CHICAGO – This weekend, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) hosted her 17^th annual family health and fitness fair, which featured health screenings, giveaways, and live entertainment, among many other activities.

“I am glad that we had such a good turnout, and that attendees and vendors followed COVID-19 safety protocols,” Hunter said. “We had a good time while staying safe and healthy.”

In 2003, Hunter hosted her first health fair. After several successful years, she partnered with the Illinois Institute of Technology, and they’ve teamed up to offer free services like health screenings, school supplies, and food for more than a decade. This year, Hunter and IIT added COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, as well as back-to-school haircuts and braiding, to the list of important services offered to area residents.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) led an initiative that would extend the student-assistance contribution tax credit, which was signed into law Friday. 

“As college prices continue to rise, it is crucial that some incentives or financial relief are provided when possible,” Hunter said. “Children who have a savings account are more likely to go to college, so it is important to encourage planning early.”

CHICAGO – Health screenings, giveaways, live entertainment, and family activities will be available at this year’s Family Health & Fitness Fair, hosted by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago).

Held at the Illinois Institute of Technology for the seventeenth year in a row (minus last year due to COVID-19) this grand event will feature free immunizations, school supplies, and haircuts. More than 50 vendors will participate, which is the most in the event’s history.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure led by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) that would protect individuals from lawsuits, calls from collection agencies, as well as other collection tactics and chargers for decades-old violations was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker Friday.

“There needs to be a statute of limitations for these sort of collections,” Hunter said. “People are getting calls about violations from several years ago, or are skeptical of the charges. Seven years is more than enough time for action to collect a debt.”

House Bill 862 places a cap of seven years after the date of adjudication for an action to collect a debt arising from a violation of a municipal ordinance.

CHICAGO – Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body— most commonly the lungs and lymph nodes. This disease affects thousands of people in the U.S., and legislation sponsored by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) to raise awareness of this disease was signed into law Friday.

“Though this disease is rare, it is crucial that we are more knowledgeable about it and how it affects our bodies,” Hunter said. “Sarcoidosis can sometimes lead to death and therefore must be taken seriously.”

House Bill 590 dedicates each April to promote the awareness of Sarcoidosis disease and treatment.

According to the Department of Public Health, Sarcoidosis often occurs in adults between 20 - 40 years of age, with women being diagnosed more frequently than men.

The disease is at least 10 times more common in African-Americans than in caucasians. People of Scandinavian, German, Irish, or Puerto Rican origin are also more prone to the disease.

The exact cause of sarcoidosis is not known. Some researchers and health care professionals believe it maybe a type of autoimmune disease associated with an abnormal immune response, but what triggers this response remains uncertain.

“It is important to be in tune with your body and always put your health first,” Hunter said. “Symptoms can range from mood swings to high blood pressure. Health professionals recommend that those who are diagnosed with Sarcoidosis have frequent checkups to monitor the illness and adjust treatment if necessary.”

This measure goes into effect in January 2022.

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is congratulating Phillips Academy for being awarded a grant to support hands-on, interdisciplinary STEM-based curriculum that prepares students for life beyond the classroom.

“Phillips Academy could not be more deserving of this award,” Hunter said. “I am so proud of all the students and faculty who have worked hard during the pandemic, and I am excited for the opportunities this grant will provide.”

Thanks to the grant, Phillips Academy High School, which falls in the 3^rd District, will be able to offer a new Project Lead The Way Engineering Program. The program will help students build knowledge and skills in engineering while helping them develop essential skills such as problem solving and critical thinking.

The opportunity is made possible through a partnership between Ardagh Group, a global supplier of infinitely recyclable metal and glass consumer packaging, and PLTW, a nonprofit organization that offers transformative classroom and learning experiences for PreK-12 students.

Paul Coulson, chairman and CEO of Ardagh Group, expects to invest $50 million over ten years to support education in our U.S. communities. With this initiative, this is Ardagh’s first partnership with PLTW and will make an initial investment of $12 million in this multi-year, impactful program.

PLTW provides PreK-12 schools, teachers, and students with hands-on interdisciplinary STEM-based curriculum that uniquely prepares students for life beyond the classroom through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. More than 15,000 programs in more 12,200 schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information about PLTW, visit pltw.org.  

“With this grant, Phillips students will be able to better plan for a successful future,” Hunter said. “The possibilities for success are endless when you give young people the proper resources to excel.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) released the following statement after news that Fitch Ratings revised its outlook on Illinois’ General Obligation Bonds from negative to positive:

“I’m extremely pleased with the Fitch outlook upgrade. This positive rating proves that the budget we passed and the actions we have taken over the past several years are fiscally responsible.

“Even though COVID-19 threw a wrench in things, I remain optimistic that we can continue to keep this debt decline moving forward. I am grateful for the leadership of our state’s top frontrunners: Governor Pritzker, Senate President Harmon, Speaker Welch and my colleagues for their suggestions and recommendations that help get us to this point. Further, I am appreciative of our budget and revenue staff for getting us to this point.

“I am excited to see the new opportunities for financial recovery and advancement. If we stay on this track, borrowing will cost less and taxpayers can save more money.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) championed a newly-signed law that will ensure the provisions in the Equal Pay Act are fully implemented.

“On average, white women make 82 cents for every dollar men make, and women of color make even less than that. This has always been unacceptable – and continues to be,” Hunter said. “In order to create true equity across state structures, we must guarantee that everyone is paid the same rates for the same work.”

During January session, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1480, part of the Black Caucus’ Economic Access, Equity and Opportunity Pillar. This bill created an Equal Pay Registration Certificate requirement for businesses with more than 100 employees in Illinois.

The Equal Pay Act was signed into law by the governor in March.