Dear Friend,

There are a number of new programs and service changes available to help you and your family.

I hope you take advantage of these opportunities or pass the information along to someone who might benefit. As always, my staff is available to help answer questions and provide assistance however we can—just reach out to us at 773-869-9050 or SenatorTonyMunoz.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

 

 

Tony Munoz

State Senator | 1st District

Internet service discounts available for low-income families

More than 1.1 million Illinoisans lack access to at-home internet services. To help close the digital divide, the federal Emergency Broadband Benefit program offers a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible low-income households, plus a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a device. Apply now at FCC.gov/BroadbandBenefit or call (833) 511-0311.

SBA launches streamlined loan relief application

Starting Aug. 4, the U.S. Small Business Administration is launching a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program loans of $150,000 or less to apply for forgiveness directly. Call (877) 552-2692, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. for help with your application.

 

Summer book club extension

I have extended the deadline to turn in book club forms to Aug. 30. The Summer Reading Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books and return the form to my office. Everyone who completes the Summer Reading Club will receive a gift card and certificate from myself.

To receive a book club form, visit SenatorMunoz.com to download and print the form. Parents can also contact the district office at 773-869-9050.

 

Get REAL ID-ready by spring 2023

The federal Department of Homeland Security has extended the deadline for residents to get a REAL ID due to the pandemic. Airports will continue to accept current state IDs and driver’s license until the new May 3, 2023 deadline. Learn more about REAL ID and how to apply for one at REALID.ilsos.gov.

 

All aboard! Amtrak resumes full train service

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced last week that Amtrak is returning to its full pre-pandemic schedule. Trains run the length of the state from Chicago to St. Louis, Quincy and Carbondale. Visit Amtrak.com/Midwest for routes.

Secretary of state initiatives to help cut down on crowds

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced two strategies to help reduce crowding and wait times for residents visiting driver services facilities:

• Beginning in September, more Chicago-area facilities will implement appointment scheduling systems, with central Illinois and downstate facilities soon to follow suit. Appointments can be made up to 10 days ahead of time at www.cyberdriveillinois.com or (844) 817-4649.
• Beginning in September and running through February 2022, the secretary of state’s office will expand remote renewal for driver’s license and ID card holders. Eligible customers will automatically receive letters with instructions to renew documents online, by phone or by mail.

As a reminder, all driver’s license and ID card expiration dates have been extended to Jan. 1, 2022, and all visitors to secretary of state facilities—vaccinated or unvaccinated—are required to wear masks starting Monday, Aug. 2.

For tenants who are still struggling to pay their rent, the Illinois Rental Payment Program is accepting applications for the current round of assistance until Sunday, July 18, at 11:59p.m.

Applications can be completed at ILRPP.IHDA.org.

The Illinois Rental Payment Program is an emergency rental assistance program designed to support households in Illinois that are unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neighbors who apply may be eligible for up to 15 months of assistance and a maximum grant amount of $25,000. The grant can cover past due rent from the previous 12 months and future rental assistance for the next three months, if deemed necessary.

In the event that a property owner is unresponsive, the Illinois Housing Development Authority will provide an alternative pathway to complete the application.

If you have any questions or need assistance completing your application, you can reach out to an area Housing Stability Service Provider. Providers in the 1st District include:

Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
4477 S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60632
www.bpncchicago.org
(773) 523-7110

The Resurrection Project
1805 S. Paulina St.
Chicago, Illinois 60608
www.resurrectionproject.org
(312) 666-1323
 

My staff is available to help answer questions and provide assistance however we can—just reach out to us at 773-869-9050 or SenatorTonyMunoz.com.

Sincerely,

Tony Munoz

State Senator | 1st District

Dear Friend,

The weather is heating up, but life isn’t slowing down.

To keep you up to date, I’ve included information below on a number of new programs and service changes to help you and your family thrive this summer and beyond.

I hope you take advantage of these opportunities or pass the information along to someone who might benefit. As always, my staff is available to help answer questions and provide assistance however we can—just reach out to us at 773-869-9050 or SenatorTonyMunoz.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Tony Munoz
State Senator | 1st District

There’s still time to get vaccinated—and win big

Illinois continues to lead the Midwest in vaccinations against COVID-19. To reward Illinoisans for rolling up their sleeves, people who get vaccinated are automatically entered into a lottery with prizes of up to $1 million. The promotion will run until Aug. 26, with drawings for 43 cash prizes — including three million-dollar jackpots — and 20 scholarship awards. Find a vaccination site near you.

Expired driver’s licenses and IDs valid until Jan. 1, 2022

As driver services facilities reopen, many motorists have had to endure long lines to renew their licenses and state ID cards. To cut down on wait times and give you more flexibility, the secretary of state has extended all expired and expiring driver’s licenses and IDs to Jan. 1, 2022. You can also skip the crowds altogether by taking advantage of online services at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

U of I hosts webinar series on bridging the digital divide

The University of Illinois Extension has partnered with the Illinois Office of Broadband and the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society to produce the second annual Developing Broadband Leadership Webinar Series. Each 90-minute session, held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., covers a different facet of the effort to extend critical high-speed internet access across the state:

• July 13: Broadband Funding and Broadband Partnerships
• July 27: Moving a Broadband Project Forward
• August 3: Broadband Adoption and Affordability: Ensuring Broadband for Everyone

Participation is free, but registration is required.

Unemployed Illinoisans could qualify for insurance savings

Starting this month, Illinoisans who received unemployment benefits in 2021 could be eligible for financial help to purchase plans on the ACA Marketplace. Your monthly premium could average $10 or less per month—or even not cost you a dime. Visit GetCoveredIllinois.gov by Aug. 15 to get free enrollment assistance and find out if you qualify.

Applications now open for 2021 Governor’s Export Awards

Do you know an Illinois-based company that has excelled in exporting, or an organization providing export assistance? Invite them to apply for the 2021 Governor’s Export Awards—the state’s highest recognition for exporting achievements. Apply on the DCEO website by July 31, and learn more about resources available through Illinois' Office of Trade and Investment at exports.illinois.gov.

Dear Friend,

I hope you and your family are enjoying the first few weeks of summer!

Below, you’ll find a few important state service updates that might interest you, including information on how to apply for rental assistance, get a discount on internet services and protect yourself against identity theft.

My staff and I are ready to help you navigate these programs, as well as address any other questions or concerns you may have about issues facing our community. I encourage you to reach out to us at (773) 869-9050 or SenatorMunoz.com.

Stay cool!

Sincerely,

Tony Munoz
State Senator | 1st District

 

Illinois Rental Payment Program opens to renters June 28

The Illinois Rental Payment Program offers up to $25,000 or 15 months of assistance to households in Illinois that are behind on rent due to pandemic-related job or wage losses. In order to qualify, tenants and housing providers must submit a joint application with proof of financial hardship as a direct or indirect result of the pandemic. The period for landlords to initiate an application is now closed, but renters can begin the application process starting Monday, June 28. Learn more at IHDA.org/ILRPP.

 

Fee-based license suspensions and holds to be lifted July 1

Starting July 1, Illinois will no longer suspend a license for any ticket debt, fines or fees, including parking tickets, red-light camera tickets and abandoned vehicle fees. If your license is currently suspended or revoked due to a failure to pay a fee, it will be reinstated automatically for free by July 1. However, if there were multiple reasons for the hold on your record, your license may still be invalid—call the secretary of state’s hotline at 217-212-6212 to check.

 

Internet service discounts available for low-income families

More than 1.1 million Illinoisans lack access to at-home internet services, which can be a barrier to education and employment. To help close the digital divide, the federal Emergency Broadband Benefit program offers a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible low-income households, plus a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet. Apply now at FCC.gov/BroadbandBenefit or call 833-511-0311.

 

Beware of texts, emails soliciting personal information

Over the last several weeks, people across Illinois and the country have reported an uptick in scammers claiming to be from state agencies to steal personal information. Protect yourself from fraud: Never give out your Social Security number or banking information via text or email, and don’t click links contained in suspicious messages. If you have questions about phishing scams or identity theft, call the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Hotline at 800-386-5438 or visit FTC.gov/consumer.

 

Three major rating agencies upgrade Illinois’ financial outlook

This week, Fitch Ratings became the third rating agency to bump up Illinois’ credit, promoting our state’s outlook on Illinois’ General Obligation bonds from negative to positive. Over the past few years, we’ve been working hard to repay outstanding loans and drive down the bill backlog—even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we passed two balanced budgets and stuck to the path of fiscal responsibility. I’m proud to announce these efforts are paying off. Read more about what this means for Illinois.