Lightford urges Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act

SPRINGFIELD - Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) passed a resolution urging the President and Congress of the United States to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and adjust funding levels for inflation.

“The programs funded under the Older Americans Act are vital to the wellbeing of one of our most vulnerable populations,” Lightford said. “Our federal government needs to make sure they can continue to serve all those in need.”

The Older Americans Act provides essential services that help older adults live independently including meal plans, home assistance, support for family caregivers, transportation and protection from abuse.

The Act was reauthorized in 2016 through 2019. However, funding for services has not increased since 2010, leaving many without much-needed services.

According to 2015 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 24% of low-income older adults were food insecure, and of that number 83% of them did not receive home-delivered or congregate meal services.

Senate Resolution 974 was approved by the Illinois Senate last week.

Lightford, United Way launch report on Illinois ALICE families

• ALICE
• United Way

SPRINGFIELD – Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) joined the United Way in releasing their report on Illinois ALICE households – asset-limited, income-constrained and employed.

The report focuses on families living above the federal poverty level, but below the threshold of a basic survival budget of $57,144 for a family of four and $19,212 for a single adult.

“People all over Illinois are struggling to get ahead. We know this intuitively, and we see it in our communities. I see it every day in my west side and west suburban district,” Lightford said. “ALICE allows us to put some real data behind that intuition.”

In Lightford’s district, only 18% of households fall below the poverty line, but many more people than that are unable to afford an unexpected car repair or be able to put anything aside for the future. Those households are much more represented in the more than 47% of households in the 4th Senate District that are ALICE households.

Lawmakers will use the data to help better understand the needs of Illinoisans as they make public policy decisions to help struggling families.

Learn more about ALICE and view the report here: http://unitedwayillinois.org/alice/

Black Caucus: Governor’s vision sets state on path to help black communities

• Black Caucus
• Budget
• Education

SPRINGFIELD—The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) responded to Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address on Wednesday.

Black Caucus leaders discussed areas within the governor’s budget proposal that specifically affect black communities, including early childhood education, economic development and public safety.

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Lightford: Gov. Pritzker’s budget focuses on vulnerable populations

• Budget

SPRINGFIELD – Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) responded to Gov. JB Pritzker’s Budget Address Wednesday with the following statement:

“As a career-long advocate for early childhood education, I am excited to hear that Governor Pritzker intends to invest and strengthen programs that support children from birth to age five. Beyond that, he has a plan to invest in all levels of education, suicide prevention and criminal justice.

“The budgeting process is always difficult, but starting with a vision focused on our most vulnerable populations is always a good beginning.”