CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons is demanding that federal lawmakers resolve the ongoing government shutdown and prevent the unnecessary stoppage of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, come Nov. 1. With nearly two million Illinois residents relying on SNAP, immediate action is needed to provide access to basic nutrition for families across Illinois.

“In the 7th District, which includes the far north side of Chicago, 25,869 residents depend on SNAP. 7,086 of these residents ARE CHILDREN,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “I know what it feels like to go to bed hungry, and as their state senator, I cannot stand idly by and allow any child, any senior, or any family to needlessly go hungry in my district. The United States is the richest nation in the world and allowing for SNAP assistance to cease is cruel, unacceptable, and inexcusable.”

SNAP provides critical support for children, seniors, veterans and individuals with disabilities, offering the nutrition they need to live healthy, productive lives. The federal government shutdown threatens to halt SNAP benefits beginning November 1, putting millions at risk of hunger – including the 25,869 residents of the 7^th District, of whom 7,086 are children and more than 8,000 are seniors.

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons held a town hall Thursday evening at the Swedish American Museum in Andersonville to share information on immigration rights, resources, and advocacy in light of ICE presence in Illinois, and also addressed the ongoing housing crisis, double-digit rent increases, and challenges to homeownership.

“We are living in a time that is not normal. There is so much that people are worried about right now, so it is incredibly important to me to communicate people’s rights when it comes to immigration and the presence of ICE in our communities,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “As the son of an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, I want to affirm that as state senator of the 7th District, I am here to fight for my community and their right to pursue peace and prosperity here in Illinois and across the nation.”

7th District constituents came to the Swedish American Museum on Thursday to discuss recent federal actions, including concerns about ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and what their authority to conduct enforcement looks like in Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law sponsored by State Senator Mike Simmons will allow the industrial use of municipal wastewater through reclamation of a variety of water sources.

“As we continue to look for ways to curb the effects of industry on our environment, this is one way we can work in tandem with industries to reuse our resources,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This law continues our commitment to our environment and is one more way we can sustain our natural resources here in Illinois.”

By reclaiming water from a variety of sources, treating it and reusing it, industrial wastewater could be used for power generation or cooling of data centers. Because this water may have limited contact with humans, it tends to be less costly and less energy intensive to treat and reuse, ultimately saving money and resources for communities.

SPRINGFIELD – Hearing from constituents who face barriers to accessing their medical supplies from pharmacies even when they had a prescription, State Senator Mike Simmons new law will help these individuals’ access necessary supplies from their pharmacy.

“This law ensures that patients who have prescriptions for injectable medications get the supplies they need and ensures the supplies are clean and safe,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This law will allow pharmacists to make the decision to protect patients and safeguard public health.”

Before this law, pharmacists are allowed to sell up to 100 sterile hypodermic needles or syringes to a person who is at least 18 years old.