Black History Month: Highlighting youth making a difference

It's important that we highlight some young people making a difference as we celebrate Black History Month. The youth of today have the power to create change just as those of Civil Rights Movement did. We have to empower them.

Please click the video above to learn more.

Sims reacts to Gov. Pritzker's first budget address

The governor’s budget proposal represents a reasonable and responsible first step on a path toward financial stability, while addressing the fiscal challenges left in the wake of his predecessor’s manufactured budget crisis.

I look forward to working with the governor, his administration and my colleagues to pass a full, balanced budget by the end of this legislative session.

Click the video above to hear more of my thoughts on the governor’s budget address.

Sims: Budget proposal commits to education, violence prevention

SPRINGFIELD—State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr., a Chicago Democrat, released the following statement in response to Gov. JB Pritzker’s first budget address on Wednesday:

“The governor’s budget proposal represents a reasonable and responsible first step on a path toward financial stability, while addressing the fiscal challenges left in the wake of his predecessor’s manufactured budget crisis.

“This plan prioritizes a quality education for our young people by increasing funding for Pre-K-12 education, which is crucial to ensure that students all over the state have the resources they need to succeed.

“It also helps low-income students further their education by investing more in MAP grants and the AIM HIGH Grant Program.

“While investing more in community-based programs is a good start to ending the senseless violence that we unfortunately see all too often, we have much more work to do to address the underlying issues driving violence and making a real impact in communities across our state.

“I look forward to working with the Governor, his administration and my colleagues to pass a full, balanced budget by the end of this legislative session.”

Sims: Raising minimum wage provides stability to working families

SPRINGFIELD—Legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago) to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour was signed into law on Tuesday.

“Today is a historic day for working families throughout our state,” Sims said. “One that puts us on the path to providing a wage to match the rising cost of a family’s basic needs.”

Senate Bill 1 will raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2025. The gradual implementation and a payroll tax credit is meant to help businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees adjust.

The minimum wage has been $8.25 since 2010. The first increase will be on Jan. 1, 2020 to $9.25.

“As state leaders, it is our responsibility to provide economic stability to the people of Illinois,” Sims said. “I commend Gov. Pritzker for signing this legislation, so we can finally take a step toward addressing the issue of income inequality by helping to improve the lives of hard-working individuals throughout our state."