SPRINGFIELD – A measure championed by State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) to create the Task Force on Best Practices and Licensing of Non-Transplant Organ Donation Organizations was signed into law Friday.

“When people sign up to be organ donors, they are putting their trust in the fact that their organs will be properly kept, and used for science or educational purposes. Unfortunately, there have been cases where family members of the deceased suspected foul play,” Van Pelt said. “There needs to be more regulations in place in order to ensure the safety of organ donations.”

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CHICAGO — To help students struggling from summer learning loss, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is hosting a Summer Book Club for Chicago’s Westside youth.

“I know that everyone is excited to be outside and enjoy that aspect of summer break, but it is also important for children to exercise their minds,” Van Pelt said. “Kids who keep their minds engaged through the summer will be better prepared when school starts again, and even develop good lifelong learning habits.”

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) issued the following statement in response to the Senate’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2022 budget:

“I am happy to have voted for a plan that is balanced, and that accounts for the complexity of Illinois’ fiscal situation reeling from the pandemic.

“The programs that people depend on will not face painful cuts, keeping them reliable during an increased time of need. Keeping people healthy and rebuilding a strong economy is essential moving forward. I am glad this budget prioritized public health response, emergency response, and mental and behavioral health.

“Furthermore, continuing the Black Caucus’ agenda to eradicate systemic racism is deeply necessary. It is crucial that the reforms my colleagues and I voted to pass have adequate funding, so that equity is at the forefront of all state structures. This budget does that.

“I’m confident the budget passed today will revitalize our state as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis of systemic racism.”

SPRINGFIELD – Any person who has been convicted for a drug-related offense under state or federal law is prohibited from being eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, but State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is leading an initiative to reverse that restriction, which passed the Senate Thursday.

“Even after people serve their time, they still struggle when reentering society, as many of their rights have been taken from them,” Van Pelt. “They are released and ready to make a change—but laws like the restriction on TANF limit their ability to make a better life for themselves.”

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