A longtime, consistent voice for public health, safety and youth issues, State Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) saw her initiative calling for prevention of Chicago’s profound youth violence problem pass the Illinois Senate.

“Youth violence has devastated our nation as homicide is now the 2nd leading cause of death for youth ages 15 to 29, and the epidemic is particularly rampant in Chicago,” Hunter said. “We must act because the fact that more adolescents are killed in Chicago than any other U.S. city is simply unacceptable. We owe it to our children to do our utmost in protecting them.”

State Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is chief co-sponsor of a measure that will mandate all sexual education courses offered in Grades 6-12 in Illinois teach abstinence and contraception as viable pregnancy and venereal disease prevention methods.

“It’s never too early or inappropriate to teach good health and prevention,” Hunter said in response to her backing the highly scrutinized legislation. “You’re never too young to be empowered to take care of your well-being.”

State Sen. Mattie Hunter saw another major victory for public health when her proposal creating the Diabetes Awareness Special License Plate passed the Illinois Senate.

“Every year, about 3.2 million deaths are attributed to diabetes complications,” Hunter said. “Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in the nation, and we must get serious about making sure citizens are educated and aware regarding this chronic disease that continues plaguing our communities.” 

Legislation establishing the state of Illinois’ premiere working capital revolving loan fund for small, minority and disadvantaged business contractors is now on the way to the Governor’s desk thanks to the efforts of State Sen. Mattie Hunter.

“This loan fund is a novel program that we need as it’s going to bring new economic opportunities and benefits to Illinois minority and disadvantaged business contractors,” Hunter said.

Hunter, chief sponsor of House Bill 3267, says the legislation allows the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to provide low-interest loans from the established Working Capital Revolving Loan Fund to minority and disadvantaged business enterprise contractors.