“Any economic recovery at the state level cannot leave working families behind.”
SPRINGFIELD – Speaking alongside other advocates for Illinois children and families, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) argued the necessity of his plan to institute a $600-per-child income tax credit at the state level before the Illinois Senate Revenue Committee Wednesday.
Simmons’ legislation, Senate Bill 2132, would offer a tax credit of $600 per child for single parents making less than $40,000 annually or jointly filing parents earning less than $60,000. The credit amount would decrease incrementally for families in higher income brackets.
“We have to face the reality that working families in particular have struggled through this pandemic, and targeted relief is what they need to recover,” Simmons said. “Supporting businesses is important, but any economic recovery effort we make at the state level cannot leave our working families behind.”
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons’ (D-Chicago) plan to require hospitals and state agencies to gather more data in order to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has harmed LGBTQIA+ communities in Illinois passed the Senate Thursday.
Simmons, the first openly gay member of the Illinois Senate, said requiring state agencies and hospitals to gather more specific data on age, sex, disability status, sexual orientation and gender identity when dealing with COVID-19 patients is the first step to ensuring visibility and justice for historically marginalized communities as Illinois recovers from the pandemic.
“I’m gratified to see this measure pass, and I am ready to urge the Illinois House to vote to affirm the lives of members of the LGBTQIA+ communities, who disproportionately face challenges that have made this pandemic even deadlier for them,” said Simmons.
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Equality Illinois called for the legislation, citing a lack of routine data collection that has prevented an accurate outlook of the coronavirus’ effect on the LGBTQIA+ community in Illinois. Studies have shown members of those communities are more likely to have chronic conditions and other risk factors that can increase vulnerability to COVID-19. As one example of how the pandemic can exacerbate existing challenges, older LGBTQIA+ people already face higher rates of social isolation.
“Any pandemic relief and recovery must be rooted in an understanding of what disparities got us here,” Simmons said. “This vote today is a declaration to LGBTQIA+ communities that we see them and are working for a recovery that includes them.”
Senate Bill 2133 awaits consideration before the Illinois House.
SPRINGFIELD – As one of his first acts after being appointed to represent the 7th Illinois Senate District, State Senator Mike Simmons passed legislation out of the Senate Thursday to require that meetings to fill a vacancy in the General Assembly be recorded and broadcast by electronic means for public consumption. The bill also requires election authorities to notify the public of all proceedings related to appointments in the future.
“The appointment process established by the state constitution is intended to ensure representation during interim periods when an official retires or is incapable of serving,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “It’s our duty to ensure Illinois citizens have as much input and transparency as possible in the process.”
Read more: Simmons’ bill to make filling vacant elected offices more transparent passes Senate
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) issued the following statement on news of the verdict in Derek Chauvin’s trial:
“With today’s verdict, Derek Chauvin has been held accountable for the murder of George Floyd. At a basic minimum, this is what we need, and I am relieved to see the verdict. But we must ask ourselves now what justice will look like for George Floyd.
“Justice is broad and systemic, and this verdict tells us that the system must change from the ground up. George Floyd was executed on camera in a matter of minutes. His daughter will never see him again. Derek Chauvin has had many months and more of due process, all while communities across the country anxiously awaited this decision, not at all confident that Chauvin would face consequences even in light of the fact that his crime was caught on film.
“That this was in doubt, that we feel relieved that there will be consequences, speaks to how much the system needs changing. Chauvin is one officer whose misconduct will be punished. This must cease to be the exception, or more Black lives will be routinely taken from us.”
SPRINGFIELD – To better determine how the COVID-19 pandemic has harmed LGBTQIA+ communities in Illinois, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) passed legislation out of an Illinois Senate committee Thursday that would require state agencies and hospitals to gather more specific data on age, sex, disability status, sexual orientation and gender identity when dealing with COVID-19 patients.
Simmons, the first openly gay member of the Illinois Senate, said visibility is the first step to ensuring justice in how services are delivered to these historically marginalized communities.
“For members of the LGBTQIA+ communities, who already disproportionately face challenges in getting medical care or sadly lack the support of family, COVID-19 has the potential to be even more devastating,” Simmons said. “We can’t protect these communities if we refuse to see them.”
Read more: Simmons moves to gather data on how COVID-19 has harmed LGBTQ+ communities
CHICAGO – Last week, State Senator Mike Simmons toured the newly opened mass vaccination site located near Wrigley Field, which provides up to 2,000 doses daily to people who live in and around the 7th District – and vowed to bring more shots to the area.
“Vaccine efforts are ramping up across the state, but it has become apparent that too many people feel that the process of securing an appointment and getting a vaccine is out of reach,” Simmons said. “People within the district I represent are dealing with systemic barriers to accessing health care overall, and vaccine distribution is shining a light on systemic inequities that affect 7th District residents.”
Alongside Congressman Mike Quigley and Representative Margaret Croke, Simmons toured the new mass vaccination site near Wrigley Field located at American Airlines Conference Center at Gallagher Way. Advocate Aurora Health is operating the site, and Simmons says he is in discussions with the group to arrange partnerships that will target more vaccines to those in need across the 7th District.
The Wrigley Field facility will offer up to 2,000 shots daily. Additionally, starting yesterday, Monday, April 12, Chicagoans can make an appointment to receive a shot at the United Center.
People can call 312-746-4835 or visit Zocdoc.com/vaccine to request an appointment at either location.
“The only way to end this pandemic and get back to a life of normalcy is by ensuring as many people as possible are vaccinated equitably,” Simmons said. “We have to do the extra work to ensure people who are not well-served by the health care system have easy access to the vaccine and culturally competent medical professionals who will help to assuage their concerns.”
For a full list of available sites, people can visit coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/vaccination-location or call the Illinois Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 833-621-1284.
“We cannot overcome COVID-19 if we leave communities like these behind.”
CHICAGO — Two hundred residents, mostly from the Rogers Park and West Ridge neighborhoods, received COVID-19 vaccines today at events organized by State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago), in partnership with the Howard Brown Health Center, the Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago, and ONE Northside.
Simmons worked with the organizations to set up the events and reach out to residents of the 60626 and 60659 ZIP codes and adjacent communities after reports he requested from the Illinois Department of Public Health showed that infections still remain high and vaccination rates low in those communities, mirroring broader inequities in the health system.
“We’re talking about communities with immigrants, non-primary English speakers, and those living without reliable access to quality health care here in the 7th Senate District,” Simmons said. “Those circumstances present huge barriers to vaccine access, and if we’re to overcome them we have to proactively reach out and facilitate access. Many of our residents have language, transportation, and economic barriers to accessing the vaccine.”
Read more: 200 Rogers Park, West Ridge residents vaccinated at local events organized by Simmons
CHICAGO — Responding to briefings on the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of vaccine access in parts of the 7th Illinois Senate District, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) has partnered with local organizations to help secure vaccinations for 200 residents in the communities at most risk of COVID-19 and thus far the worst access to shots.
Those set to receive the vaccine at two community sites tomorrow are primarily from the Rogers Park and West Ridge neighborhoods of the 7th Senate District, which data requested by Simmons showed have both endured high COVID-19 infection rates but have struggled to access vaccines.
“The 60626 ZIP code in Rogers Park and West Ridge is experiencing the most inequitable rate of COVID-19 infections right now in the district,” Simmons said. “And we know that in particular, securing vaccines has proven challenging for immigrant communities like the ones in this part of the city, who face everything from transportation issues to language barriers. I was moved to work with these local organizations to help set up appointments for 200 residents who face systemic barriers to accessing the vaccine equitably and who otherwise would not be likely to have access anytime soon.”
The vaccine appointments were booked with the help of the Ethiopian Community Association, Howard Brown Health Center and ONE Northside, working in coordination with Simmons’ office. Many vaccine recipients are members of Chicago’s Ethiopian community, immigrants and asylees, and other low-income residents who face barriers in accessing the vaccine.
“To fight this virus, we need to view every community’s vaccination effort with equal urgency, and we need to meet people where they are,” Simmons said. “We cannot overcome COVID-19 if we leave communities like these behind.”
All appointments at both locations have been booked. The two events will be held tomorrow, April 9, at:
The Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
5800 N. Lincoln Ave.
8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Howard Brown Health Center in partnership with ONE Northside
6555 N. Clark St.
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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