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  4. Senator Mike Simmons News

Simmons announces $1 million in state funding for lead pipe replacement

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Category: Senator Mike Simmons News
Tuesday, December 13, 2022 09:46 AM
  • Drinking Water
  • Simmons
  • Safe Drinking Water
  • Health Inequities
  • Lead Pipes

water pipes ge81ea145c 1280

 

EVANSTON – To address ongoing issues concerning public health inequities in disenfranchised communities, State Senator Mike Simmons announced that he has secured $1 million in state funding for the replacement of lead pipes in South Evanston.

“For too long, lead in our drinking water has exposed our neighbors to adverse health effects, further building on the inequities our communities face. We have to get focused on this, we can’t make any excuses when it comes to lead pipes,” said Simmons (D-Chicago).  “This funding provides long overdue resources to address a problem that is systemic in nature, is decades in the making, and often does the most damage to Black and Brown communities like those who call South Evanston home.”

Simmons was joined by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Evanston’s 8th Ward Alderman Devon Reid for the announcement. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health there were almost 680,000 reported community lead service lines in the Illinois water systems in 2019. In Evanston there are almost 11,500 which need to be addressed.

Read more: Simmons announces $1 million in state funding for lead pipe replacement

Simmons advocates for the protection of gender-affirming health care

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Category: Senator Mike Simmons News
Tuesday, November 29, 2022 05:45 PM
  • Simmons
  • Gender Affirming Health Care
  • SB4245

gender affirm hlthcare 112922SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to protect the transgender and nonbinary community from criminal prosecution for seeking out gender-affirming health care, State Senator Mike Simmons initiated a new measure protecting families who seek out gender-affirming health care from criminal and civil prosecution.

“We are witnessing almost weekly attacks around the country on the rights and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ communities including roughly 300 repressive, anti-LGBTQ+ pieces of legislation introduced by state legislatures, and more pointed attacks including the Colorado Springs nightclub shooting last week at Club Q,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “It’s time to push back and introduce sweeping protections for LGBTQ+ communities, and especially trans youth who have been subject to mean-spirited and relentless attacks on their rights.”

Read more: Simmons advocates for the protection of gender-affirming health care

Simmons takes constituent service requests in Budlong Woods

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Category: Senator Mike Simmons News
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 05:17 PM
  • Constituent Services
  • Simmons

simmons 052021CHICAGO – With the intention to understand the concerns and needs of community members, and to proactively connect his constituents to state resources, State Senator Mike Simmons visited the Budlong Woods neighborhood this past Saturday knocking on doors and introducing residents to state resources and meeting those residents face-to-face. 

“Meeting residents in-person, where they’re at, encourages them to voice their concerns and needs in an informal way,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Engaging with the community in their neighborhoods helps to ensure they feel seen, heard, respected, and helped.”

Read more: Simmons takes constituent service requests in Budlong Woods

Simmons: Our LGBTQ+ community is finding joy in the fight, and is ready to continue the fight in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s overturning

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Category: Senator Mike Simmons News
Friday, July 01, 2022 09:48 AM
  • Simmons
  • Roe v Wade
  • Pride Month

Simmons Pride Conference

 

CHICAGO –State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) along with other elected officials, community activists, business leaders and nonprofit executives held a press conference today in Rogers Park to reflect on the value of Pride Month and offer their thoughts on the state of LGBTQ+ progress in the wake of the Supreme Court case overturning Roe v. Wade. 

“The LGBTQ community is resplendent and beautiful in its diversity. As the first openly LGBTQ person to serve in the Illinois Senate, I took great pride in convening so many people from across our large community to reflect on Pride and offer their own unique thoughts on the moment we’re living in,” Simmons said. “It was a healing space for so many. It was humbling for me to be in community with so many leaders I respect deeply.” 

"This Pride Month has been a veritable roller coaster of emotions. The highs of parades and parties and reconnecting with friends were often overwhelmed by the lows of historic attacks on our rights,” State Rep. Kelly Cassidy said. “Coming together in community yesterday was a lovely way to acknowledge the complexities of our present and a reminder that there is joy in fighting for liberation."

Read more: Simmons: Our LGBTQ+ community is finding joy in the fight, and is ready to continue the fight in...

Simmons: We refuse to go back on reproductive justice

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Category: Senator Mike Simmons News
Friday, June 24, 2022 01:08 PM
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Simmons
  • Abortion Access
  • Roe v Wade

Simmons 6 24 22

 

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court decision to overturn the right to an abortion protected under Roe v. Wade. 

“I am furious at this colossal injustice that has just been handed down by the nation’s top court. A generation of reproductive rights are being taken away by an oppressive patriarchal, fundamentalist court that is grievously out of touch with the country. The reproductive rights and health care of millions of people – women of all backgrounds, transgender people, and nonbinary people – are under attack. Today is a shameful day in our country’s history.

Read more: Simmons: We refuse to go back on reproductive justice

Students in custody to receive remote learning opportunity under Simmons law

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Category: Senator Mike Simmons News
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 01:25 PM
  • Students
  • Simmons
  • HB 5016
  • IDOC
  • Remote Classes

SENATOR SIMMONS HB 5016

 

CHICAGO – To allow students in custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections the opportunity to continue to earn an education while serving their time, State Senator Mike Simmons passed a law to allow students to attend classes remotely.

“I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the Senate for supporting this legislation,” said Simmons (D-Chicago) This removes a systemic barrier for youth in custody who ought to be able to continue their education. We are giving them a better chance of finding employment and thriving when re-entering their communities”

Simmons’ law will create a pilot program to allow remote learning for students of Consuella B. York Alternative High School that are in the custody of the IDOC. If successful, the program could roll out in other alternative schools across Illinois. California currently has programs that allow inmates to work toward their Bachelor’s Degree. Research from the Cal Matters Organization show such programs have contributed to improving opportunities and lowering recidivism rates.

Read more: Students in custody to receive remote learning opportunity under Simmons law

New Simmons law to allow pharmacists to provide HIV testing, PrEP and PEP medications

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Category: Senator Mike Simmons News
Friday, June 10, 2022 12:34 PM
  • Simmons
  • HIV
  • HB4430
  • Pre-Exposure Drugs
  • Post-Exposure Drugs

pep prep pharm 061022CHICAGO – To make it easier for people to access HIV preventative care, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) championed a recently signed law to allow pharmacists to provide HIV tests and preventative medications to help reduce new HIV infections.

Simmons’ law will allow pharmacists to dispense and administer drugs, order laboratory tests, and consult individuals on HIV pre-exposure drugs and post-exposure drugs. Pharmacists will first have to complete an educational training course on the administration of tests and medications prior to being permitted to assist patients. 

Read more: New Simmons law to allow pharmacists to provide HIV testing, PrEP and PEP medications

Simmons: Congratulations and thank you to our new parent mentors

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Category: Senator Mike Simmons News
Thursday, June 09, 2022 11:12 AM
  • Simmons
  • Parent Mentors

parent mentor program 060922CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) released the following statement regarding the 2022 Parent Mentor Graduating Class with more than 1,300 Parent Mentors and more than 200 Parent Mentor coordinators and organizers from 40 community organizations and 200 schools in 39 school districts across the state of Illinois.

“It is an honor for me to provide some thoughtful words to the amazing Parent Mentors of this year’s class. They help fill a systemic gap in our education system by volunteering their time a couple hours a day to assist our teachers in instruction and organizing. They help our young students dream big and chart their course toward success, both in and out of the classroom.

“This program helps create stronger classrooms, stronger families, and stronger communities. This program works so well that many Parent Mentors go on to serve in faculty and staff roles for their schools.

“I am proud to have helped appropriate the necessary funds to not only continue, but expand, the Parent Mentor program.”

More Articles ...

  1. Simmons measure to create men’s health division in IDPH becomes law
  2. New Simmons law to create Commission on Children of Incarcerated Parents
  3. New Simmons law to strengthen lead mitigation procedures
  4. Simmons measure to create Agriculture Equity Commission passes Senate

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