SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) supported a bill to remove a sales tax on breast pumps and related supplies to help new mothers access the products they need more affordably.

“Breast pumps are a basic necessity for nursing parents, especially ones who need to return to work and can’t breast feed regularly,” said Castro, a longtime advocate for new mothers. “A sales tax on these products is just one more financial barrier for mothers to try to overcome.”

Senate Bill 3634 would exempt breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies and breast pump kits from sales tax, which is currently 6.25% of the cost. These supplies are necessary for mothers who choose to breastfeed, and many insurance companies do not cover the cost of these products.

Eight other states, including New York, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, already exempt breast pump and related supplies from state sales tax.

“Over 84% of mothers in Illinois choose to breastfeed at some point, and over 42% do so exclusively for the first three months,” Castro said. “Making sure mothers can afford what they need to make a healthy choice for themselves and their baby is essential.”

SB 3634, which Castro is a co-sponsor of, passed the Senate Friday and now moves to the floor for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – Following the selection of the new Legislative Inspector General Wednesday, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) issued the following statement:

“We need to make sure the General Assembly has the proper ethical oversight, and it’s about time we select someone who understands the importance of this job.

“The Hon. Michael P. McCuskey’ commitment to public service through his work as a public defender and a judge makes him an outstanding person for the job. 

“We’ve waited too long to fill the Legislative Inspector General position, and I am glad to see it finally happening. Selecting someone who will ensure ethics are upheld to the highest extent has always been a top priority, and I believe Judge McCuskey is up to the job.”

SPRINGFIELD – To combat rising utility bills for Illinoisans, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) has introduced legislation to end a surcharge used by natural gas companies to fund projects some argue are unnecessary, she announced in a Monday news conference.

“Utility bills are on the rise, which is hurting our consumers who have already had a difficult two years with the ongoing pandemic,” Castro said. “This legislation is about oversight. Natural gas companies have a responsibility to upgrade their systems efficiently to ensure the burden doesn’t fall on their ratepayers.”

Senate Bill 570 will help end excessive gas utility spending by ending the “Qualified Infrastructure Plant” natural gas surcharge. This surcharge historically has been used by natural gas utilities to fund urgent repairs to systems, like replacing dangerous cast iron pipes. However, this charge has continued to appear on ratepayers’ bills despite the completion of many of those types of projects.