CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt  issued the following statement after filing to retire from the 5^th Senate District seat:

“It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve the people of the 5^th Senate District for the last decade. Throughout this time, we have accomplished much change to ensure the voiceless are heard and the underserved receive the help they need.

“I want to thank all who have stood by me over this past year throughout my health challenges. It has been a blessing to serve the people of this great state, but it’s time to pass the torch. I will forever be grateful for the people I’ve encountered, the stories they’ve shared and the work we’ve accomplished together.”

SPRINGFIELD – Following the misinformation campaign on the Pretrial Fairness Act, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt voted to pass House Bill 1095 out of the Senate. This bill seeks to clarify provisions in the Pretrial Fairness Act, which goes into effect this January.

“My colleagues and I are proud of what we’ve accomplished with the SAFE-T Act, and we wanted to ensure that the purpose of Pretrial Fairness Act is protected,” said Van Pelt (D-Chicago). “There was so much misinformation spread around the elimination of the cash bail system, and we wanted to make sure there is no confusion when the law is implemented in January.”

House Bill 1095 will clarify the Pretrial Fairness Act’s dangerousness standard, trespassing, and other terms related to the transition to the new system. Current detainees can request to have the new system applied to their situation, with the system designed to give the court extended time to review more serious cases.

Further, the measure explains that judges can issue warrants and summons, providing a reminder that any person who poses a threat to the community or someone else – including trespassers – can be arrested, and clarifying court authority when it comes to electronic monitoring, among other items. 

“This bill is not really changing anything in the SAFE-T Act, rather guaranteeing that its language cannot be taken out of context,” Van Pelt said. “This was a collaborative process with law enforcement, states attorneys and other stakeholders, and so many people are awaiting this much-needed change.”

House Bill 1095 passed the Senate Thursday. The measure is a collaborative effort alongside law enforcement, states attorneys, End Money Bond Coalition, ACLU of Illinois, the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, CAASE, and more.

To combat any confusion or misinformation, anyone with questions can find quick facts and graphics for the SAFE-T Act at HB3653.org.

GARFIELD PARK – On Halloween night, a tragic drive-by shooting in Garfield Park injured 14 people, including three children, in addition to a woman who was hit by the driver while trying to escape the shooting. In response, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) issued the following statement:

“I mourn with my community after yet another senseless shooting. It pains me that on Halloween night, a group of peaceful individuals could not even hold a vigil for their late loved one without fearing for their own safety.

“We cannot continue to live in a state of perpetual fear. It is extremely disheartening and exhausting to see shooting after shooting. We are fighting for the soul of our city. How heartless must you be to shoot a child? To shoot up a vigil?

“I remain committed to ending the gun violence epidemic. I am meeting with local officials to see what support we can provide to the community so that we can reduce the chances of this tragic situation from happening again.”

CHICAGO – The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority announced a $255,000 funding opportunity to support justice-impacted individuals in need of transportation to meet their pre-trial court, probation or parole conditions, and State Senator Patricia Van Pelt is encouraging all who are eligible to apply.

“Many people do not have access to reliable transportation, which can affect whether or not they make it to court or a parole meeting on time,” said Van Pelt (D-Chicago). “These grants can help assist individuals who rely on transportation in order to avoid incarceration or other punishments.”

CHICAGO – For the first time since 2019, the number of sexual assault kits awaiting testing, also referred to as the DNA backlog, has been eliminated, announced State Senator Patricia Van Pelt.

After decades of extensive sexual assault forensic backlogs, the number of pending sexual assault forensic assignments older than 180 days, which was once more than 1,800, has reached zero.

“The reduction of this backlog has been a long time coming, and I am so glad that there are no more outstanding sexual assault kits,” said Van Pelt (D-Chicago). “Families have spent years waiting for some kind of answer—for some kind of accountability for their loved ones that have been lost—and today I am thinking of what this progress means for them.”

SPRINGFIELD – Building upon efforts to address maternal and infant mortality in the state of Illinois, the governor signed into law a measure led by State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) to expand access to prenatal services.

“Maternal mortality is a serious matter both in our state, and across the country, especially for Black women,” Van Pelt said. “Making prenatal and perinatal services more accessible can set those expecting up for a healthy delivery.”

CHICAGO – More than 200 businesses on the city’s Westside have received over $11 million in Back to Business grants thanks to support from State Senator Patricia Van Pelt.

“Our small business owners give us so much, and I jump at every opportunity I have to support their businesses,” said Van Pelt (D-Chicago). “Times are hard, and entrepreneurs need as much support as they can get.”

A total of $250 million was awarded to 6,500 businesses throughout the state. The B2B grants are awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget.

More than 60% of awards were given to businesses located in Disproportionately Impacted Areas, and 61% of awards granted to hard-hit industries, including restaurants and taverns, hotels, arts organizations, and salons.

Businesses owned by people of color were the recipients of half of the grants, including 22% of grants to Asian American or Pacific Islander-owned businesses, 15% to Black-owned businesses, and 12% to Latinx-owned businesses.

“I am happy that so many business owners of color and those located in disproportionately impacted areas were grant recipients,” Van Pelt said. “So many different kinds of businesses needed assistance, and I know how much they will benefit from these grants.”

With strong leadership from Senator Van Pelt, the state has seen six Illinois’ General Obligation bond rating upgrades in the last year from three major credit rating agencies, allowing the state to have funds available to assist small businesses.

SPRINGFIELD – Up to $3.7 million in grants are available for communities outside of Cook County to address and implement COVID-19 health equity strategies, and State Senator Patricia Van Pelt, who chairs the Senate Healthcare Access and Availability committee, is encouraging state organizations to apply.

“COVID-19 has impacted communities across the state in very different ways,” said Van Pelt (D-Chicago). “Classism, racism, and other societal barriers didn’t leave with the pandemic. We must ensure that everyone is recovering from the pandemic equally.”

Activating Relationships in Illinois for Systemic Equity (ARISE) is a joint initiative of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Center for Minority Health Services and The Center for Rural Health, in collaboration with Well-Being and Equity (WE) in the World.