SPRINGFIELD – Last week, both the Senate and the House approved an effort led by State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) to allow an early learning and youth development center to purchase the state-owned property it has occupied for decades from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

“I am happy both chambers have moved The Carole Robertson Center one step closer to reaching independence. The Center has been in need of renovations that the state is simply unable to perform,” Van Pelt said. “Selling off state property is not a move anybody involved makes lightly, but in this case, it is necessary. Under the Center’s ownership, it will become possible for thousands of disadvantaged children on Chicago’s West Side to benefit from renovations to the site.”

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SPRINGFIELD – During the lame duck legislative session, Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) voted to pass legislation that will enact major criminal justice reform in the state of Illinois.

“I am proud that my colleagues and I were able to pass such monumental measures this week,” Van Pelt said. “With the implementation of these provisions, we hope to prevent tragedies like the ones we’ve seen in the past several years. The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the violation of Anjanette Young—all situations that could have been avoided with such legislation in place.”

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On Dec. 15 I will be hosting a virtual town hall with officials from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to discuss job access and trainings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Register here: http://www.senatorvanpelt.com/jobaccesstownhall or stream on Facebook Live.

You can submit any questions you may have here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O5loWsyOy61jMggLVOGjdzj7XYDj9zgdp1O9TyESIdE

CHICAGO – Senator Van Pelt (D-Chicago) led a hearing on the state’s DNA backlog Thursday morning, and was impressed by the progress the Illinois State Police has made over the past few months. However, she wants to emphasize the gravity of the lives awaiting justice.

“I am happy to see a continual decrease in the backlog, but we must remember that we’re talking about lives, not numbers,” Van Pelt said. “We are all touched by the people who have been raped and murdered with no justice. We will find a solution.”

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