ELGIN – After months of work to extend health care access to more Illinoisans, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are celebrating the extension of Medicaid coverage for new mothers from 60 days to 12 months postpartum. Illinois is the first state in the nation to extend coverage to ensure low-income mothers receive the support they need in the critical months following birth.

“We know that a significant share of pregnancy-associated deaths are preventable, and in 2021, mothers should absolutely not be dying from preventable causes after they give birth,” said State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), who sits on the Senate Committee on Healthcare Access and Availability. “Extending Medicaid benefits to mothers for 12 months postpartum is a critical step toward reducing the maternal morbidity and mortality rate.”

The extension comes following the approval of Illinois’ 1115 waiver from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Women with incomes up to 208% of the federal poverty level will now have continuous Medicaid eligibility through 12 months postpartum, a significant increase in coverage from the standard 60-day postpartum period.

ELGIN – State Senators Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) and Karina Villa (D- West Chicago) look forward to the investments in infrastructure coming to Kane County announced by the Illinois Department of Transportation last week. The projects are funded by the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

 “For both Kane County residents and visitors, having a modernized, safe transportation sector is so important,” Castro said. “Updating things like traffic lights and sidewalk ramps to be ADA compliant will make our community more accessible while also bringing more jobs to the area.”

SPRINGFIELD – The Senate Committee on Energy and Public Utilities heard from a variety of witnesses testifying about the Clean Energy Jobs Act — a measure championed by State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) – in a subject matter hearing on Thursday.

“As Illinois begins to move away from coal and towards cleaner energy, it is important that we make sure everyone has a seat at the table,” said Castro, sponsor of Senate Bill 1718, also known as CEJA. “CEJA puts communities that have historically been disproportionately impacted by the dirty effects of the fossil fuel industry at the forefront of the new clean energy economy.”

 State Senator Cristina Castro sat down with the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus podcast to discuss SB 513, a bill she is sponsoring that would require cable companies to cease charging customers for modems and routers once the cost of the device is paid.

Listen to "State Senator Cristina Castro Discusses SB513" on Spreaker.

You can also listen on whatever you listen to podcasts by searching the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus.