SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) is celebrating passage of the Illinois Health Care and Human Service Reform Act, a broad-based measure addressing challenges facing Illinois families including health care access, infant and maternal mortality, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and hospital access in low-income communities.

SPRINGFIELD – Following a year of grave racial injustice and in light of continuing challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) passed legislation out of the General Assembly that will improve equity in the state health care system.

“This legislation has been a long time coming. My colleagues and I have worked extremely hard to pass these measures to target the structural racism that Black Illinoisans face in various sectors, including the health care industry,” Hunter said. “These measures seek to bring an end to the disparities in our health care system that exist not just for Black people, but for other communities of color and low-income Illinoisans.”

SPRINGFIELD – A transformative plan by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) to end health care disparities in Illinois was advanced out of the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday.

“I am happy to reintroduce the health care pillar this session, and ready for it to progress all the way,” Hunter said. “The pandemic has exacerbated the need for social equity in the health care sector, and the measures in this bill will dramatically alter the structure of our health care system for the better.”

Access to health care, hospital closures, managed care organization reform, community health worker certification, maternal and infant mortality, mental and substance abuse treatment, hospital reform, and medical implicit bias are all areas that would be remedied in the groundbreaking legislation, originally introduced during January’s session.

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is expressing support for Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ becoming a national historical site after U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) introduced federal legislation this week.

“I am pleased that Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ may become a national landmark,” Hunter said. “Churches were an integral part of the Civil Rights movement, and should be remembered as such.”

The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, and Roberts Temple National Historic Site Act would establish the church as a historic site to be managed by the U.S. National Park Service to ensure the church continues to stand and that an important part of Emmett Till’s story is preserved. This legislation has bipartisan support.

The church is remembered for hosting Emmett Till’s funeral in 1955, which was a pivotal moment for the Civil Rights Movement. Till’s public, open-casket wake was attended by thousands who saw how the 14-year-old was brutally beaten and lynched while visiting family in Mississippi earlier that year.

The call for preservation, federal recognition and National Historic Site status for Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, as well as for sites linked to Emmett Till in Mississippi, has been spearheaded by the Till and Roberts families and various organizations.

“Earlier this year, it was decided that Emmett Till’s childhood home would become an official landmark, so this proposal is another extension of Till’s troubling legacy,’ Hunter said. “We must remember these moments in our nation’s history, so that we can heal from them accordingly.”

The text of this bill can be found here.

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter, who represents part of Chinatown in Chicago, is outraged about the rise of violence against Asian Americans in America and released the following statement after the shooting of eight people – six who were Asian American –  in Georgia-based massage parlors last night:

“My heart is saddened by the events that transpired in Atlanta. It’s sickening that this shooting was a possible hate crime against Asian Americans.

“I send my support to the victims’ families and to any person in the Asian community that feels unsafe, including anyone in the district I represent. We have to bring an end to hate against Asian populations, and to all bigotry, no matter where it takes place.

“This type of violence and bigoted ideology must stop. Everyone deserves to feel safe in this country, and I will work to ensure that no community feels like they might be the victim of something as tragic as this.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) joined Governor Pritzker and other state officials at Loretto Hospital for the bill signing of the Hospital Transformation bill Friday morning.

“I am very excited that hospitals will have the assistance necessary to help them transform to meet the needs of their communities, as the pandemic has exacerbated the struggles faced in many unprivileged communities, some of which I represent,” Hunter said. “Due to institutional racism, communities of color have been suffering from a plethora of health disparities even before the pandemic came and took the world by storm. With the proper funding and investment into these underserved communities, I am hopeful this initiative will help put an end to such barriers.”

The signing of Senate Bill 1510 authorizes the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to expend the dollars identified during the Fiscal Year 2020 Hospital Assessment Program that were targeted for health care transformation. Thus, the $60 million previously allocated will send additional funding to  Illinois through federal matching funds, resulting in a total of $150 million available for investment in improved health care and innovation.

This policy change jump starts a patient-centered approach that focuses on the needs of Illinois’ most distressed communities in a manner that is data driven and outcome oriented.  It calls for innovative solutions to complex challenges in the health care delivery system that incorporates strategies that are grounded by data, community input, and are measurable with an emphasis on outcomes.

“I am excited that this law will target vulnerable communities and allow for the funding of innovative partnerships connecting clinical care and strategies to address the social determinants of health,” Hunter said. “It is vital that we emphasize the value of collaboration between the clinical environment and community-based organizations with expertise in the areas that significantly impact health outcome – and this measure does just that.”

The measure was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.

CHICAGO – Over the last year, food insecurity doubled in U.S. the population overall and tripled for Illinois households with kids, which is why State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is supporting a roadmap to end hunger in the state of Illinois.

“Too many people were struggling from food insecurity and lack of access to nourishment far before the pandemic,” said Hunter. “Lack of nourishment is linked to a plethora of health problems and must be put to an end. Everyone deserves access to healthy food, regardless of race, region, or income. I am happy to support this initiative and hope to see these disparities eradicated in Illinois.”

CHICAGO – Beethoven Elementary School was a recipient of the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program, and State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is announcing her congratulations.

“I am proud to announce that the school I went to as a child and that I now represent as a state senator has been chosen to receive an Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant,’ Hunter said. “As schools reopen, it will be important for students to take field trips and learn about the biodiversity throughout our state.”