SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Graciela Guzmán joined colleagues and advocates from Healthy Illinois to reaffirm their support for health care for immigrants, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities – which has historically been inaccessible and is now facing new threats from the federal administration.

“We are grounded in the belief that health care is a human right,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “We will not listen to bullies who try to tell us otherwise, or to prioritize profit over people’s lives. Here in our great state, we uphold our morality and values in our legislation, and have enshrined protections for many people who have historically been excluded from basic access to health care.”

The Senator spoke about the importance of health care for all at a rally led by Healthy Illinois, an organization founded on the mission to make quality, affordable health care coverage access to all people in Illinois, regardless of immigration status. The group hosted the event to highlight their push to include Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, also known as HBIA, in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

“I am proud Illinois was the first state in the nation to establish a program offering health care to immigrant adults through HBIA,” said Guzmán. “Thousands of immigrants who work diligently, participate in our economy, and pay taxes were unable to access this basic right, often to the detriment of their physical and mental health. I will always fight for improving immigrants’ access to health care, and am hopeful that our upcoming budget decision will include funding for HBIA.”

Guzmán also touched on the importance of health care access for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disabilities, whose rights have also come under attack from the federal administration, which has emboldened state legislatures to roll back protections for these marginalized groups.

“We are seeing nationwide attacks on trans people, and in many states, the right for LGBTQIA+ folks to access health care is at an extreme risk,” said Guzmán. “I am grateful that we have worked to establish protections for the LGBTQIA+ community, including measures protecting access to gender-affirming care, to ensure all Illinoisans can live their truth and access the procedures they need to ensure a good quality of life.”

Guzmán plans to continue advocating for increased health care accessibility as FY 26 budget negotiations continue.