Donate Life Month

April is National Donate Life Month. All around the nation, advocates and organizers are encouraging individuals to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. The campaign has not only been designed to increase the donor registry list, but to also celebrate those that have helped save lives through the gift of donation.    

This 100th General Assembly, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Secretary of State Jesse White brought forth new legislation that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to register for the state’s First Person Consent Organ/Tissue Donor Registry when they receive their driver’s license or identification card.

“Choosing to give life to another is a wonderful gift,” Hunter said. “Opening the donor registry will broaden the number of overall donations and save countless lives.”

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Chicago Department of Aviation Community Career Fair

Hunter: Department of Public Health must refocus priorities

State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) criticized the Illinois Department of Public Health on Wednesday for proposing cuts to programs and services that would disproportionately affect minority communities.

The Senate Appropriations I Committee heard testimony Wednesday morning from Nirav Shah, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, on possible budget cuts to reduce the $5 billion gap in Gov. Rauner’s budget.

The IDPH is holding an event celebrating “National Minority Health Month” in the Capitol’s rotunda this week.

“The department needs to refocus its priorities,” Hunter said. “To me, it’s highly hypocritical and counterproductive to celebrate bridging health equity, right after proposing cuts that will largely affect a group of individuals.”

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Hunter: It’s time to prioritize social service agencies

State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is fighting for funding for domestic violence shelters following a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing this week. Advocates, including Vickie Smith, testified about the negative effects the budget impasse has had on domestic violence shelters across the state.

“In the late 1980s I served as a director for a domestic violence shelter and know firsthand how critical the services they provide are,” Hunter said. “By not funding these essential services, victims may stay in their homes longer and suffer ongoing abuse because they have nowhere else to go. It is a real shame that in their time of greatest need, the state is not willing or able to step up and support these victims.”

Domestic violence shelter funding was omitted in the FY17 budget. Since then, many domestic violence shelters have been forced to lay off staff, reduce services or even shut their doors due to the lack of state funding.

“Every single agency raises private dollars,” said Smith on “The 21st Podcast” on NPR. “But the money from the state is the core of operating funds. It keeps the lights on; it keeps the phone bill paid; and it pays their rent. If the agencies don’t have the core operating fund it’s really difficult to provide extra services… Considering everything is built around that.”

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