Simmons addresses youth investments, health care needs

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) released the following statement Wednesday after the governor outlined his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026:

“Right now our work is direly urgent to ensure people all across Illinois have access to quality health care. We are also at a crossroads in expanding access to quality public transit. We also must reckon and actively take action to address our state’s housing crisis. Today’s budget proposal is a start and I look forward to the weeks ahead in discussions with my colleagues in the Senate and House as we work to ensure these priorities are addressed in the final budget. 

“I am happy to see today’s proposal includes additional funding to the Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program that I spearheaded last year, which would erase medical debt for 300,000 Illinois residents. I am committed to fighting for this program and ensuring all communities have access to quality health care as a top priority. 

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Simmons Sworn in as Illinois State Senator at 104th General Assembly Inauguration

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons has been sworn into the 104^th General Assembly. This marks the beginning of Simmons’ third full term in the Illinois Senate. Senator Simmons is a lifelong resident of the 7th Senate District, the first Black person to serve the 7th District, the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the Illinois Senate, the first Ethiopian-American to serve in either chamber, and the third openly gay, black state senator in the nation.

“It’s an enormous privilege and honor to represent the 7th District. The district, which includes the far north side of Chicago, remains one of the most diverse in the nation with people from all walks of life living, working, going to school, and recreating in all our neighborhoods,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “I am humbled to continue in this role during the 104th General Assembly. In my first two terms, my staff and I have put the people we serve at the center of our legislative work and strive to make sure that each generation and every person – whether it be single moms, longtime residents, youth, LGBTQ+ people, returning citizens, people living with disabilities, survivors of gun violence, or seniors – knows they are seen and heard in our legislative work and constituent services.”

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Simmons law promotes recruitment for educators and childcare providers in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – To respond to the increasing demand for teachers and daycare providers across Illinois, State Senator Mike Simmons’ initiative to strengthen workforce recruitment in Illinois was signed into law Friday.

“This is a step toward providing quality education and childcare for Illinois families to alleviate the burden many in our communities are facing,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “With this law, we will collect feedback from communities across Illinois about their specific needs and how we can address them, ensuring families and children are being taken care of by the best.”

Under the new law, House Bill 814, the existing State Comprehensive Day Care Plan survey of day care facilities will include feedback from groups and individuals with relevant expertise and lived experiences with the goal of promoting workforce recruitment and retention for educators and childcare providers.

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Simmons: Housing is a human right

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.”

 The “Housing as a Human Right” hearing held in Chicago heard from residents who have, and currently face challenges to their housing, as well as advocates and community leaders about the challenges to access and affordability to housing currently in Chicago and all of Illinois. Testimonies touched in astronomical rent increases, the shortage of shelter resources, the deterioration of aging buildings, social services, and property taxes in creating and maintaining more affordable housing in Illinois.

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