Nothing is more important than feeling safe in our own communities. That’s why I have taken strong actions towards preventing gun violence, including:

• I cosponsored historic legislation to ban assault weapons and end the sale of high-capacity magazines. This landmark bill was signed into law in January 2023.

• In 2021, I introduced the Protecting Heartbeats Act, which would allow civil action against gun manufacturers, importers and dealers whose firearms are responsible for injury or death in the state.

• I helped create a Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force which takes a better look at policing and how we can keep our neighborhoods safe for everyone while improving relationships between police and the communities they work in.

• I helped establish a new Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (under IDHS) to engage, support and collaborate with community stakeholders in areas with the highest rates of violence.

• We increased funding for community-based violence prevention program providers that offer after-school programs, youth summer jobs and enrichment programs.

• I cosponsored HB 562, a law to expand background checks on all gun sales and provide mental health funding for communities most impacted by gun violence.

As a mother of three, I want to make sure we leave our world a better place than we found it and ensure that our communities have clean air and water for generations to come.

As a member of the Illinois Green Caucus, I’ve prioritized protecting our environment, and doing so in a manner that spurs economic development. I couldn’t be prouder of the passage of the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which puts Illinois on track to be a climate neutral state by 2045. In addition to passing CEJA, we are incentivizing alternate modes of transportation, such as electric vehicles, by allocating funds for consumer rebates and implementing charging infrastructure statewide.

We have made great strides toward restoring Illinois’ fiscal health, and we must continue to make decisions that keep our state on this path. I voted in favor of three balanced budgets that have allowed us to pay off the state’s bill backlog, reduce pension liabilities, and deliver almost $2 billion of direct tax relief to Illinois citizens. A few other highlights include:

• Illinois has received nine credit rating upgrades and has officially reached “A” status with all rating agencies.

• I’ve supported new revenue sources for the state, including legalizing and expanding sports betting, iGaming, and fintech.

• I’ve fought for our small businesses, making sure they have access to resources and networks through an online platform that allows businesses to grow.

• I introduced and passed legislation to expand the Angel Tax Credit Program by $5 million to a total of $15 million. This legislation will drive investment in new Illinois businesses ventures that are minority-owned, women-owned, or are located in smaller areas of the state outside of Chicago, removing barriers and increasing equity across our communities.

LGBTQ+ rights are human rights. As a staunch ally, I will always defend the right of every LGBTQ+ Illinoisan to proudly live their lives without the fear of discrimination.

• I cosponsored the Patient and Provider Protection Act, which expands access to healthcare by guaranteeing abortion medications, life-saving HIV prevention medication, and gender-affirming care are covered by insurers at no extra cost and requires government employers to offer insurance plans that provide coverage for these treatments.

• I championed HB 3709, which expands insurance coverage for fertility treatments to same sex couples, single women, and others looking to start or grow their families, removing a huge financial barrier.

• I voted for SB 139, which allows individuals who are currently married to request a marriage certificate from their county clerk’s office free of gender identifying language.

• We repealed the antiquated, dangerous law that criminalized HIV.

• I’m an ardent supporter of funding programs for LGBTQ homeless youth, mental health, and HIV prevention, testing and treatment.

As a mother of three, I understand how critical it is to have access to reproductive healthcare. All throughout the country we’ve seen a woman’s right to choose increasingly under attack, and I am committed to making sure that Illinois remains a pro-choice safe haven for women all across the Midwest.

• I am a member of the Reproductive Health and the Dobbs Decision Working Group formed by Speaker Welch to create policies that would secure protections for patients and providers of reproductive and gender affirming care.

• I’ve chief sponsored numerous pieces of legislation to expand access to IVF and other reproductive technologies for people who are starting or growing their families.

• In 2021, we repealed the Parental Notification Act. Decades of research and experience demonstrate that laws like this hurt young people and serve no valid purpose.

• I will continue to push for universal paid parental leave so that women and their partners can have sufficient time to heal and bond with their newborns without putting their families in economic jeopardy.

• I support legislation protecting pregnant women from discrimination at work and in the hiring process, and I’m fighting for pregnancy costs to be shared between both parents, not just the mother.

• I introduced legislation that would provide funding for a new pilot program to fund a three-year mobile prenatal and postnatal healthcare clinic. This program will bring support and care to moms and moms-to-be, closing the gap in access to care.