SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) spearheaded a new law to create a program that will help people with serious mental illness or substance use disorders by enabling access to affordable housing and support services.

“Supporting those struggling the most in our communities is a top priority,” Castro said. “Taking a ‘Housing First’ approach to mental illness and addiction treatment will ensure that those most vulnerable are treated with dignity and compassion.”

ELGIN – One of the nation’s top credit rating agencies, Fitch Ratings, recently updated its outlook on Illinois’ fiscal status, a move that State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) commends as a reflection of the state’s responsible spending.

“Illinois’ outlook change shows how the actions we’ve taken over the last few years, as well as the balanced budget we passed this year, have improved our state’s finances,” Castro said. “Even with the pandemic, we’ve managed to fully fund our pensions and even increase K-12 education funding.”

Along with those successes, Illinois has also cut spending by nearly $1 billion since 2020 and reduced Illinois’ bill backlog to less than $200 million from a high of nearly $1 billion in 2017.

Two other credit rating agencies, Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s, also adjusted Illinois’ outlook to be reflective of the positive changes Illinois has undertaken.

“Fitch improving its rating outlook for Illinois is a good thing for taxpayers in the state,” Castro said. “If we stay on track, borrowing will cost less which will end up saving taxpayers money.”

Fitch’s full analysis is available here.

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) released the following statement on the sentencing of Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd:

“I hope today’s sentencing brings a sense of peace to George Floyd’s family. While nothing will ever fix the loss of a loved one, I hope that knowing that the perpetrator is behind bars will bring some comfort to those who knew him.

“As we begin to move forward, I stand with many in calling for reform at the national level to ensure that tragedies like this are prevented.”

ELGIN – To encourage young people to continue learning during the summer, State Senator Christina Castro (D-Elgin) is launching a Summer Reading Club for students in and around the Elgin area.

“Summer vacation and other breaks from school can result in learning loss for students,” Castro said. “Students who continue reading during the summer are more likely to remain engaged and continue to do well in school.”

The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books and return the form to Castro’s office by Aug. 11. Senator Castro will host a pizza party for those who finish the program.

“Reading helps students develop healthy minds,” Castro said. “This program will help them make reading into a habit and prepare them for the upcoming school year.”

Parents can visit senatorcristinacastro.com to download and print the book club form. They can also call Castro’s office at (847) 214-8864 to request a copy by mail.

Castro urges interested residents to call her office with any additional questions.