­CHICAGO – State Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D- Chicago) delivered the following remarks today before the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Annual Supplier Diversity Policy Session:

Good morning. Thank you, Chairwoman Zalewski and members of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Madame Chair, let me begin by saying congratulations on your appointment and confirmation. Y felicitaciones Comisionada Bocanegra.

It is a new day in Illinois. With Governor Pritzker’s leadership, this past Spring we passed a tremendous package of programs, laws and reforms. They were designed not only to deal with our state’s budgetary crisis but also to ensure that while doing so, we also provided economic opportunities for Illinois people of color.

It has been 6 years since the ICC held the first of these Supplier Diversity Policy Sessions. At that session, then Commissioner Miguel del Valle held up a woefully inadequate report. Some progress was made in those early years. The reports improved to a degree.

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SPRINGFIELD – Bipartisan legislation introduced by State Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago) and signed into law today by Governor JB Pritzker was created to help protect confidential documents submitted along with applications for driver’s license and state identification cards.

“Every person has the right to privacy and that applies to private documents you submit to the state as well,” Sandoval said. “Illinoisans should never be afraid that confidential information they give to the state will fall into the wrong hands and this legislation will help prevent this from happening.”

Senate Bill 1344 prohibits confidential documents submitted to the Secretary of State for driver’s license or ID card applications from being released through the Freedom of Information Act. The measure provides that these confidential documents may only be released to the following entities:

• The individual to whom the driver’s license or ID card was issued
• Officers and employees of the Secretary of State in charge of issuing driver’s licenses and ID cards
• Law enforcement officials for a criminal or civil law investigation
• Any other entity the Secretary has authorized by rule

The measure will go into effect immediately.

CICERO — State Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago), a staunch advocate for women’s health and empowerment, sponsored multiple new laws to form a comprehensive plan to address rising maternal mortality rates—especially those among women and infants of color.

The first measure, House Bill 1, creates the Task force on Infant and Maternal Mortality among African Americans Act. The taskforce will meet and report its findings to the General Assembly on the causes and rates of maternal death for women and infants of color, and effective interventions to improve the quality and safety of maternity care.

“Women, especially women of color, are seeing an alarming rise in deaths of pregnant women or women that have terminated their pregnancy,” Sandoval said. “As a state, we have a responsibility to implement comprehensive solutions to save lives. Being a parent is a gift and our goal as a society should be to ensure mothers and their children are healthy and safe.”

According to the Office of Minority Health, African Americans have 2.2 times the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites. And in 2014 Hispanic mothers were 70 percent more likely to receive late or no prenatal care compared to non-Hispanic white mothers.

The second measure, House Bill 2897, requires the Department of Public Health to investigate and apply for federal funding opportunities to support maternal mental health and requires the agency to file a report with the General Assembly regarding their efforts to secure and utilize the federal funding it receives.

“There is a system in place that is endangering the lives of women and infants of color,” Sandoval said. “Until this crisis is alleviated once and for all, it is vital for the state to investigate, institute concise directives, and educate mothers, medical and emergency personnel.”

House Bills 1 and 2897 were signed into law in July. House Bill 1 went into effect immediately and House Bill 2897 will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.  Both measures passed the General Assembly with unanimous support.

CHICAGO – State Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago) announced today that adult literacy programs in his district will receive nearly $100,000 in state grants.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White awarded the grants through the Adult Literacy Grant Program, which helps learners develop and enhance their reading, math, writing and language skills.

“These programs provide adults with the skills they need to be successful in all facets of life. I wish these types of programs were available for my parents,” Sandoval said. “These grants are going to make a huge difference in my community, and I want to thank Jesse White for investing in the Southwest Side.”

The programs receiving funding are:

• PODER Learning Center, Chicago: $60,000
• Morton College, Cicero: $30,000

Adult literacy projects help adults who read below the ninth-grade level or speak English at a beginners level. A total of 14,352 learners will be served by adult literacy programs around the state and a total of 6,086 volunteer tutors will provide training for learners.

“An estimated 2.1 million Illinois residents need adult literacy and/or English-language instruction,” White said. “I am pleased to provide funding for 113 local literacy projects that will allow adult learners to achieve their utmost potential in the upcoming year. I will continue to do all I can to ensure that every citizen of this state has access to quality literacy programs.”

In total, the secretary of state’s office awarded $5.6 million in grants to adult literacy programs around the state.