SPRINGFIELD – Every year, there are an estimated 293,000 incidents of sexual assault in the United States. Shockingly, nearly 70 percent of these assaults are not reported to the police.

For survivors, the process of recovering and confronting an accuser can be an arduous process.

“Sadly, we know most sexual assault and domestic abuse cases don’t make it through the court system,” State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) said. “For those that do, the process can take a huge emotional and psychological toll on a survivor.”

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SPRINGFIELD – Since Illinois’ budget impasse began more than eight months ago, more than 1,500 youth across the state have been kicked out of after-school programs that previously received funding from the Teen REACH program. Teen REACH provides grants to support local communities’ after-school programs that serve at-risk youth age 6 to 17.

“Investing in after-school programs keeps children off the streets during peak times for juvenile crime,” State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) said. “We’re increasing opportunities for success while decreasing the crime rate.”

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SPRINGFIELD – A proposal to require insurance coverage for FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and products in Illinois is now law after State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) passed the plan out of the Senate earlier this year.

“Nearly every woman in this country utilizes birth control at some point in their lives for varying reasons,” Hutchinson said. “Some women require birth control for health reasons, while others rely on it for family planning. Requiring insurance coverage for birth control is a medical issue, and neither the government nor insurance bureaucrats should have a voice in denying coverage to women.”

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SPRINGFIELD – A plan to increase school funding, fund vital human services providers and appropriate funds for ongoing highway and road construction projects passed the Senate today.

“Today’s vote means parents won’t have to worry that their children’s school won’t open on time this fall. It means college students can have faith that their MAP grants won’t be delayed and that their degree means something from their academic institution. And it means the countless human services providers who have been asked for almost a year to continue taking care of our most vulnerable without being paid will finally see payment,” co-sponsor State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) said.

The proposal, contained in Senate Bill 2047, increases state support of public schools and ensures they are able to open on time this fall. Many schools were facing the prospect of not being able to open without their payments from the state. Locally, Chicago Heights School District 170 would see a $1,283,120 funding increase, Bloom Township High School District 206 would see a $994,479 funding increase, Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 would see an $864,976 funding increase and Manhattan School District 114 would see a $449,019 funding increase.

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