PEMBROKE – State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is working to improve quality of life for Pembroke residents.

For decades, residents of Pembroke Township have been using stoves and electric space heaters in order to warm up their homes. Winters are often brutally cold in Kankakee and Grundy counties, which causes many residents to live in dangerously cold temperatures.

“Most communities have had access to natural gas for heating and cooking since the 1920s,” Joyce said. “It’s shameful that Pembroke doesn’t already have access to this basic service.”

In an effort to give the community of Pembroke a helping hand, Sen. Joyce introduced the Pembroke Township Natural Gas Investment Pilot Program.

Read more: Joyce fights to ensure Pembroke residents stay warm

UNIVERSITY PARK – Seniors are often to the target of scams via the internet, on the phone and even in person.

In an attempt to warn seniors about how to avoid frauds, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) has been attending many senior events and touring senior high-rise buildings, such as Thornwood House Apartments in Chicago Heights.

“I’m committed to protecting seniors,” Joyce said. “I want to help make sure they don’t fall victim to scams and frauds.”

Sen. Joyce is a chief co-sponsor of Senate Bill 3439, an initiative of Secretary of State Jesse White to help prevent investment fraud by allowing brokerage firms to delay or stop transactions if they believe the money is being transferred to a con artist.

“We want to make sure senior investors are given every protection possible under the law,” White said. “I will continue to work with Sen. Crowe and Joyce to further strengthen investor protections as we move forward.”

According to the FBI official website, seniors are less likely to report a fraud because they often don’t know they have been scammed. 

SPRINGFIELD – Because local governments deserve a bigger share of the state’s income tax revenue, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) introduced Senate Bill 3392, an initiative to relieve the burden of property taxes and shore up critical services and programs.

Originally introduced by State Rep. Anthony DeLuca, the plan increases state payments toward the Local Government Distributive Fund. When lawmakers increased the state income tax in 2011, they also reduced the amount of the LGDF for municipalities from 10% to 6%.

Read more: Joyce offers a bill that would restore state funds to local governments

SPRINGFIELD – After listening to Governor JB Pritzker’s second Budget Address, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) believes the governor is proposing smart investments to help working and middle class families succeed.

One of these investments is a $100 million increase in funding for the Child Care Assistance Program, which would help provide high quality care for an additional 140,000 children.

“Finding affordable child care can be the difference between success and poverty for young families,” Joyce said. “Expanding this program will help so many people establish their careers and get college degrees.”

Read more: Joyce: Continued investment in child care assistance supports Illinois economy