Hunter encourages organ donation during Donate Life Month

 SPRINGFIELD – April is National Donate Life Month. All around the nation, advocates and organizers are encouraging individuals to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.

This 100th General Assembly, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Secretary of State Jesse White introduced 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.

Since the law went into effect, so far nearly 12,000 teens have registered to be donors in the state of Illinois.

“Organ donation is so important,” Hunter said. “Choosing to give life to another is a wonderful gift. Nearly 5,000 people are on the waitlist for organ or tissue donations, and about 300 people die each year because they aren’t able to get organ donation in time. Opening this donor registry has broadened the number of participants which will ultimately save countless lives.”

By joining the First Person Consent Organ/Tissue Donor Registry, 16- and 17-year-olds can give consent to donate their organs and tissue at the time of their death. However, the procurement organizations, Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Network and Mid-America Transplant, are required to contact a parent or guardian to ensure approval of the donation. Ultimately, the parent or guardian will have the opportunity to overturn the child’s decision.

As for donors, their decision to register can turn a troubling time into a source of comfort for families as a result of renewed life for others. Please visit here for more information on how to become an organ donor in Illinois.

Senator Hunter: It is highly irresponsible of this administration to ignore the realities of gun violence

 State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago 3rd) issued the following statement today in response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the Gun Dealer Licensing Act:

“Gun violence continues to plague many communities across our state.

Gun violence is what took my two nephews away from me and my family during the summer of 2015. Gun violence is what left 17 families hopeless after their loved ones were murdered ruthlessly in the Florida mass shooting.

Gun violence is what threatens the streets of Chicago day in and day out. How many more people have to die before we enact critical gun reform legislation?

We have a public safety issue and this is a common sense solution. It is highly irresponsible of this administration to ignore the realities that plague our communities.

I urge Governor Rauner to put the people of this state first before partisan politics— Reconsider Governor.”

Black History Month: Sen. Hunter shares her thoughts on Harriet Tubman and the Union Army

Hunter to Gov: Take a walk in somebody else’s shoes for once

 SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the governor’s Budget Address:

“This governor continues to offer dispassionate cuts to the programs that impact the lives of so many people in this state. I beg the governor to roll up his sleeves and join us at the bargaining table this year.

He and his administration need to take a walk in somebody else’s shoes for once, because these cuts do more harm than good to the people we serve. We in the Senate have reached bipartisan support on a number of budgetary issues, and I suggest he join us. Last year, we passed a plan that provided certainty and stability to violence prevention, health care and addiction treatment services, along with programs like Teen Reach.

This year, he plans to cut funding for those services. We understand we cannot have everything, but we need to, at least, keep the services that help people rebuild productive lives in the communities that need it most.”