Senator Simmons Attends White House Convening on Child Care, Upcoming Traveling Office Hours, Summer in the 7th District

General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

Happy Summer everyone! The last few weeks have been a productive and amazing time back in our district. Several key bills I passed were recently signed into law by Governor Pritzker, including what is now a public law that removes cost barriers for liver disease screenings, another that removes renewal requirements for transit benefits for people living with disabilities and seniors, and another new law requiring air-conditioning in state-supported affordable housing among other key bills.

We’ve hosted myriad events in the district and joined community stakeholders for many more events in our neighborhoods. We resumed my People’s Legislative Councils in late June convening 7th District residents living with disabilities to talk about their lived experiences and legislative needs. We hosted my third annual Pride Press Conference with grassroots leaders and elected officials from across our district to call out the recent wave of anti-LGBTQ+ hate we’ve seen and to celebrate LGBTQ+ people and our history, we rolled out our brand new Traveling Office Hours initiative in Bowmanville and will be doing the next one in Rogers Park next week. And just this week, I traveled to Washington, DC to participate in the White House Convening on Child Care Access, where I and 91 statewide elected leaders and state-level legislators met with White House senior staff to discuss policy proposals to increase access to quality child care and better support working parents and their children. I was thrilled to be invited to this convening and to lift up the needs of our 7th District households in securing access to affordable childcare.

Read on for key legislative updates, recaps of 7th district events we’ve hosted, and a smattering of upcoming community events and resources available to you.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Mike Simmons

State Senator | 7th District

 

 

 

Legislative Updates

White House Convening on Child Care

Caption: Senator Mike Simmons attends the White House Convening on Child Care, joining legislators from 41 states to discuss policy proposals to expand access to affordable child care.

Caption: Senator Mike Simmons poses with State Senator Samra Brouk from New York at the White House Convening on Child Care.

Caption: Senator Mike Simmons joins legislators in a break out group at the White House Convening on Child Care.

I was invited by the White House to attend the White House Convening on Child Care on Wednesday morning to meet with the Biden-Harris Administration and 41 state leaders from across the country. We collectively brainstormed policy ideas to increase access to high quality, affordable childcare for working households. I was especially proud to lift up the needs of 7th District single moms who participate in my People’s Legislative Council initiative, which has directly informed several bills I’ve introduced and carried in the Senate. Amplifying the needs of our district at the national level was a tall honor. I met several likeminded state legislators from around the country who are also fighting hard for proposals like a permanent child tax credit, paid leave for struggling parents (which we got passed this January thanks to the advocacy of 7th District moms!), better pay for child care providers, and other solid legislative ideas that help parents better care for their children.

Read more …

Simmons advocates for access to child care at The White House

Caption: State Senator Mike Simmons addresses fellow legislative leaders.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – State Senator Mike Simmons traveled to the White House on Wednesday morning to meet with the Biden-Harris Administration and state leaders from across the country to discuss action that can be taken to increase access to high quality, affordable child care for working families.

“I grew up in a household where I saw firsthand the struggle single moms go through to ensure their kids are cared for while they work and attend school to advance their careers,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “In my people’s legislative council for single moms from my district, our 7th district moms talked openly about how hard it is for them to find good child care that they can afford and rely on. They also talked about the need for paid time off to tend to their children’s needs.

I am proud of the work that’s being done in Illinois, including co-leading the fight to create a permanent child tax credit for Illinois parents and reimbursing parents who’ve had their SNAP benefits stolen. I am thrilled to meet with the White House and legislative colleagues from around the country to brainstorm legislative proposals and underscore the critical role of child care to community well-being. This is hugely important work for the humanity of children, moms and dads, extended families, and caregivers. Providing high quality, affordable child care is the right move to support a strong local economy and build strong communities.”

Simmons joined senior White House officials, as well as state leaders and legislators from across the country to discuss policies that support the affordability, quality, and supply of child care. Simmons has been a fierce champion for working families with a track record of fighting for a permanent state-level child tax credit, and successfully advocating for the recently enacted paid leave policy for working-class families. The Biden-Harris Administration has long highlighted the need for a better approach to child care, and the president’s budget reaffirmed his commitment to transforming child care and reducing child care costs for working families.

“Child care is critical for families’ financial stability and for the sustainability of the country’s economy,” Simmons said. “Even when families are able to find child care, it is often not affordable. We must provide our families with solutions at all levels of government to ensure that now, and for generations to come, families live abundant lives, free from the stress of the inability to afford one of their most basic expenses.”

The White House States Convening on Child Care took place Wednesday, July 19. Watch the livestream recap here.

Simmons initiative prioritizing driver, pedestrian safety signed into law

SPRINGFIELD – Local governments will not compromise driver or pedestrian safety in order to accommodate large trucks on non-designated highways thanks to a new law advocated for by State Senator Mike Simmons.

“Widening intersections to accommodate larger trucks takes away space that can be used for bike lanes, pedestrian walkways and green space,” Simmons said (D-Chicago). “This law will ensure these bike lanes, walkways and open spaces will remain available to community residents to use and enjoy.”

The new law provides that an agency or local government will not be required to design, construct, widen or alter a non-designated highway to accommodate trucks between 55 and 65 feet in length. Additionally, a local government will be required to report to the Illinois Department of Transportation any limitations that prohibit the operation of vehicles on non-designated highways and any non-designated highway that is not designed or constructed after Jan. 1, 2023 to accommodate trucks between 55 and 65 feet in length.

“Highway construction can be time-consuming, dangerous and significantly impact traffic flow,” Simmons said. “This law will allow local governments to avoid such a big undertaking by not requiring them to change their non-designated highways to accommodate larger trucks and vehicles.”

Senate Bill 2278 was signed into law on Friday and goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

Simmons celebrates expanded rehabilitation laws for returning citizens

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons championed a new law to expand support for returning citizens to help them reintegrate successfully into their communities and reduce recidivism.

“Returning residents deserve the opportunity to stabilize their lives upon returning to their communities,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Hitting them with outstanding fees and dues immediately following their return is not feasible and often leads to increased recidivism.”

Senate Bill 2175 prohibits courts from ordering the payment of outstanding fees, fines, taxes or any costs arising from criminal proceedings for the first year after a person returns from incarceration. Currently, Illinois does not have a law striking fees for a certain amount of days post-confinement. However, under the Unified Code of Corrections, the court may revoke a fine if good cause is shown.

“Recidivism reduction is doable, we just need to reform our laws to support the rehabilitation of our formerly incarcerated citizens,” Simmons said. “This law will serve as an intervention to reduce recidivism by offering reasonable payment requirements for formerly incarcerated individuals.”

Senate Bill 2175 was signed into law on Friday.