SPRINGFIELD – In response to the governor’s annual budget address Wednesday, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) issued the following statement:

“It’s clear that certain communities have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, demonstrating the need for a comprehensive plan to expand access to health care and public health resources while also working toward a more equitable society. One of our top priorities has to be ensuring the safety and wellbeing of immigrant communities, who continue to struggle finding access to supportive resources.”

“Working-class and immigrant communities have been the backbone of our state throughout this pandemic, and it’s clear that the governor has made an earnest effort to prioritize their safety and wellbeing by investing in community organizations that support local residents. Though this proposal is a good start, I would like to see more active consideration of the populations in my community that still need support services and increased resources.”

“Making sure our residents have the resources they need is what fuels our state and allows us to be a leader in worker protection, public safety and social equity.”

CHICAGO – Local libraries in Stickney will be given nearly $39,000 in grants to provide assistance for pandemic recovery thanks to support from State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago).

“Libraries, like many of our businesses and homes, have been disrupted greatly by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Villanueva said. “Despite these challenges, our local libraries have provided resources to job seekers, educators and the general public, and our support to them should be a reflection of all they do for our communities.”

The goal of the initiative is to respond to the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing funding for libraries to modify their services, transform their spaces and develop more resources for their local recovering workforce. These funds will also ensure all operations can be provided safely and effectively as the pandemic continues.

“These projects focus on ways to invest in the hard-working families in our communities that have done all they can to thrive despite the pandemic,” Villanueva said. “Libraries are a source of innovation, and I am honored to continue to serve them while they continue to serve our communities.”

A full list of libraries receiving a grant can be found here.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to labor complaints from workers athe El Milagro tortilla factories:

“I am outraged by the claims from the workers at El Milagro. Exploiting worker’s rights through poor treatment and low wages is unacceptable in any capacity, and even more so during a pandemic that has severely impacted the communities on the Southwest side of the city of Chicago.

“Even before the pandemic, many working families were struggling to make ends meet—so to learn that working conditions have only worsened is extremely disheartening. People’s livelihoods are at stake, and the workers and our communities deserve better.

“As a former organizer and union member, I stand with all workers in the fight against workplace exploitation and those fighting for their rights, because worker rights are human rights.”

CHICAGO – To protect first-generation college students and families from predatory business practices, a new plan offered by State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) that creates transparency and fairer guidelines for educational planning services was signed into law.

“This measure reels in bad actors that prey on low-income and first-generation students,” Villanueva said. “Families must have options to get out of deceptive, long-term contracts when these services are offered by the state free of charge.”

The new law requires educational planning service providers to disclose that similar services may be available at no charge from the state, allow consumers to choose which services they wish to receive and allow consumers to cancel services at any time. Consumers will also receive a full refund for services not yet provided under the law.

Read more: New law will protect college students from predatory college planning servicers