News Tag: Take Action
July 25, 2017
Take Action: Support LSC Funding
As the FY18 federal budget process continues, the relevant Senate Subcommittee has approved level funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) at $385 million. We encourage you to thank Senators Durbin and Duckworth for their strong support and to advocate with your Representative in the House to continue to support full funding for LSC.
Tags: Advocacy | Legal Aid Funding | LSC | Take Action read more ...March 20, 2017
Bills Up in Springfield on Wednesday
Take Action for Equal Justice Today!
Hearings are set this Wednesday, March 22nd in the Illinois House of Representatives for two of the CBF’s priority legislative initiatives this year:
- In the House State Government Committee at 2pm in support of HB2591, a bill to reform the civil and criminal court fees and fines system in Illinois
- In the House Civil Judiciary Committee at 8am in support of HB3359, a bill to simplify the law governing evictions in Illinois
Please take three minutes to fill out a virtual witness slip in support of each of these two bills.
Tags: Advocacy | Take Action read more ...September 27, 2016
Advocacy Workshop
On November 17th, from 8 to 9:30 am (location TBD), after all the election results are in and the dust has settled, the CBF will hold its 3rd annual Advocacy Workshop. Larry Suffredin, CBA Legislative Counsel and Cook County Board Commissioner, will discuss what the results mean for access to justice on the local, state, and federal level. 1 hour of CLE credit is expected. To register, or for more information, email Angela Inzano.
Tags: Advocacy | Take Action read more ...May 16, 2016
Support the Employer Participation in Student Loan Assistance Act
As we all know, some of us all too well, the amount of student loan debt in the United States is at an all-time high. At the CBF, we are exploring ways to work with members of Congress to address the student loan crisis and save the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
TAKE ACTION! In the meantime, we ask you to contact your elected officials in support of H.R. 3861, the Employer Participation in Student Loan Assistance Act, which would create a tax break for employers who assist their employees with student loan repayment (similar to the way health insurance works now).
Tags: Advocacy | Loan Forgiveness | Take Action read more ...
September 11, 2015
Signed into Law! Civics Education Gets a Boost in Illinois
All Illinois students will get a real lesson in civics thanks to HB 4025, which Governor Rauner recently signed into law. The bill promotes greater civic learning in Illinois by requiring one semester of civics education for all Illinois high school students.
HB 4025 was based on the recommendations of the Illinois Task Force on Civic Education, which […]
Tags: Advocacy | Take Action read more ...August 11, 2015
Signed into Law! Groundbreaking Veterans Legal Program Will Move Forward
Veterans and military families in Illinois will have much greater access to necessary legal help after key amendments to the Access to Justice Act were signed into law by Governor Rauner last week.
The Access to Justice Act, originally passed in 2013, created a pilot program to develop and support a much-needed hotline and network of […]
Tags: Access to Justice Commission | Advocacy | IEJF | Take Action | Veterans read more ...April 23, 2015
Take Action: Support a More Efficient and Advanced Judiciary
Funding for the Judiciary is one of the CBF’s advocacy priorities as properly funding the courts is fundamental to ensuring that the justice system is fair, accessible, and efficient. The Judiciary’s proposed budget for the coming year is $7 billion, a very modest increase from last year’s appropriation and just a tiny fraction of the overall federal budget for the entire third branch of government.
Tags: Advocacy | Courts | Take Action read more ...March 26, 2015
Access to Justice Goes to Springfield
Would you like to learn more about Illinois’ legislative process and gain some hands-on lobbying experience? On April 28 and 29, the CBF will head down to Springfield to talk with legislators about our priority state issues. Contact Jessica Bednarz, CBF Program Manager, at jbednarz@chicagobar.org or (312) 554-4952 if you are interested in joining us.
Tags: Advocacy | Take Action read more ...March 20, 2015
Take Action: Strengthen Civics Education in Illinois
On February 27, Rep. Deborah Conroy introduced House Bill 4025 to strengthen civics education in Illinois and to promote greater civic learning through a required civics course for all Illinois high school students. This bill was based on the recommendations of the Illinois Task Force on Civic Education, which was established by the legislature to study the status of civic education in Illinois and make recommendations on how to improve it.
Tags: Advocacy | Take Action read more ...