SPRINGFIELD – After the second edition of the Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report revealed that Black women die at disparately high rates due to medical causes, State Senators Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) are calling for better outcomes for Black mothers.

“These patterns of disparity and negligence must be identified, so that we know how to eradicate them,” Van Pelt said. “Reports like these are necessary in order to impact legislation, which, thankfully, my colleagues and I have already been working to combat the issue of Black maternal mortality.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) recently congratulated 90 local high school students who were named 2021-22 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in approximately the top 10% of the state’s high school seniors from 676 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on a combination of standardized test scores and class rank or unweighted GPA at the end of the student’s junior year. ISAC works in conjunction with the students’ high school guidance counselors to determine the winners.

“This is one of the most prestigious awards that is offered to high schoolers in our state, and the students who earned it should be proud of this recognition of their efforts,” Peters said. “Earning this award shows not only a dedication to academic success, but also an ability to cope with the adversity and struggles brought on by a global pandemic. I am extremely honored to represent these bright kids in Springfield, and I eagerly look forward to the time when they’re running things.”

SKOKIE – State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) recently honored 83 Skokie high school students who were named 2021-22 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in approximately the top 10% of the state’s high school seniors from 676 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on a combination of standardized test scores and class rank or unweighted GPA at the end of the student’s junior year. ISAC works in conjunction with the students’ high school guidance counselors to determine the winners.

“It takes hard work and dedication to become an Illinois State Scholar, especially during a year filled with trials and tribulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Senator Fine said. “I am immensely proud of the students in our community who earned this prestigious academic award.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons’ (D-Chicago) plan to require hospitals and state agencies to gather more data in order to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has harmed LGBTQIA+ communities in Illinois passed the Senate Thursday.

Simmons, the first openly gay member of the Illinois Senate, said requiring state agencies and hospitals to gather more specific data on age, sex, disability status, sexual orientation and gender identity when dealing with COVID-19 patients is the first step to ensuring visibility and justice for historically marginalized communities as Illinois recovers from the pandemic.

“I’m gratified to see this measure pass, and I am ready to urge the Illinois House to vote to affirm the lives of members of the LGBTQIA+ communities, who disproportionately face challenges that have made this pandemic even deadlier for them,” said Simmons.

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Equality Illinois called for the legislation, citing a lack of routine data collection that has prevented an accurate outlook of the coronavirus’ effect on the LGBTQIA+ community in Illinois. Studies have shown members of those communities are more likely to have chronic conditions and other risk factors that can increase vulnerability to COVID-19. As one example of how the pandemic can exacerbate existing challenges, older LGBTQIA+ people already face higher rates of social isolation.

“Any pandemic relief and recovery must be rooted in an understanding of what disparities got us here,” Simmons said. “This vote today is a declaration to LGBTQIA+ communities that we see them and are working for a recovery that includes them.”

Senate Bill 2133 awaits consideration before the Illinois House.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would allow most major Illinois airports to directly receive and spend federal funding passed the State Senate on Thursday.

The measure would allow Illinois airports that have 10,000 or more patrons per year to directly receive and spend federal funding. Under the current law, federal funding goes to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s aeronautics division to distribute to airports across the state, with the exception of O’Hare and Midway International Airports in Chicago.

“This measure will give most major airports in Illinois the authority to make their own financial decisions,” Belt said. “It will reduce unnecessary work at IDOT and help reduce the backlog on airport improvement projects.”

Currently, IDOT must approve all planning, construction, development and improvements to hangars. The approval process for these contracts is backlogged, and this measure would take the pressure off of IDOT and allow individual airports to move forward with projects on their own timelines.

“Larger airports in this state have the staff and resources necessary to manage their own funding,” Belt said. “Allowing larger airports to make their own decisions will speed up the approval process for our smaller airports as well, benefitting airports of all sizes.”

Senate Bill 1232 passed the Illinois Senate with a vote of 52-1 and now heads to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – After being one of the strongest advocates in favor of the landmark criminal justice pillar of the Black Caucus agenda that passed in January, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is continuing his fight to win real safety and justice for all Illinois residents with a proposal to stop the use of deceptive interrogation practices on children.

“Kids are taught to trust adults in positions of power, and it is unconscionable to allow law enforcement to exploit that trust in order to coerce information,” Peters said. “These kids are scared and may not fully understand their rights or of how the legal process works, so it’s a lot more likely that they’ll give false information if deception is added to the mix.”

SPRINGFIELD – An initiative sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would ensure all eligible employees are paid prevailing wage and create a more transparent Illinois Department of Labor passed the State Senate on Thursday.

The Prevailing Wage Act requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers, workers and mechanics employed on public works construction projects no less than the average rate for the same work in the county where the work takes place.

The initiative would require IDOL’s electronic database of payroll records to be listed by the middle of each month and searchable by the public, ensuring compliance with prevailing wage laws.  

“The government shouldn’t be involved in underpaying construction workers,” Belt said. “We owe it to the public to generate good paying jobs and guarantee government construction projects are done the right way.”

Though IDOL is already required to maintain a database of payroll records to ensure workers are actually being paid the prevailing wage, Belt’s legislation would make it public.

“This added transparency would help make sure these employees are receiving the wage they deserve,” Belt said.

Senate Bill 1767 passed the Illinois Senate with a vote of 42-11 and will now head to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) released the following statement Thursday after an announcement from the Federal Food and Drug Administration that it will ban all menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars:

“In every form, tobacco products are dangerous to human health and can lead to serious, life-long health consequences. Banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars is a crucial step toward curbing young people’s interest in smoking.