Dear friends,

As COVID-19 has spread across the country, other states have followed Illinois’ lead by limiting crowds, closing nonessential businesses, and instituting shelter-in-place orders.

To address the uncertainty and instability many Americans are facing during this outbreak, the federal government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provides assistance to hospitals, nonprofits, individuals, and businesses.

If you are wondering about what the CARES Act means for you and your community, here’s some information that may help you navigate the legislation:

How will the CARES Act help individuals and families?

Read more ...

Dear friends,

Governor JB Pritzker issued a Stay at Home Order for the people of Illinois that will remain in place through at least April 7. The text of the order is available here. A FAQ that should answer most questions is available here.

For many of you, this order does not mean any new, significant changes. If you were already working from home (or performing an essential function) and following the recommendations to stay in except for essential needs, nothing should have changed. 

Rest assured that vital services will remain open. Medical facilities, grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, and banks and credit unions will not close. 

You will still be able to go out for vital supplies, take care of elderly and infirm friends and relatives, walk your dog, and seek medical attention. If your heater goes out, you can still call a repair service. You can still go to the laundromat.

Here’s what the order means:

• Unless you work for an essential business, your employer can’t allow you to come to work.
  
  • They can still require you to work from home, and they can still require a skeleton crew of staff to come in to secure inventory and other assets and to enable others to work from home.
  • If you do have to go in, your employer should institute social distancing and other protocols to protect your health, if they haven’t already.
• You can only travel for essential needs. This includes medical visits for health emergencies, getting vital supplies for yourself, and getting vital supplies for friends and loved ones who cannot or should not go out on their own.
  
  • Do not go out for supplies if you’re sick. Get a friend, loved one, delivery service, or neighbor to get supplies for you, and minimize contact when they drop them off.
• When you are healthy, you can still go for walks and go outside to get other exercise, but practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet away from people outside your immediate household at all times.

I know this order is difficult. Many people are afraid and suffering, but we are taking these steps to help protect the most vulnerable among us and to ensure that our heroic health care providers don’t get overwhelmed. If we work together, we can get through this.

As your state senator, I promise to do all I can to support you through this difficult time and to provide you with as much information as possible. Please, don’t hesitate to contact me through my website here if you have any questions and visit coronavirus.illinois.gov for resources.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Collins
State Senator, 16th Illinois Senate District

Dear friends,

As you may know by now, the Illinois General Assembly has canceled its session days for next week, in an effort to help slow the spread of coronavirus. In addition, the governor has issued an order to close all K-12 schools.

My office is open and ready to answer questions and provide help in accessing vital state services.

For those who are minimizing travel and are limiting unnecessary contact with others, do not hesitate to contact our office by sending me an email or giving us a call at (773) 224-2830.

I urge you not to panic, but as a public servant it is my duty to make it clear that there is every indication we are in for difficult times ahead. The State of Illinois is prepared to handle the developing situation, and I'm confident our officials will do their best to keep citizens safe. It’s our individual duty to show one another compassion and to help one another in whatever way we can.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Y. Collins

State Senator, 16th Illinois Senate District

Read more ...

Dear friends,

The U.S. Census occurs every 10 years, and it needs employees to do the legwork necessary to make sure we all count, as the government moves forward with everything from determining our representation in Congress to allocating resources for human services. You can be a part of this work and earn money. See information below on where to inquire, and remember: Earnings through census work do not lower or terminate any government assistance.

Sincerely,

State Senator Jacqueline Collins
16th Illinois Senate District