WASHINGTON, D.C. – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) released the following statement after attending the U.S. Senate Confirmation Hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson:

“I was extremely privileged to witness the first confirmation hearing for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Judge Jackson is the first Black woman to go through the nomination process to sit on the Supreme Court, and it was surreal to see it happen in the flesh.

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With Governor Pritzker more than doubling funding aimed at reducing firearm violence since he took office, eligible organizations can apply for over $150 million in state funding to further violence prevention efforts.

The grants are made possible through the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA), which aims to address the root causes of firearm violence in Illinois through targeted, integrated behavioral health services, access to economic opportunities, and violence interruption and prevention programs.

For more details on the above grants and the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention, visit www.DHS.Illinois.gov/OFVP. All applicants must be GATA prequalified. To learn more check out IDHS’ GATA App.

On Tuesday, March 15 from 5-6 p.m., I will host a town hall to discuss public safety concerns in our district along with Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart and Director Roe Conn. It will be streamed on Facebook live. I hope to see you there.

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to Dr. Ezike’s departure from the Illinois Department of Public Health:

“I want to congratulate Dr. Ngozi Ezike for her amazing service as the leader of our state’s health department over the last three years.

“She has always remained a professional who was genuinely concerned about the health and safety of all Illinoisans. She accepted the challenge as Director of IDPH. When the pandemic started, she was thrown into a role no one could have prepared for, yet she handled the height of the pandemic with such devotion and care.

“Even through her composure during the governor’s daily press conferences, she also gracefully grieved the people we lost to this pandemic, showing us how valuable it is to lead with humanity. Dr Ezike is a hero, and I will miss her and the role she played in protecting our state dearly.”