As Illinois struggles to balance the budget, the Department of Human Services and Department of Children and Family Services estimate they would face $635 million and $140 million in cuts, respectively, if they cut budgets by 20 percent. State Senator Mattie Hunter released a statement in response to the devastating figures.

“Severe cuts would force agencies to close facilities and end services for 39,000 children, the mentally disabled and millions of struggling families,” said Hunter, Chair of the Illinois Human Services Committee. “Thousands of jobs would be cut at a time when the state faces high poverty and unemployment rates.”

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Today the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee discussed the next steps for reducing obesity by offsetting the disproportionate marketing of sugary beverages to low-income families.

“Sugary drinks remain cheap and are marketed toward low-income families,” said State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago,) Vice-Chair of the committee. “The state needs to address the obesity epidemic through healthcare initiatives and funding associated healthcare costs.”

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Instituto Cervantes, a Chicago public library in State Senator Mattie Hunter’s district, can purchase new materials thanks to “Back to Books” grant program.

“The ‘Back to Books’ grant supports an essential part out of our district: libraries,” Hunter said. “Through educating the public, especially children, libraries serve as the foundation of a strong community.”

Instituto Cervantes of Chicago, located north of the Chicago Loop in the third legislative district, will receive $5,000 to go toward purchasing educational resources. Instituto Cervantes of Chicago, established in 1996, is a part of the largest international Spanish teaching organization.

The Illinois Senate unanimously passed a plan to protect seniors from health care workers who have a history of taking advantage of the elderly. State Senator Mattie Hunter sponsored a measure to require the Department of Human Services’ Inspector General to add employees undergoing financial abuse investigations to the Department of Public Health’s registry of unqualified workers.

“Documenting people with a history of taking advantage of seniors is absolutely necessary. Not only is taking advantage of seniors illegal, but it is downright ruthless and disrespectful,” said Hunter, Vice-Chair of the Illinois Public Health Committee. “We need to protect vulnerable seniors from health care workers with dubious records.”

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