SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —State Rep. Nicholas Smith, D-Chicago, who concluded his final legislative session in the Illinois House of Representatives on Monday morning,  emphasized the work done to ease financial pressures on working families, seniors and communities across Illinois through measures focused on affordability, economic opportunity and everyday cost relief.

“My job has always been about making life easier for the people I represent,” Smith said. “Whether it was fighting for access to healthcare, a quality education and economic opportunity. I’ve tried to stay focused on the real issues people face every day.”

Throughout his time in office, Smith supported legislation and budget priorities aimed at reducing obstacles for Illinois residents, strengthening community investment and expanding access to economic opportunities. During his final session, he continued advocating for policies centered on affordability and long-term stability for families navigating rising costs here in Illinois.

“It’s important that government responds to the realities people are living through,” Smith said. “Families are balancing rent, groceries, childcare, transportation and healthcare all at once. Those challenges should remain at the center of the work we do.”

Smith’s final legislative session also marks the close of years of public service dedicated to strengthening and advocating for his community. Colleagues and constituents have recognized his commitment to thoughtful leadership and policies intended to create lasting impact.

“As I prepare to step away from this role, I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished together,” Smith said. “There is still more work ahead, but I remain hopeful about the future of our communities and the next generation of leadership. I’m grateful to the residents who placed their trust in me throughout my time in office. Serving this district has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”

To learn more about the bills Rep. Smith passed or introduced this session, visit his official webpage.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Legislative House Black Caucus issued this statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision blocking efforts to expand equity and opportunity in college admissions:

“Our radical Supreme Court’s tragic decision to sever equitable opportunities and curtail human rights for countless Black Americans will exact a devastating toll on our communities. Opportunities for higher education, which were growing thanks to effective affirmative admissions policies, will once again be denied to Black students who have often had to overcome major obstacles to achieve academic excellence.

“This move serves only to meet a partisan agenda while propping up a deeply-racist power structure that has haunted the Black community for generations. Affirmative action was undertaken to overcome the lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow policies and provide the promise of opportunity to Black children suffering under those effects. Now that promise has been broken.

“The Illinois House Legislative Black Caucus is eager to work with Governor Pritzker to take immediate action to continue expanding access to college education for all, and to continue pursuing equity-based reforms. Recent steps to substantially expand MAP grants and other education programs that benefit the Black community are a good start.  All students deserve better than a Supreme Court that embraces fundamentalism over fairness and acts consistently to preserve a system of oppression. Illinois will take every step we can to combat the racial injustice the court favors.”

CHICAGO –In response to the ongoing faculty strike at Chicago State University (CSU), state Rep. Nick Smith, D-Chicago, issued a statement in a show of solidarity with striking faculty, staff and students.

“As a graduate of Chicago State University, I stand proudly with the students and faculty that have stood up to demand a fair contract and smaller class sizes,” said Smith. “I know firsthand the amazing work and impact that my fellow Cougars put out every day. They deserve nothing less than what they are asking for.”

The Chicago State University chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois (CSU-UPI) began their general strike last week on April 3. Dispute managers from the federal Department of Labor (DoL) oversaw negotiations between administration and staff, with all but a few of the union’s demands still unmet. As the strike enters it second week, Rep. Smith urges an amicable resolution for all parties involved.

The South Side school has been met with a myriad of challenges in recent years including the ousting of a former university president due to ethical challenges, financial challenges that threatened the school’s existence in 2016 and declining enrollment figures that the administration says is partially responsible for the school’s financial challenges. Data shows that CSU faculty are paid about ten percent below the state average for higher education professionals at other universities. In addition, faculty and students have complained about large class sizes and a lack of leave for expecting parents.

“What we are seeing here at Chicago State, Governor’s State and other universities around the country is the culmination of decades of disregard for and disinvestment in our public institutions of higher learning. We cannot allow these trends to continue here at CSU,” said Smith “Instead, we must be bold and ensure our students and the staff that teach them get everything they deserve to be successful. While it might be difficult, I am hopeful that the administration, faculty and staff will be able to reach a substantial agreement soon.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In response to the release of police body camera footage showing the killing of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five Memphis officers, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) released the following statement:

“The release of police body camera footage makes clear what we already knew: the murder of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols was brutal and unjustified. Our deepest condolences are with his family and all those who knew and loved him. The police officers who beat this young man to death have no place in law enforcement, and were rightly dismissed. Still, this is not enough. These officers callously and viciously killed another human being and Mr. Nichols’ family deserves justice.

“For the people who are angry, for the people who are sick of living in fear, we will always stand with you in the fight for justice. We are proud of the steps we’ve taken in Illinois, including passing major criminal justice reforms as part of our four-pillar agenda two years ago, but there is still much more work to do.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Upon the historic confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus released the following statement:

“Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is one of the most impressive, qualified and fair-minded Supreme Court justices ever confirmed. Her dedication to economic justice, civil rights, reproductive health care access and other pressing issues exhibits her extensive expertise and commitment to justice under the law. As the first Black woman Supreme Court justice, Justice Jackson will defend the rights of all Americans, regardless of race or background, and work towards a more just system for generations to come.

We are excited to see how Justice Jackson uses her integrity, upstanding character and expert legal knowledge to positively impact our country and inspire the next generation of Black leaders. We stand with Justice Jackson in our dedication to public service and justice, and celebrate this monumental day in our history.

By nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden has delivered on his promise of nominating the nation’s first Black woman Supreme Court justice with an established record of judicial fairness and a commitment to equal justice for all.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Nick Smith, D-Chicago, recognized Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Awareness Month on Thursday, emphasizing its imbalanced impact on communities of color and calling for further action to support underserved patient populations.

“Metastatic TNBC is a particularly deadly form of breast cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 30%,” Smith said. “It is not easily treatable, and statistics show that Black, Hispanic and younger women experience higher rates. Today and throughout this month, I call on residents to support efforts to improve screening access, along with promoting cultural sensitivity in health care environments.”

Smith’s House Resolution 585 names March as Illinois’ TNBC Awareness Month. It encourages the General Assembly to support legislation that addresses disparities in early detection and survival, as well as ensuring equitable access to affordable breast cancer screening, genetic counseling and diagnostic testing. Additionally, the resolution highlights the need to increase cultural competence and diversity in the health care workforce, as well as guaranteeing patients access to timeline clinically-appropriate treatment.

TNBC accounts for 15-30% of all invasive breast cancer diagnoses in the United States. In 2019, 53,700 cases were reported. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018 the mortality rate for breast cancer in women of all races and ethnicities in Illinois was 20.7, while for Black women it was 33.1.

“TNBC grows quickly, meaning it’s more likely to spread when doctors discover it,” Smith said. “It’s also more likely to come back after treatment than other types of breast cancer. That’s why we have to do what we can here in Illinois to educate people about this cancer, and encourage state action that can create better treatment outcomes and save more lives. The aggressive nature of TNBC, combined with existing barriers to accessing care, only exacerbates these alarming outcomes. There are targeted therapies hold great promise, but we can’t leave anyone behind.”

For more information, please contact RepSmith34@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As budget discussions continue and the General Assembly nears adjournment, the chairs for the House Higher Education, Appropriations-Higher Education and Mental Health and Addiction Committees are encouraging their colleagues to support increased funding for college campus mental health services.

“The governor’s proposed budget outlines a 5% increase in higher education operational funding,” Higher Education Chair Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, said. “This is needed funding that universities should take advantage of to reinforce and boost their on-campus mental health offerings. These services help those who are suicidal, facing substance abuse issues, depression and other serious challenges that deserve support and awareness.”

“While there was always a need for stronger mental health services, this pandemic is putting increased strain on all of us,” Mental Health and Addiction Chair Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, said. “This has been a tumultuous couple of years, with little sense of normalcy on campuses. Three years ago we passed legislation that would provide mental health services to support our students on college campuses. It is critical that we put the financial investment in our budget to fund this legislation to ensure every student can reach their full potential. Let’s make sure students have the resources they deserve to access the support they need.”

“In the past 20 years, the number of college students with clinical depression and suicidal tendencies has tripled, and approximately 1.6 million students sought counseling assistance last year,” Appropriations-Higher Education Chair La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, said. “It is perhaps no wonder that acts of violence on campuses have increased. One-third of all college students have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, a 14% increase in the last decade. Only 25% of college students receive treatment. The pandemic has exacerbated this issue. In fall 2020, 89% of college students experienced stress or anxiety because of COVID-19. Graduation rates are lower for students with mental health conditions, especially Black, Latinx and low income students. Dropout rates are 2.5 times higher. There was a time when there was a stigma around seeking mental health support now students are testifying in Springfield pleading for more mental health support on college campus. We cannot leave Springfield this year without increasing funding for colleges to provide mental health support for Illinois’ students.”

“We want all of our students to succeed, and that starts by creating a healthy environment that includes accessible mental health support,” Higher Education Vice Chair Maurice West, D-Rockford, said. “We need to be mindful of the unique challenges students are currently facing, and our budget should reflect this critical aspect of the academic experience.”

“Campus mental health cannot be overlooked as we put together a budget this year,” Mental Health and Addiction Vice Chair Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, said. “Together, our committees have held hearings that have provided valuable insight on how mental health is handled at our universities. By increasing our investment in higher education operations, we can give our institutions the resources they need to reach more students.”

“Investing in mental health services now will have a beneficial impact for years to come,” Appropriations-Higher Education Vice Chair Nicholas Smith, D-Chicago, said. “The more students we can help deal with their challenges in a professional, healthy way, the better their mental health will likely be down the road. Let’s make sure campus mental health is a priority in this budget.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Nicholas K. Smith, D-Chicago, issued the following statement upon the General Assembly’s adjournment this week:

“Over the past year, we’ve seen the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our communities and on our families. The pandemic has only amplified the need for equitable access to quality health care in our communities. That is why we passed a comprehensive health care reform package this year to improve health care access in our neighborhoods and combat implicit bias in care. With the new leadership of Speaker Welch, we were able to ensure fair housing, job opportunities and equal pay for equal work no matter your color or gender. We also cracked down on predatory lending and worked to grow small businesses through increased investment and access to financial services.

“This legislative session has provided an opportunity for Illinois to make bold steps forward to improve the lives of Illinoisans in a post-pandemic world. New leadership makes me feel optimistic that more steps will be taken to end unequal treatment in schools and provide fair funding for our children, our families, and our neighborhoods.

“This week, the General Assembly passed a budget that prioritizes common sense spending, institutes cost saving measures and provides opportunities to historically underserved Illinoisans. Legislators agreed that we can all work for Illinoisans the same way many Illinoisans have worked these past eighteen months. I look forward to continuing to work in good faith with legislators on either side of the political aisle. My top priority is to enact lasting and meaningful reforms that prioritize the well-being of all Illinoisans. Our state’s budget for 2021 lives within its means, pays down debt, and prevents a tax increase on middle-class families.”