SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) issued the following statement in response to the governor’s budget address today:

“I applaud Governor Pritzker for including a child tax credit in his budget proposal. I believe we should go bolder and more ambitious to ensure the child tax credit puts a sizable dent in child poverty across Illinois. As I wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times this week, and have championed for three years since taking office, it is important for us to enact a permanent and refundable child tax credit for households in every part of Illinois who are scrimping to get by and deserve economic relief and financial security. This is a day long coming, and now we have to fight for a more robust child tax credit that will have a broader impact.

“I’m also pleased to see clear commitments from the Governor that support healthy communities, including additional investments in early childhood, higher education, funding for K-12 schools, health care and eliminating food insecurity. I also appreciate that the Governor has proposed $10M in funds that will help erase medical debt for more than a quarter million people.”

“I look forward to being a leading voice in budget negotiations on the child tax credit and other critical priorities to address the needs of children, working families and low-income households across our state. That will be my north star in the weeks ahead.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons reconvened his People's Legislative Council for Single Moms, bringing together moms and caregivers to hear from them how a permanent child tax credit in Illinois would benefit their daily lives.

“A child tax credit in Illinois would make a major difference in the livelihoods of 7th District families,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Hearing firsthand from local mothers on how this would help provide them economic relief and financial security makes it even more pressing to enact a permanent state-level child tax credit.”

Caption: State Senator Mike Simmons delivers more than 200 valentines to senior facilities within the 7th District on Feb. 14.

CHICAGO – To celebrate and spread joy to senior residents across the 7th Senate District, State Senator Mike Simmons visited senior residential buildings on Wednesday to deliver Valentine’s Day cards created by students from local public schools and community members as part of his card collection drive.

“It was a joy to deliver these beautiful, heartfelt valentines to our senior residents this Valentine’s Day,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This collection drive was a community effort, and its success is a testament to the compassionate hearts of our schools and neighbors. Thank you to our educators and students who made sure as many seniors as possible received a card, and to all our neighbors who dropped off valentines.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons stood with the Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity today for Black HIV/AIDS Advocacy Day to celebrate the accomplishments in HIV prevention and care and to recognize the work still needed to overcome structural barriers to testing, prevention and treatment in Black communities.

“We have taken steps to reduce the disproportionate impact of HIV and AIDS on Black communities, but disparities continue to exist,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). "It is crucial that we have conversations about HIV/AIDS to increase education, testing, community involvement and treatment among Black communities.”