.
Youth Summer Job Fair
Thursday, April 24
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Carol Stream Park District
910 N. Gary Avenue, Carol Stream
This event is open to students and young adults aged 16-21, and attendees are encouraged to dress for success and on-site interviews. If you have any questions about my Summer Jobs Fair for high school students, please call my office at (630) 349-0645 or email Abby at amccarthy@sgop.ilga.gov.
A comprehensive list of summer/fall outreach events are also coming together. Please mark your calendars now for the following events with additional details coming soon:
- April 24: Youth Job Fair
- May 6: Medicare 101 Event in Itasca
- May 10: Mobile DMV Event in Wheaton
- June 18: ICASH/Unclaimed Property Event in Wood Dale
- July 16: IPASS on Demand in Wheaton
- July 31: Senior Resource Fair in Roselle
- August 27: ICASH/Unclaimed Property Event in Warrenville
- August 28: Senior Resource Fair in Wheaton
- September 18: Children’s Safety Expo in Bloomingdale
- September 18: Disabilities Resource Fair in Carol Stream
- October 25: Document Shredding Event in Wheaton
Please visit the Events page of my website to learn more about these events. New events will be added, so please check the site often!
Constituent Resources Tabs Added to Lewis Website
My website is updated regularly with useful information for those living in the 24th District. In addition to the Constituent Casework Tab that was added earlier this year, I now have a comprehensive section dedicated to constituent resources. From the homepage of SenatorLewis.com, you will find the Resources tab near the top of the page. Through this tab you now have easy access to State of Illinois resources, DuPage and Cook County Resources, and Miscellaneous Helpful Tips page that includes a “legislator lookup,” locations for DMV facilities, instructions for obtaining a fishing or hunting license, veterans’ resources, grant information, and more. It is my pleasure to bring all of these resources to a single site for easy browsing and access.
Grants for Fire Protection Coming to 24th District
I am pleased to announce that six fire protection districts located in the 24th Senate District have been awarded Small Equipment Grants from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The grants, up to $26,000 each, will allow these vital community partners to purchase much-needed small tools and equipment, like turnout gear and firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Congratulations to the following departments:
- Bloomingdale Fire Protection District #1
- Elk Grove Village Fire Department
- Itasca Fire Protection District
- Warrenville Fire Protection District
- Wheaton Fire Department
- Wood Dale Fire Protection District
Visit the Lewis Constituent Resource Table at Medinah Senior Fair
Seniors who live in or around Bloomingdale area always look forward to the annual Medinah Senior Fair. This free, popular event is coming up on Friday, April 11, and my office will have a constituent resource table at the fair, which is sponsored by the Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce.
Medinah Senior Fair
Friday, April 11
9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Medinah Banquets
550 N. Shriners Drive, Addison
My highly-trained constituent services staff offers a variety of assistance and can often help people who are struggling with an issue involving a state agency or department. Come see us at this senior fair!
Senator Lewis: Connecting with Constituents
Whether I am in Springfield or at home, I truly enjoy meeting and talking with constituents and advocates about issues of importance. It is a busy time of year, but I do make these meetings a priority. In the photo collage above I am shown (L-R) at an Illinois Association of Park Districts legislative breakfast in Carol Stream, presenting retirement recognitions at a Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce event, and in Springfield with representatives of the American Farmland Trust and Illinois Stewardship Alliance for Soil Health Day, and a group from the Illinois Pharmacists Association (IPhA) for their lobby day.
Birth to Five Meeting Scheduled for April 23 in Wheaton
Birth to 5, a non-profit organization that is working to build and sustain equitable access to high-quality Early Childhood services for all children in Illinois, is hosting a community meeting on Wednesday, April 23, to gather input and ideas for how early childhood programming can be improved in this area. The 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM event will also provide people with opportunities to connect with other community partners and leaders.
Click here to learn more about this upcoming event, which will be held at the Linda A. Kurzawa Community Center, 115 North County Farm Road, in Wheaton. The link also provides information about how to register to attend.
Those with questions about the event should email Valerie at vvarju@birthtofiveil.com.
Lewis Office Moving to New Address
Lastly, I wanted to let you know that later this month my legislative office is moving across the parking lot to a new location within the same office/business complex. When stopping by to visit, please note this address change:
Senator Lewis/Representative Sanalitro Legislative Office
994 W. Army Trail Road
Carol Stream
Additionally, I have also taken some shared space with State Representative Amy Grant in Wheaton. This satellite office, which serves as the primary office for Representative Amy Grant, is:
Representative Grant/Senator Lewis Legislative Office
416 E. Roosevelt Road
Suite #111
Wheaton