CALUMET CITY, Ill. – State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, is calling attention to a recent expansion of Illinois’ Child Care Assistance Program, which will help more families receive safe, affordable daycare.

“Every family deserves access to affordable daycare,” Jones said. “Many working parents, especially single parents, depend on child care professionals to keep their children safe and help them learn. Unfortunately, sometimes that costs way too much money for a low-income family. I encourage every working parent or guardian to look into this new program to see if they are eligible for assistance, because our kids deserve the best.”

Jones is supporting an expansion of Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) program which grants child care assistance money to families making 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or less. This income level is an expansion of 15% from the previous 185% of the FPL. Jones has backed many initiatives like this to ensure that critical services are available for low-income families.

“Child care isn’t a luxury, it’s the first step in a long-term investment in better education, a productive economy and a stronger Illinois,” Jones said. “Kids who get full-time care when they are growing up are much more likely to develop the skills they need to do well in school and eventually get a job as a productive member of society. I will keep working hard to ensure that all working families get the resources they need.”

CHICAGO –State Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, Jr., D-Chicago, used this Spring session to fight for a fairer tax system, expand access to job training and child care, create economic opportunity, and protect vital health care services for minors and women.

Robinson backed a Fair Tax, which requires millionaires and billionaires to pay their share and provide modest tax relief to 97% of working families.  Illinois’ tax system is among the most unfair in the country and working families bear too much of a burden, which is why Robinson fought to make the wealthiest pay their fair share so we balance the budget and fund critical services like health care for seniors.

“This year, my colleagues and I took important steps to pass a balanced budget that invests in our local economy and moves our state toward a better future,” Robinson said. “The Fair Tax is a first step toward a fairer tax system that provides modest relief to working families and ensures the very wealthy pay their fair share.”

Committed to expanding access to health care, Robinson backed legislation to protect health care coverage for Illinoisans with pre-existing conditions, as well as legislation to prevent excessive premium hikes. Robinson sponsored Senate Bill 2026, which keeps Illinois from entering into waivers being pushed by the Trump Administration that would expand plans that cover less and cost more. Robinson also stood with all women in Illinois by voting to pass Senate Bill 25, the Reproductive Health Act, which protects the fundamental rights of women from extremist politicians in states like Alabama and Georgia.

Additionally, Robinson led the charge on expanding access to preventive health care by passing House Bill 2665, which allows minors over the age of 12 to receive HPV vaccines, be prescribed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, as well as contraceptives without parental consent.

“Health care is a human right, and we must remove barriers that make it less accessible,” Robinson said. “The well-being of our community is my top priority, and I will continue supporting measures that expand access to quality and affordable health care to all Illinoisans.”

Robinson also worked to prevent senseless violence from occurring in his community and around the state by backing commonsense gun safety legislation to modernize the tools available to local law to ensure public safety. He voted to pass Senate Bill 1966, which would fix the Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) Act by closing a loophole that the Aurora gunman exploited to get his hands on a firearm, as well as streamlining the revocation process for local law enforcement.

“Protecting our families from senseless gun violence is critical,” Robinson said. “This legislation is a necessary step that will improve background checks and provide law enforcement with the tools they need to prevent criminals from getting their hands on a firearm.”

Robinson also took steps to improve our children’s education by introducing House Bill 2668, which would create child opportunity zones to deliver a comprehensive system of early childhood education and social services that aim to improve student performance in school. In addition, he fought to create an elected Chicago school board that will truly address the needs of students and local families, providing greater transparency and representation.

“Access to a quality education and other services has a significant impact on a child’s future, and we must implement measures that ensure our children have the resources they need to be successful,” Robinson said. “We must also make sure that those who may not have had access to those resources can get a second chance and work toward a better future.”

As an advocate for social justice, Robinson introduced legislation to create the Neighborhood Sealing and Expungement Court Pilot Program to make the expungement process easier and more accessible for residents across Chicago. Robinson also supported cannabis legislation, House Bill 1438, which secured expungements for past offenses and investments in minority-owned businesses.

“Making it easier to have records expunged will benefit residents in our community and enable them to pursue opportunities for a brighter future,” Robinson said. “Legalizing cannabis is about equity and ensuring that we are undoing the consequences of the War on Drugs, as well as taking the necessary steps to create more opportunities in black and brown neighborhoods.”

“My commitment to strengthening our community means fighting for affordable health care, protecting our families from violence, providing access to a quality education and high-wage jobs and relieving the tax burden on middle-class families,” Robinson said. “While there is more work to be done, we have made great strides toward building a stronger Illinois that puts working families first.”

CHICAGO – As local families continue to struggle with the overbearing costs of childcare, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation that increases access to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) for families who are most in need.

“Last year under the direction of Governor Rauner, access to childcare was dramatically reduced to those who need it most,” Slaughter said.  “That action was reckless, and left thousands of parents in the difficult position of trying to decide whether to go to work or stay home. Childcare assistance is a proven economic generator, and this proposal would reasonably extend it to families who need it.”

Slaughter is cosponsoring House Bill 721, which expands eligibility for CCAP to more low-income families by raising the income threshold from 162 percent of the federal poverty level to the previous state standard of 185 percent. If passed and signed into law, it is expected that up to 30,000 more families will have access to childcare assistance.

“Our most vulnerable children do not have access to the proper assistance needed to ensure their health and safety,” Slaughter said. “It is time to reinstate the previous cap, and allow more Illinois families to receive the assistance needed for their children.”

For more information, please contact Slaughter’s constituent service office at 773-445-9700 slaughterj@ilga.gov.