Working for Illinois Caucus

Oswego State Representative Stephanie Kifowit says bills meant to help veterans are headed to the governor’s desk after being approved in the Illinois House and Senate.

Senate Bill 220 would allow paid leave for anyone participating in an honor guard for a funeral.

"We are seeing a lot of individuals that would want to participate in this ceremony but because of circumstances they can’t take time off of work," Kifowit said. "We just passed the law out of the House, out of the Senate going to the governor’s desk unanimously in both chambers to allow employees the option to use up to eight hours per month forty hours per calendar year of paid time off to attend and participate in the funeral honors detail."

Another bill heading to the governor would raise the income threshold for veterans to be eligible for SNAP—the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Kifowit explains that some veterans lose out on SNAP eligibility because of their existing benefits.

Kifowit is also working on a Senate bill that would relax regulations on tiny homes for veterans to help combat veteran homelessness.