SPRINGFIELD – To pay tribute to fallen officers and their families, Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago), a former Chicago Police Officer himself, attended the Illinois State Police Officers Memorial Ceremony in Springfield Thursday.

“This ceremony commemorates those who risk their lives every day to keep us safe and protect our communities,” Munoz said. “It is a time to honor the bravery of our fallen soldiers and show the surviving families that we support and care for them.”

The monument in Springfield, located on the West Lawn of the State Capitol, bears the names of the officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities. It was first dedicated in 1990, and a ceremony is held each year to pay tribute to fallen officers and their families. The names of every officer who died while serving during the previous year are engraved in the monument leading up to the ceremony. 

CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz said he's pleased to see Cornell Square Park and Marquette Park receive funds through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Park and Recreational Facility Construction (PARC) grant program to enhance recreational opportunities.

“I’m excited that two local parks will be able make improvements that will provide more recreational opportunities,” Munoz said. “This funding gives our communities the opportunity to enjoy these local parks even more, and for many years to come.”

CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) congratulated Josiah L. Pickard Elementary School’s second-grade class for being selected for a grant to help students go on field trips centered on biodiversity.

“This grant program gives students the opportunity to see first-hand what they are learning about in the classroom,” Munoz said. “I’m excited for the students to have the chance to visit the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center in Willow Springs.”

CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) is urging drivers to follow Scott’s Law after six more Illinois State Police troopers were hit while responding to roadside incidents this week, marking 10 crashes caused by drivers who didn’t slow down and move over when they saw a roadside first responder in 2021.

“As a former police officer, I know the life-threatening situations law enforcement officers face on the job. Drivers have the power to reduce that risk for officers and first responders addressing incidents on the side of the road,” Munoz said. “If you see flashing lights, slow down and move over—it’s the law, and it might just save a life.”

According to the Illinois State Police, three Scott’s Law-related collisions occurred in just one day. Six of the 10 crashes have left troopers with injuries, and one in Will County on Feb. 15 left a trooper seriously injured.

CHICAGO –Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) is encouraging small business owners who need economic relief to look into the Small Business Association newly reopened Paycheck Protection Program.

“Small business owners have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this funding will provide support to the shops and restaurants that are still struggling,” Munoz said. “I encourage local business owners to apply for these programs to support themselves and their employees.”

The Small Business Association has reopened the Paycheck Protection Program, a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll.  Businesses with 300 employees or less and at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between 2019 and 2020 are eligible to apply. 

First Draw PPP Loans and Second Draw PPP Loans can be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits, and may also be used to pay for mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020 and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations. Second Draw PPP loans are for businesses that have already received a PPP loan and may be eligible to receive another. At least $25 billion is being set aside for Second Draw PPP Loans to eligible borrowers with a maximum of 10 employees or for loans of $250,000 or less to eligible borrowers in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. The deadline to apply for both loans is March 31, 2021.

Another assistance opportunity, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program makes $15 billion in grants available to shuttered venues, to be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. The application is not open yet, but more information is available here.

To help constituents understand the new programs, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is offering webinars. A full list of webinars is available here.

CHICAGO – Assistant Minority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) is congratulating Our Lady of the Snows School on receiving an Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Grant to fund a pollinator garden.

“I’m pleased to see a local school investing in our natural environment,” Munoz said. “This grant program gives the students a great opportunity to have a hands-on experience with wildlife.”

The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Fund (ICF) to support the development or enhancement of wildlife habitat on school grounds or other public places. Projects funded by these grants are meant to teach children that their actions can make a difference in the world while increasing the use of native plants in Illinois.

Funding for the program is provided through donations to the ICF. More than $329,000 in Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant funding has been distributed since the program’s inception.

Applications for the next round of Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Grants will be open soon, with an application deadline of Nov. 30, 2021. More information on applying for the next round of grants can be found on the IDNR website.

CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) announced families who use the Child Care Assistance Program will have their child care co-pays capped at $1.25 per month in the first two months of 2021.

“The continued economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many parents to choose between working and caring for their children,” Munoz said. “Lowering the cost of child care for these parents could help give them the relief and stability they need to continue doing their jobs.”

The co-pay cap is applicable in January and February of 2021. The Child Care Assistance Program is administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services and provides access to affordable, quality child care for low-income and working-class families. This allows families to continue working or attending school without having to worry about how they will pay for the care of their children.

“Many of our working families have made sacrifices during this pandemic—the cost of child care shouldn’t be yet another burden,” Munoz said.

More information regarding CCAP eligibility, including how to apply, can be found on the IDHS website.

CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) emphasizes the importance of early detection of radon and encourages residents to test their homes during Radon Action Month.

“The pandemic and the onset of winter weather mean people are spending more time at home, so it’s especially important to be aware of the potential risks of radon exposure,” Munoz said. “Over 1,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with radon-related lung cancer each year, and a simple at-home test can help keep you and your family healthy.”

Radon gas is one of the leading causes of lung cancer in the nation, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Statistics show radon has been found in nearly 40% of homes tested in Illinois. Cities located in the central and northern regions are shown to have higher levels of radon in the soil.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. This odorless, colorless, tasteless gas comes from the natural breakdown of the soil, and it enters buildings through small cracks in the foundation, sump pits, crawl spaces, floor drains and more. If not properly mitigated, radon gas can reach drastically high levels and cause major health concerns.   

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the American Lung Association in Illinois are hosting two statewide contests that urge students to use their creative talents to promote radon awareness. High school students are invited to submit a 30-second commercial style video, and middle school students can design a poster to urge residents to test their homes for radon. For more information and to enter, click here. 

“This is a chance to give students an opportunity to show their artistic ability while raising awareness of the risks of radon exposure,” Munoz said.

For more information about radon, visit www.radon.illinois.gov. Information is also available through IEMA’s Radon Hotline at 800-325-1245.