SPRINGFIELD – Eligible mothers who choose to utilize a midwife during the pregnancy and birthing process may soon have services covered under Medicaid thanks to legislation supported by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin).

“Last year, after decades of work, we passed a law to officially license and certify midwives in Illinois,” said Castro, who sponsored the Licensed Certified Professional Midwife Practice Act. “We knew to truly make a difference, access to these services needed to be as equitable as possible, and expanding Medicaid coverage for them will create more options to mothers who need it most.”

House Bill 4343 makes various updates to Medicaid in Illinois, including allowing for the coverage of midwifery services. Certified professional midwives play an important role in providing high quality, low-cost maternity care for mothers who seek a home birth experience—a need particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SPRINGFIELD – Breast reduction surgery is often considered a cosmetic procedure, but many women suffer from various health issues that would be remedied by this type of surgery. In response, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) supported a measure to require insurance coverage for this procedure when deemed medically necessary.

“Ensuring women get the medical procedures they need to help them live their life without chronic pain is important,” said Castro, who has been a longtime advocate for women’s health. “I am proud to support this legislation to help women improve their quality of life without complicated financial strain.”

Women often require breast reductions for medical reasons, including immense neck and back pain, numbness and rashes. Because these procedures are often considered cosmetic, they are usually not covered by private insurance plans.

ELGIN – Thanks to support from State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), Elgin Community College will receive a grant for a Certified Recovery Support Specialist Success program to prepare students for work as behavioral and mental health professionals.

“Our mental health and substance use recovery specialists are the backbone of our behavioral health care system,” Castro said. “Making sure our workers can get the education they need to give the best help possible to vulnerable individuals is critical.”

The Illinois Department of Human Services awarded $4 million in grants to 11 colleges and universities throughout the state, including Elgin Community College, to support the CRSS Success program. Through the program, students will be prepared to work in various capacities, including inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance use treatment services, mobile crisis teams and more.

WASHINGTON D.C. – As Midwest Chair of the Executive Committee of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) met with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House during the organization’s annual National Summit in Washington D.C. Friday.

“It’s my distinct honor to represent the Illinois Hispanic community in Washington D.C.,” said Castro. “Friday’s meeting with Vice President Harris touched on many avenues of collaboration between state and federal government to ensure the voices and needs of our community are heard.”

The NHCSL 19th annual National Summit provides an educational and networking experience for Hispanic elected officials, corporate leaders, community organizations and policy experts. Educational sessions focused on the state of Latino education, featuring U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, as well as health, affordable housing, diversity and more.

ELGIN – The Elgin Area Historical Society will be receiving a much-needed financial boost to go toward the Nancy Kimball Cobblestone House project, thanks to support from State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin).

“The Nancy Kimball Cobblestone House is a unique architectural landmark in Elgin,” Castro said. “The historical society has been hard at work updating the house for public use, and this funding will help the organization meet their vision as they continue to look toward the future.”

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is pleased to see multiple opportunities for improvement projects slated for municipalities in the district she represents, including funding for wastewater system updates and the replacement of lead service lines.

“Making sure our communities have proper access to safe water systems is always a priority,” Castro said. “Elgin, Hanover Park and Bartlett will all be getting the help they need to address critical infrastructure improvements to keep residents safe and healthy.”

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $65.6 million in low-interest loans to local governments and sanitary districts to fund wastewater, stormwater and drinking water projects. In the 22^nd district, the Village of Bartlett is receiving $37 million to update the wastewater treatment plant on Stearns Road, including the installation of a new control system and updating outdated components of the plant.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) supported a bill to remove a sales tax on breast pumps and related supplies to help new mothers access the products they need more affordably.

“Breast pumps are a basic necessity for nursing parents, especially ones who need to return to work and can’t breast feed regularly,” said Castro, a longtime advocate for new mothers. “A sales tax on these products is just one more financial barrier for mothers to try to overcome.”

Senate Bill 3634 would exempt breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies and breast pump kits from sales tax, which is currently 6.25% of the cost. These supplies are necessary for mothers who choose to breastfeed, and many insurance companies do not cover the cost of these products.

SPRINGFIELD – Following Gov. JB Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement:

“The last two years of unprecedented hardship for our families and small businesses have made our top priority helping people get back on their feet as we continue toward recovery from the pandemic.

“Our schools have been hit hard with the back-and-forth between in-person and online learning, which is why I’m glad to see additional funding for programs like the Early Childhood Block Grant as well as a $350 million investment in the Evidence-Based Funding Formula to distribute money to the schools who need it most. Additionally, increased funding for broadband will ensure our families have reliable internet access as we continue to work through unpredictable times.