CHICAGO - State Senators Mattie Hunter and Cristina Castro celebrated the announcement of the availability of new perinatal doula and lactation consultant services pregnant and postpartum individuals who are enrolled in the Illinois Medicaid program.

“Doulas and lactation consultants provide vital support that helps improve the overall health of mothers and their babies,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “By expanding coverage of these services, we are making essential care more attainable for families.”

This coverage will further expand maternal and child health coverage, by ensuring all individuals are supported throughout their pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience.

Under this new insurance requirement, certified doula services includes the entire perinatal period and up to one year postpartum. Covered doula services include perinatal counseling, education and supports, including newborn care, development of a birth plan and support during labor and delivery, care coordination with available community-based services, attendance at clinician visits, emotional and physical support, and visits to assist with basic infant care.

CHICAGO – To address the housing crisis that the 7^th District and entire state of Illinois faces, State Senator Mike Simmons led a Senate Human Rights Committee subject matter hearing on Tuesday entitled ”Housing as a Human Right.”

“The hearing is in direct response to what my office witnesses on a daily basis, which is people in a housing crisis,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Common threats to stable, accessible, affordable housing include double-digit rent increases, the threat of eviction, building neglect and disrepair, homelessness, and domestic violence. No matter what part of Illinois you live in, there is a lack of sufficient accessible, quality housing, and the purpose of this hearing is to amplify this issue and affect real change.”

CHICAGO — Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford joined Governor JB Pritzker and a number of stakeholders to push for the House passage of her measure that would regulate Delta-8, a synthetic hemp-derived THC intoxicant.

“The current unregulated market undermines social equity license holders who have long worked to establish a legal, well-regulated business,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Effective regulation is about safeguarding public health and fostering a sustainable, trustworthy market."

CHICAGO - State Senators Elgie R. Sims, Jr. and Robert Peters celebrated the announcement of a new National Quantum Algorithm Center, which will further solidify the state as a leader in the global quantum industry.

“Illinois is poised to become the epicenter of quantum innovation, positioning itself as a global leader in both technological advancement and economic development,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “The establishment of the National Quantum Algorithm Center marks a pivotal moment in our state's technological landscape, promising to drive breakthrough solutions to complex global challenges while also enhancing cutting-edge research and job opportunities.”

CHICAGO — The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus issued the following statement:

“At a time when people across our country are seeking unity in the wake of political division, extremists are offering nothing but fear and intimidation.

“Our greatest safety is in community. As leaders of this state, we pledge to use every tool at our disposal — legislative, legal, and otherwise — to protect our immigrant families from the threat of mass deportation. We will not be intimidated and will not allow our communities to live in fear. As the saying goes, el pueblo unido, jamás será vencido — the people united will never be defeated.”

SPRINGFIELD — With the new year quickly approaching, a number of new state laws will take effect. Nearly 300 laws will officially be on the books beginning Jan. 1 — from one that fights catalytic converter theft to another that makes it easier to cancel online subscriptions.

CHICAGO – Following a multi-year implementation period, the state’s minimum wage will reach $15 per hour on Jan. 1, thanks to steadfast advocacy from Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford.

“As a state, we have helped countless workers make ends meet, reduce financial stress, and provide a more solid foundation for their futures,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “The $15 minimum wage is a testament to our commitment to economic justice and our belief that everyone who works full time deserves a living wage.”

Lightford led a law in 2019 to put the state on the path to a $15 per hour minimum wage by 2025. The minimum wage was raised from $8.25 to $10 in 2019. Each year after, on Jan. 1, the minimum wage increased by $1 – putting it at $15 come Jan. 1, 2025. Additionally, the youth minimum wage rate will raise to $13 per hour.

DEERFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison commemorated Dec. 21, 2024 as James A. Lovell Day to celebrate the Lake Forest man whose words of, “Houston, we've had a problem,” are still said daily some 54 years later. 

“James A. Lovell’s extraordinary courage and skills have left an indelible mark on human space exploration,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “His achievements have long inspired generations to dream big and persevere in the face of seemingly impossible challenges.”

Lovell is best known for his remarkable role in the Apollo 13 mission – an incredible story of survival and human resilience. In April 1970, when an oxygen tank explosion crippled their spacecraft, Lovell and his crew transformed what could have been a tragic disaster into one of the most remarkable rescue missions in history. With limited resources and facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, they navigated their damaged spacecraft back to earth.