SPRINGFIELD – In a continued effort to break down barriers to higher education, State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced legislation that ensures all Illinois residents—regardless of background—have the opportunity to apply for and receive student aid.
“This legislation builds on our commitment to equity by ensuring that all Illinois students—no matter where they were born—have a fair shot at accessing the resources they need to succeed,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “If a student calls Illinois home and is pursuing higher education, they deserve our support.”
Read more: Villanueva expands student aid access for all Illinois residents
SPRINGFIELD – To keep human traffickers off Illinois roadways, bring to justice to victims of human trafficking and shield everyday Illinoisans from unnecessary exposure, State Senator Laura Murphy has pushed forward a bill to expand the expressway camera program to target traffickers while prohibiting images taken by license plate readers from being released via FOIA requests.
“We are giving our law enforcement an invaluable tool to bring human traffickers to justice,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “This legislation proves we are serious about cutting down on length of investigations, rescuing victims and making the police’s job easier.”
Read more: Murphy bill to fight crime on expressways, protect residents’ privacy passes committee
SPRINGFIELD – Over one third of all Illinoisans are renters, and half pay more than 30% of their income toward rent. State Senator Mike Simmons is fighting for legislation that would ban junk fees, require transparency on housing fees in a lease, and regulate move-in fees charged to tenants.
“For rental tenants, fees can add up to hundreds of dollars a month, making even affordable units out of reach, which ultimately displaces people from our communities,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We must protect tenants from egregious fees and predatory lease clauses.”
Read more: Simmons fights to ban tenant junk fees and require lease transparency
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.”
Read more: Guzmán stands with activists championing health care for immigrant adults
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