North Cook News

State Rep. Lindsay LaPointe (D-Chicago) recently hosted a virtual conversation for residents across the state in an effort to make sure they are aware of resources available to them.  

“Please join us for a virtual conversation on available resources within the state of Illinois on November 23,” LaPointe posted on Facebook in the days leading up to the event that was also slated to be streamed on FB Live. “Topics will include housing, medical coverage, immigration support, food and free legal support.”

LaPointe also recently celebrated her two-year anniversary of representing the 37th District by highlighting the need for unity in accomplishing the things the people of the state want and need.

“My team and I have gratitude for the many lessons learned, novel inspirations and strong relationships built,” LaPointe said in a video posted to Facebook. “We hope this short video tells the story of who we are, what we strive for this office to be, and what can be accomplished when we work together with the people we serve. Finally, we hope this video serves as an invitation for partnership because there is so much more to be done.”

Back in April, LaPointe also sponsored a bill seeking to mandate that people with disabilities living in group homes have the right to keep the wages they earn.

With the measure unanimously passing the House, LaPointe added, “working people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in group homes should have the right to keep the money they earn. Right now, they are required to surrender a large portion of their earnings to the home providers, to subsidize the state’s low reimbursement rates.”

House Bill 292 would also require the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) to make up the difference for any CILA income lost. Under current law, CILA providers recoup a major piece of any wages earned by residents in a system designed to offset the gap between DHS reimbursement rate and the actual cost.

“HB 292 recognizes people with disabilities have the right to earn and keep their wages and to have a voice in the state’s decision-making about their work lives,” LaPointe said in a press release. “I am proud that the Illinois House came together to support this legislation, and I hope this bill will be passed quickly by the Senate and signed into law by Governor Pritzker.”

HB 292 is also designed to assure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more fairly represented on the Illinois State Use Committee, the agency that oversees a state program that facilitates the purchase of products and services from not-for-profit agencies that provide employment opportunities to people with disabilities. Part of the process also includes adding two public members with disabilities and another public member from a disability-focused statewide advocacy group to the committee roster.

More recently, LaPointe threw her support behind Senate Bill 2408, a measure that requires the eventual closure of all coal-fired and oil-fired plants across the state.