SPRINGFIELD – Following a press conference responding to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State address, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus (ILLC) issued this statement:

State Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) said, “We heard good news from the Governor regarding his priority investments, and overall, his budget proposal is a good starting point for further negotiations with my fellow legislators. There are many aspects of this proposal the Latino Caucus supports and have the potential to really make a difference in our community, such as family tax relief, violence prevention, investments in healthcare, education and businesses.”

State Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) said, “I want to thank the Governor for his leadership and partnership on housing assistance which, in the midst of this pandemic, has prevented homelessness for thousands of families. We look forward to ensuring that Latino families have more equitable access to rental and mortgage assistance, and any other housing related resources, which are so desperately needed in our community.”

State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado (D-Chicago) said, “As we rebuild the state workforce to provide better services for Illinoisans, we must ensure that the workforce reflects our communities. While we represent almost 18% of the labor force in Illinois, we are less than 7% of the state employees, we must move the needle. As a Latino Caucus, we will demand concrete plans to ensure equitable access for our community to economic and workforce development opportunities that will be created in health care, human services and early childhood.”

State Sen. Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) said, “These last two years have put unprecedented stress on our care and education system. As a Latino Caucus, we need to be vigilant that resources are equitably directed to schools in Latine communities and holistically support the development and success of Latine students. This year, and likely for many years to come, we will work to transform our system to make sure every child has the support they need and deserve to live up to their greatest potential.”

State Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D-Bolingbrook) said, “As neighbors, business owners, taxpayers, and workers, immigrants are an integral part of Illinois’s diverse and thriving communities and make extensive contributions that benefit the entire state. We believe that people, regardless of immigration status, need to be treated with dignity and respect. As a self-proclaimed Welcoming State, our budget is a moral document that needs to exemplify that.”