SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons presented multiple pieces of legislation that will increase vehicle safety and improve CTA disability benefits to the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday.

“Transportation plays such an important role in our day-to-day lives. It is an essential service. Agencies responsible for providing services should be held accountable to provide accessible service to people of all abilities, and mitigate risks larger vehicles can pose to the road,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “These bills will not only improve safety in our daily transportation, but will also help decrease the amount of accidents on our roads.”

Senate Bill 1892 provides that CTA, PACE and Metra benefits for people with disabilities will automatically renew unless discontinued by the benefit holder.

Senate Bill 2278  permits local authorities to impose limitations on the weight, height or length of trucks or other commercial vehicles on the highways under their jurisdiction. 

These measures passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday and now head to the Senate floor.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons presented a measure that encourages cooperative housing developments to the Senate State Government Committee on Wednesday.

“Too many communities across Illinois are experiencing a severe shortage of affordable housing supply,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Cooperative housing provides one piece of the overall supply needed for those who are lower-income and aspire to live in cooperatively owned buildings.”

Senate Bill 1484 creates the Cooperative Housing Fund, which would be used by the Illinois Housing Development Authority to award up to $5,000,000 in grants to organizations developing cooperative housing for residents with an income less than or equal to the median income within the municipality.

This measure will promote cooperative housing, a form of housing where a non-profit entity owns the residential building but its residents are shareholders of the entity. Cooperative housing provides a viable alternative to homeownership for low to middle-income earners who may not be able to buy a home, while adding a key affordable housing option to those who need it. 

Simmons will continue to push for this funding throughout the budget negotiation process.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) issued the following statement after Gov. JB Pritzker gave his annual Budget and State of the State addresses Wednesday:

“I am pleased to see that today’s budget proposal recommends funding to address homelessness, expand access to healthcare, early childhood and other investments. 

“However, more funding is still needed to help historically underserved communities grappling with the continuing HIV and AIDS crisis and for Black-led community organizations to help with this issue. 

“In the weeks ahead, I look forward to working with the governor and my fellow lawmakers to ask pointed questions during hearings and to negotiate a budget that helps working class families meet their needs, provides more funds towards transportation safety for pedestrians and cyclists, expands access to healthcare for communities who are not well-served by the current healthcare system, and affordable housing. I look forward to continuing to negotiate these measures, which are absolutely necessary to support the people of Illinois.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons presented the Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity with a proclamation declaring Feb. 7^th as Black HIV/AIDS Advocacy Day during a press conference Tuesday.

“I was proud to stand with dedicated advocates for the Black HIV/AIDS community today,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We have so much work to do to bring new HIV infections down to zero and to ensure robust and affordable health care for those living with HIV and AIDS in our communities. Uplifting those engaged in this work today is step one.”

Feb 7^th is recognized as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Health Institute. In 2017, an estimated 39,842 Illinoisans were living with HIV. In 2020, Black Illinoisans were 14.2% of the state’s population but accounted for 52.1 % of new HIV diagnoses and 48% of existing diagnoses.

Senator Simmons issued a proclamation to the Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity, a non-profit whose mission is to identify and dismantle systemically racist policies and funding processes in the healthcare system.  

“For too long, our healthcare systems have failed to support the health needs of the Black community,” Simmons said. “I will continue to fight for legislation that ensures all people have access to equitable, affordable, culturally-competent care.”

Declaring Feb. 7^th Black HIV/AIDS Advocacy Day will help draw attention to the advocacy by community groups and coalitions working to uplift and provide equitable resources for Black communities living with HIV/AIDS.

For more information and HIV/AIDS prevention tips, please visit the National Institutes of Health’s Office of AIDS Research here.