SPRINGFIELD – In order to combat higher rate of maternal mortality, Black mothers would have more birth options under a measure sponsored by State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) that was advanced out of the Senate Healthcare Access and Availability Tuesday afternoon.

“So many Black mothers have died unnecessarily due to racism within our health care system and a lack of options for care,” Van Pelt said. “We must ensure that more options are available to them for pre- and post-natal care, so that we can avoid the grave statistics of maternal mortality.”

Senate Bill 1826 requires the Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans to partner with community-based maternal care providers to develop a Medicaid voucher pilot program.

CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is horrified by the shooting of eight people – six who were Asian Americans – in Georgia-based massage parlors last night. She released the following statement:

“My heart goes out to all the families of the victims that were senselessly murdered in Atlanta last night. It appears that the shooter was targeting women of Asian descent, which is deeply troubling.

“White nationalism is on the rise in this country, and we must begin to take this ideology as a serious threat. We cannot normalize behavior that spews hate and bigotry toward people of Asian descent.

“Reports have shown that violence against Asian Americans has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we must all do our part to prevent race-baiting rhetoric that leads to violence.”

CHICAGO – Illinois students will see increased minority representation under a new law supported by State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago).

“Education is the foundation for so many aspects of how we view ourselves and the world around us, and it is vital that the curriculum is updated to be as well-rounded, inclusive and accurate as can be,” Van Pelt said. “I am happy to see that the initiatives of the Legislative Black Caucus will soon be implemented.”

During January’s session, Van Pelt voted to pass House Bill 2170, which will reform Illinois’ education system in an effort to eliminate systemic racism.

The legislation creates an Inclusive American History Commission to reform the curriculum around marginalized groups in American history, including people who were Black, Latinx, women, LGBTQ, Jewish and more.

The legislation also updates high school curriculums to require two years of laboratory science and a foreign language—or sign language—to graduate high school, ensuring schools in every community offer the courses students need to pursue secondary education.

Students seeking a secondary degree will benefit from changes to the matching requirement for AIM High scholarships, which makes it easier for students at less well-funded schools to secure financial assistance.

“Every student deserves the same opportunities when applying for higher education, regardless of region or zip code,” Van Pelt said. “There is so much work to be done to ensure equity in the Illinois education system, but now we are one step closer to a system that is fair to all students.”

This legislation is effective immediately.

CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is excited thousands of people will be able to receive their COVID-19 dose at the United Center starting next month.

“I am excited that the United Center, which falls in the district I represent, will be home to a new mass vaccination site,” Van Pelt said. “Thousands of people will have access to this site, which will help increase the efficiency of the vaccine distribution in underprivileged areas like the ones I represent.”

The implementation of this site – which was announced by the governor Friday – is a joint collaboration with state, local and federal officials, and will open for 1B+ vaccinations starting March 10.

CHICAGO – After a long year of national racial unrest and advocating for change, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is proud that Gov. JB Pritzker signed HB 3653 into law.

“This is one of the most monumental pieces of legislation the state has passed to date,” Van Pelt said. “My colleagues and I have worked very hard, especially in the last year, to address the ways Black and Brown Illinoisans have felt suffocated under the criminal justice system, and I hope the implementation of these measures allows for some significant change, and even relief.”

During the January legislative session, Van Pelt voted to pass HB 3653, a bill spearheaded by the Legislative Black Caucus to enact major criminal justice reform in the state of Illinois.

To ensure officers are prepared to handle emergency situations, the legislation will require additional training in use of force and crisis intervention, as well as regular mental health screenings.

Additional provisions include a prohibition on chokeholds and the required use of body cameras statewide, which will be implemented by 2025.

“For centuries, Black and Brown communities have felt targeted by the police, and other institutions bred in structural racism,” Van Pelt said. “Every generation, we get closer and closer to the equality that our forefathers alluded to, but failed to uphold. Hopefully, this legislation allows us to take strides in undoing some of the biggest inequities in our justice system.”

The legislation also contains the Pretrial Fairness Act to abolish the cash bail system, which prohibits individuals accused of crimes from being detained before their trial simply because they can’t afford bail.

House Bill 3653 is effective July 1, though many provisions will phase in incrementally or be enacted after a period of transition over the coming years. Body cameras will become mandatory statewide by 2025, while the abolition of cash bail will take effect in January of 2023.

SPRINGFIELD – Last week, both the Senate and the House approved an effort led by State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) to allow an early learning and youth development center to purchase the state-owned property it has occupied for decades from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

“I am happy both chambers have moved The Carole Robertson Center one step closer to reaching independence. The Center has been in need of renovations that the state is simply unable to perform,” Van Pelt said. “Selling off state property is not a move anybody involved makes lightly, but in this case, it is necessary. Under the Center’s ownership, it will become possible for thousands of disadvantaged children on Chicago’s West Side to benefit from renovations to the site.”

SPRINGFIELD – During the lame duck legislative session, Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) voted to pass legislation that will enact major criminal justice reform in the state of Illinois.

“I am proud that my colleagues and I were able to pass such monumental measures this week,” Van Pelt said. “With the implementation of these provisions, we hope to prevent tragedies like the ones we’ve seen in the past several years. The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the violation of Anjanette Young—all situations that could have been avoided with such legislation in place.”

CHICAGO – Senator Van Pelt (D-Chicago) led a hearing on the state’s DNA backlog Thursday morning, and was impressed by the progress the Illinois State Police has made over the past few months. However, she wants to emphasize the gravity of the lives awaiting justice.

“I am happy to see a continual decrease in the backlog, but we must remember that we’re talking about lives, not numbers,” Van Pelt said. “We are all touched by the people who have been raped and murdered with no justice. We will find a solution.”