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.”

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) led a measure through the Senate to expand the Alternative Health Care Delivery Demonstration Program to include birthing centers in more areas of the state with disparate health outcomes for Black mothers.

“On average, 75 women die every year while pregnant or within a year of pregnancy -- a tragic statistic,” Van Pelt said. “It is even more tragic to know that four out of five pregnancy-related deaths could have been prevented. We must do everything we can to combat maternal mortality, which includes increasing access to birthing centers.”

Read more ...

CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is congratulating more than 300 Chicago-area high schoolers who were named 2021-22 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

“I commend these scholars for making such an achievement, which is even more impressive considering the obstacles brought along with the pandemic,” Van Pelt said. “This is also a testament to their families and educators, who have worked tremendously hard to support students during these unpredictable times.”

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – After the second edition of the Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report revealed that Black women die at disparately high rates due to medical causes, State Senators Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) are calling for better outcomes for Black mothers.

“These patterns of disparity and negligence must be identified, so that we know how to eradicate them,” Van Pelt said. “Reports like these are necessary in order to impact legislation, which, thankfully, my colleagues and I have already been working to combat the issue of Black maternal mortality.”

Read more ...