Empowering Women

My 2020 Position

I grew up surrounded by strong and capable women who had to work harder than I did to get ahead. My mom spent much of her life being told she couldn’t be an attorney. She got a law degree anyway and is one of the best attorneys I know. 

My daughter was about to leave home to chart her own path. I wanted her to have a fair playing field as she pursues her goals. I ran to support laws and policies to empower women in the 68th District and across the state. Four of the most important are: implementing affordable child care, paid family leave, codifying equal pay for equal work, and protecting women's reproductive health rights. 

What I’ve Accomplished

I have sponsored and supported the following bills in the IL General Assembly to provide necessary resources and support women.

  • HB 0177 - Creates the Universal Child Care Demonstration Program Act which requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a 5-year statewide Universal Child Care Demonstration Program that provides high-quality and affordable child care services for children 0 to 6 years old regardless of family income. The ultimate goal of the Demonstration Program is to establish an effective expansion toward universal child care services for children from birth to 6 years of age. 

  • HB 4965 PAID FAMILY LEAVE- Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to promote paid family leave. The bill creates an income tax credit for businesses with an average of 100 or fewer full-time employees of 50% of the costs incurred by businesses offering a paid family leave program to all of its full-time employees.

  •  HB 5001 DAY CARE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS- Amends the Department of Human Services Act to promote accessible child care for first responders. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a grant program for licensed day care facilities that are open 24 hours a day and give priority to serving the children of first responders. Provides that program grants must be used to provide subsidized child care services to the children of first responders. 

  •  HB 5002 DAY CARE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS- Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services to provide grants to day care facilities for subsidized child care services for the children of first responders to support HB5001. 

  • HJR 0064 WOMENS VETERANS DAY- Declares June 12, 2022 as "Women's Veterans Day" to commemorate the day women were officially added as regular members of the United States military, to recognize the critical role of women in the military forces, and to commemorate the sacrifices and valor displayed by Illinois women veterans.

  • HB 4271 MEDICALLY NECESSARY BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY- Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2023 shall provide coverage for medically necessary breast reduction surgery. 

  • Made sure through numerous votes that women in this state will continue to have the right to make choices about what is right and what is wrong for their bodies.

Future Plans

I will continue vehemently advocating for women to promote equal opportunity in Illinois. My past voting record is a proven testimony of my firm commitment to empowering women.