CHICAGO – State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes released the following statement after the recent strike by the United Auto Workers seeking pay increases, shorter workweeks and improvements to retiree plans:

“The United Auto Workers are seeking to improve the value given to their labor. More than a decade ago they sacrificed pay and benefits to help the automakers stay afloat. Now its time for those workers to share in the success they help create.

“As a career advocate for workers’ rights, I will continue to support groups like the United Auto Workers in their fight for fair wages and better working conditions. Working people are standing in solidarity, with inflation and cost-of-living pressures at an all-time high, leveraging this power has never been more urgent.

“I support the United Auto Workers in their fight. Autoworkers in Toledo, OH, Wayne, MI, and the rest of the Midwest, are not just fighting for themselves, but for working class people across this country. I will continue to support our working class families in Illinois to make sure their voices are heard.”

CHICAGO – With support from State Senator Javier Cervantes, residents of the 1^st District have received over $400,000 in claims returns from the Illinois Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Money Match program, which returns unclaimed property to constituents automatically without the need to file a claim.

“This is an amazing program that has brought tangible funds to the residents of Chicago they never knew they had,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “I encourage residents to keep an eye out for mail in the upcoming months as more Money Match letters are sent out.”

The Money Match program enables the treasurer’s office to work with the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Illinois State Board of Elections and the Illinois Secretary of State to find accurate mailing addresses for rightful owners of unclaimed property. The office then confirms an owner’s address and sends a letter to the individual to make them aware that a check is coming in the mail so they know that the check is legitimate.

Letters to residents whose claims meet the requirements for Money Match will continue to go out over the next several months. The treasurer’s office began mailing Money Match notification letters this month and expects to return more than $47 million in unclaimed property to approximately 66,000 individuals.

CHICAGO – Advocating for students and funding for schools, State Senator Javier Cervantes announced seven local school districts will receive more than $4.5 million in additional funding to help schools with financial challenges in recent years.

“Our schools need our help and with the evidence-based funding formula we are ensuring educational opportunities are available for all students,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Illinois students deserve the best, and we are going to continue to make our schools a priority and ensure the funding is there for those who need it.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

Local schools set to receive funding through the formula include:

CHICAGO – State Senator Javier Cervantes is encouraging Cook County residents and businesses who have been impacted by recent flooding and tornados to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance.

“As soon as trouble started, we worked with local officials and got the ball rolling for federal disaster relief for our area,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “It’s vital in these situations to act fast and get resources to families so our communities can begin to rebuild and regain stability.”

The FEMA Disaster Assistance program offers temporary emergency housing, funding for damage-related home repairs, assistance with medical, dental, personal property, and transportation expenses, and disaster-related moving and storage expenses. The program can also make accommodations for language or disability barriers.

To apply for the FEMA Disaster Assistance program, Cook County residents and businesses can either call 800-621-3362 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are also available. Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair disaster-damaged or destroyed property. Homeowners can receive disaster loans up to $500,000 to repair or replace real estate, and up to $100,000 is available to repair or replace personal property. Applications are available at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov or by calling 800-659-2955.