Last week, I – along with 271 of my House colleagues – voted to extend federal unemployment insurance benefits through November. This retroactively restores benefits to an estimated 2.5 million Americans, including 137,600 Illinoisans, who started losing their benefits as early as June 2. According to the bi-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the extension of unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fast-acting ways to stimulate the economy.

• A database of healthcare options, including information on public, private and community insurance plans available to you. All you have to do is enter basic information about yourself and the site will direct you to a list of care options tailored to your needs;
• Resources for Seniors on Medicare, low income individuals on Medicaid, and the low-cost health insurance coverage for children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program;
• Information for Small Business Owners on the Insurance Exchange (which will open in 2014) and the tax credits they will receive under the new legislation, helping small employers save money and provide better coverage to their employees.

For the 12,800 uninsured individuals in the 2nd Congressional District who are unable to find affordable health coverage due to a pre-existing condition, the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan will provide immediate relief, bridging the gap to 2014 when private insurers will no longer be able to use a pre-existing medical condition to deny any America coverage.

Please make sure you visit HealthCare.gov to find out what options are available to you! If you have any questions about the new health coverage or Congress’ recent extension of unemployment benefits, please contact my office at (202) 225-0773.

Sincerely,
 

 Cook County prosecutors have secured a 100-year prison sentence against a man charged in connection with the brutal assault of a Chicago woman in 2006, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Keith Nelson, 27, of Chicago, was convicted of sexual assault and kidnapping after a jury trial in June for the brazen attack of an 18-year-old female victim on the city’s south side.

According to prosecutors, on May 25, 2006, the victim was waiting near 72nd & Wabash when she was approached by the defendant. Nelson attempted to talk to the victim, before he grabbed her and punched her during a physical struggle. Nelson then choked the victim and dragged her to a nearby alley and into a backyard, where he repeatedly raped and continued to choke the victim during the attack.

After the attack, Nelson left the victim in the backyard, naked from the waist down. The victim called for help and was taken to the hospital where she received treatment for multiple injuries and a sexual assault kit was collected. Nelson was arrested in 2008, after he was identified as the offender in two other sexual assaults. DNA analysts from the 2006 attack matched the defendant.

Nelson was sentenced by Cook County Judge William Lacy on July 27, 2010 to 25 years each for three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated kidnapping to be served consecutively for a total of 100 years, citing that the defendant is a danger to the public.

State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Michelle Papa and Marina Para for their handling of the case.