Dear friends,
Thank you for visiting my legislative website. I am honored to serve members of the 20th district and I look forward to the opportunity to serve you during the 104th General Assembly.
Your opinions are always appreciated, and I urge you to contact my Chicago office (773-278-2020) or Springfield office (217-782-8191) if you have any questions or concerns.
To learn more about current legislative issues, please visit the General Assembly website at www.ilga.gov or the Senate Democratic Caucus website at www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com.
Senator Graciela Guzmán
She/Her/Ella
20th District
Guzmán measure to remove income limits for the Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities program
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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.
Guzmán plan to expand SNAP eligibility for college students passes Senate
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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.”
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, nearly two-thirds of students in the U.S. who are eligible for SNAP are not receiving benefits. Many students are deterred from applying because they assume or are advised incorrectly that they are not eligible. Others who do apply are rejected in error because the rules for students are so complex.
Read more: Guzmán plan to expand SNAP eligibility for college students passes Senate
Guzmán advances legislation to study need for affordable housing
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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.
Read more: Guzmán advances legislation to study need for affordable housing
Guzmán champions measure to modernize state’s use of technology and increase efficiency
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SPRINGFIELD — To ensure state government agencies are more efficient, State Senator Graciela Guzmán is sponsoring legislation that would clarify the scope of the Department of Innovation and Technology.
“To deliver essential services to the people of Illinois, we must make sure our state agencies not only are invested in, but can operate efficiently with Illinoisans and each other,” said Senator Guzmán. “This measure will clear up confusing bureaucratic measures between state agencies, specifically DoIT’s responsibilities to other organizations, and allow them to deliver the work in a more timely manner.”
House Bill 1631 would clarify the role of DoIT by outlining what agencies DoIT is required to cover. It also would clarify that DoIT is only required to cover transferred agencies, and while they may assist other state agencies if said agency requests them to, they are not required to do so. These clarifications will reduce the burden DoIT has faced from state agencies expecting them to complete more requests than they had capacity to address, and will clear up the role of DoIT compared to other state agencies.
Read more: Guzmán champions measure to modernize state’s use of technology and increase efficiency
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