ELGIN – To highlight the ongoing success of community and financial organization partnerships, State Senator Cristina Castro is encouraging credit unions, community organizations, service groups and other financial institutions committed to improving the financial stability of Illinois residents to join the Bank On Illinois coalition.

“Middle class families in Illinois have suffered from the ill effects of crippling bank fees for long enough,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “I’m proud to have sponsored and fought for the passage of legislation that gives working families in Illinois some peace of mind, and I’m glad to see it working to financially empower residents across our state.”

The Bank On Illinois initiative, passed in 2019, established a commission to monitor banking practices across the state to ensure that people in Illinois have access to bank accounts that offer fair financial service options, including no maintenance fees, low or no minimum deposit requirements, low or no overdraft fees, and methods to open accounts using forms of identification other than the traditional driver’s license or state ID card.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – State Senator Cristina Castro’s support for adult education is being recognized with a 2022 Legislative Champion Award from the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE). The Coalition announced the award this week as part of its efforts to raise awareness leading up to national Adult Education and Family Literacy Week which begins Sept. 19.

Senator Castro has sponsored legislation in the Illinois Senate to help erase the stigma of a high school equivalency diploma versus a high school diploma and to reduce the cost of GED®  exams for adult learners, both essential to adult education programs in Illinois.

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement after Texas’ governor chartered buses to transport immigrants from Texas to Chicago as part of his aggressive border policy:

“I welcome these families and would like them to know that in Illinois, they will be treated with dignity and will be able to receive the services they may need. We stand for humanity and respect, and our policies reflect that.

Also, I condemn Governor Abbott’s use of inhumane tactics on immigrant families and those seeking asylum. This malice only makes our state shine more as one of the nation’s most welcoming states.

“The City of Chicago is working with local and state partners to connect these folks with the support and resources they need. All Illinoisans will follow suit to embrace those who need a helping hand while providing the means they may require.”

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to State Senator Cristina Castro’s support of the Illinois Works and Rebuild Illinois initiatives, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced another round of funding will be invested in Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program grants. The $15 million in funding will expand equity in Illinois’ construction workforce, grow the pool of highly-skilled apprentices and increase access to building trades careers more broadly.

The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program is designed to increase the number of qualified construction and building trades apprentices who are women, people of color and veterans, and prepares them to enter full apprenticeship programs on their way to careers in the construction and building trades.

 “A career in the building trades comes with so many benefits: a living wage, a dignified retirement, and opportunities to excel while helping to build our communities,” said State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin). “I am proud to support the Illinois Works initiatives as they continue to invest in our skilled workforce and create more opportunities for people of color, women, and veterans.”

ELGIN – Building upon the smart infrastructure investments supported by Senator Cristina Castro, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced an investment of more than $21 million in state and local road and bridge improvement projects.

“Illinois continues to make critical upgrades to our infrastructure, ensuring the safety of residents for years to come,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “These projects will not only improve commutes and increase safety along these routes, they will also create new jobs that contribute to our communities’ recovery.”

As part of IDOT’s latest Multi-Year Plan under Rebuild Illinois, the district Castro represents will see 23 infrastructure projects totaling more than $184 million over the next six years.

Some of the most vital projects coming to the area include:

• Replacing the bridge and interchange on Route 20 at IL-31 and along the Route 25 exchange
• Pavement maintenance and rehabilitation along IL-25 (Dundee Ave) between IL-72 and I-90
• Pavement preservation on Route 20 in Hanover Park, from Park Avenue to SE of North Avenue

These projects are part of IDOT’s multi-year plan, a $34.6 billion investment in construction projects across the state for the next six fiscal years.  

The $34.6 billion will go to highway reconstruction and preservation, bridge improvements, strategic expansion, system support such as engineering and land acquisition, and safety and system modernizations. Over six years, the funding will be dispersed to improve more than 2,500 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of bridges.

“From job creation to improved mobility, I am pleased to see this sizeable investment help grow and sustain our local economies,” Castro said. “These projects will help modernize our transportation infrastructure and equip our communities for the future.”

To find a full list of projects slated for the 22nd Senate District, please visit IDOT’s website.

ELGIN – To kick off Parks and Recreation Month, State Senator Cristina Castro announced funding for investments in four local parks and forest preserves in Cook and Kane Counties.

“Spending time outdoors has many benefits, from encouraging people to be physically active to improving cognitive function and memory,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “By making critical improvements to our local parks and outdoor spaces, we are prioritizing the overall well-being of our residents.”

Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program grants are administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and support local park projects. When combined with local matching funds, the latest OSLAD grants provide more than $56 million in local park development projects and land acquisitions statewide.

ELGIN – Following news of the Supreme Court overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement:

“The overturning of Roe v. Wade is a devastating loss for women and reproductive rights. When it comes to health care, everyone should have the right to make decisions on their own body.

“This decision will especially impact communities of color and low-income people who might not have the means to travel to access reproductive care or be able to afford to raise a child in these times of ever-rising prices.

ELGIN – Thanks to a measures supported by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), veterans can look closer to home to access the federal SkillBridge program.

“Making sure our veterans get the most convenient support as they enter the workforce following their transition out of the military is a top priority,” Castro said. “This law will ensure that veterans have access to assistance with the program based right here in Illinois.”

The new law makes the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs the primary statewide assistance organization under the U.S. Department of Defense’s SkillBridge Program. This program matches eligible service members who are transition from active duty with workforce development opportunities.