Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD — As their community faces exponentially rising costs of living and gentrification, State Senator Graciela Guzmán and State Representative Will Guzzardi have developed legislation to collect data on the lack of more affordable housing options, inspiring agencies and organizations to invest in developing more affordable housing.

“Illinois has developed several programs to prevent homelessness and support the most vulnerable in our communities, but there is a gap in support for people who make slightly more, but still struggle to afford to live in their neighborhoods,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Our initiative will demonstrate how great the need for more affordable housing is, taking the first step for us to address this issue and get working folks in reasonably priced living situations.” 

SPRINGFIELD — To expand dual language programs in grade schools, State Senator Graciela Guzmán has developed a measure to incentivize more schools across the state to adopt the program, at little to no cost to their respective districts.

“I am lucky enough to have multiple schools in my district with dual language instruction, and when I have toured there, there is always an excited, almost magical energy that the kids and teachers bring to their classes,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “From the art and projects they show off featuring multiple languages, to their rapid-fire conversations jumping between them, it is impressive and awe-inspiring that at such an early age, these young people are learning so much about language and culture. These programs are vital to the curiosity of our children, and for encouraging open-mindedness toward other cultures, and this measure will further incentivize their investment across all corners of the state.”

SPRINGFIELD — People requiring laser hair removal due to a medical condition may soon be able to get this procedure covered by their insurance plans, thanks to a measure led in the Senate by State Senator Graciela Guzmán.

“Folks deserve to be able to undergo medically necessary procedures without paying massive bills out of pocket. Their insurance should do their due diligence and cover these treatments to improve their health and quality of life,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “I am proud to sponsor legislation that makes this treatment more accessible, because for many folks it is essential to their physical and mental health.”

SPRINGFIELD — To ensure people with disabilities no longer have to choose between higher pay and receiving essential disability services, State Senator Graciela Guzmán introduced legislation to remove the income and asset limits currently on the Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities program.  

“People with other ability levels are not expected to pass up on job opportunities because they would lose access to essential health care coverage,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “The Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities program does amazing work to support individuals with disabilities, but could be an even better asset if it was expanded to support folks making a higher income.” 

The Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities was created in 2002 so that people with disabilities can work without fear of losing access to Medicaid coverage or being denied health care for preexisting conditions. Currently, this program is only available to individuals who make less than 350% of the Federal Poverty Level and have less than $25,000 worth of non-exempt assets. For an individual, this means making $4,564 a month or $54,775 annually. 

SPRINGFIELD — College students experiencing hunger may soon have relief, thanks to an initiative led by State Senator Graciela Guzmán to expand eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Illinois.

“Students facing food insecurity may not be able to perform as well as their peers academically, restricting them from the same achievements and career opportunities they could reach if they had access to basic needs,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Senate Bill 1298 would ensure no student goes hungry, helping all students achieve more academically and for their future.” 

SPRINGFIELD — By collecting data on the need for more affordable housing options, State Senator Graciela Guzmán joined the initiative to incentivize government agencies and organizations to invest and support affordable housing projects throughout the state.

“If you ask everyday Illinoisians, they will tell you one of their biggest concerns is the rising cost of housing. Working people desperately need more affordable housing options,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “To ensure we can pass policies to address this need, we must have data to reflect the demand and the available inventory of affordable housing available for sale or for rent in low-income and middle-income households in each local government in Illinois.”

Illinois has passed legislation addressing housing insecurity by prioritizing the needs of the state’s most vulnerable to experiencing homelessness. The Office to Prevent and End Homelessness has implemented a multi-year strategy, Home Illinois, to strive towards functional zero homelessness statewide. Additionally, the Illinois Housing Development Authority finances and encourages the growth and preservation of affordable housing for renters at 80% of the area median income and below. These measures have worked to prevent some of the most vulnerable Illinoisans from experiencing homelessness. 

SPRINGFIELD — To ensure all young people have access to equitable and robust youth sports programs, State Senator Graciela Guzmán is leading legislation that would create a commission on youth sports under the Department of Human Services. 

“All children deserve the opportunity to play in a safe, supportive environment. However, without adequate or equitable investments, many young Illinoisans do not have those opportunities,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Our state needs a youth sports commission to better understand how we can make youth sports programs more equitable and accessible, so that all children – not just those in wealthy communities – can make memories that will last them a lifetime.” 

Representing a historically underserved community and families with children who have been overlooked by state investments, Guzmán is passionate about equitable investment, especially in the next generation and programs to help them develop into the best versions of themselves. One such area is youth sports, where young people develop lifelong skills of teamwork, critical thinking, and leadership—as well as forming long-lasting friendships and talent in their sport of choice. Without equal access to youth sports programs, however, many children are robbed of these formative experiences, and can struggle with developing these skills in adulthood. 

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Graciela Guzmán  led a measure through the Senate Education Committee to expand dual language programs in grade schools.

“When young people receive dual language instruction from an early age, they have a much easier time maintaining their literacy of multiple languages throughout their lives, leading them to more economic opportunities or deeper connections to their culture,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “It is important for us to encourage schools to invest in dual language programs, and join many other countries internationally that acknowledge the importance of early learners becoming bilingual.”

Recognizing the importance of dual language education for young people, the Illinois Advisory Council for Bilingual Education, formed in 2023, began to research how to incentivize, improve and expand dual language instruction in schools. After extensive stakeholder engagement, expert consultation, and data collection, the council released a report to the General Assembly in October of 2024 with their recommendations. Their proposals were divided into three buckets – those with high costs to implement, low costs, and those with no prospective cost.