Infertility treatment is notoriously expensive, and many women in Illinois struggle to afford this care. In response, State Senator Cristina Castro is leading a measure to remove this barrier and make treatments like in vitro fertilization more accessible.

“While other states restrict access to reproductive care, we are committed to remaining a safe haven where those seeking to start or grow their family can access the treatments needed to do so,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “It can be difficult to talk about this issue, but shedding a light on the struggles people face – particularly women of color – is necessary to address barriers.”

Child labor law violations have increased by 69% since 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, leading State Senator Cristina Castro to spearhead legislation that would codify protections for child performers in Illinois.

“A state with strong worker protections ought to make sure children are protected by those regulations too,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “As the Illinois film industry continues to grow and attract more talent, we need to make sure appropriate safeguards are in place for our youngest performers.”

Across the state, emergency services volunteers spend hours training, responding to incidents and assisting first responders. In many cases, their response efforts allow law enforcement and fire personnel to return to patrol or to their stations to respond to the next call.

To ensure these volunteers receive compensation for their often-thankless work, State Senator Cristina Castro is working to pass a measure that would enable disaster and emergency services volunteers in Illinois to qualify for the volunteer emergency worker tax credit.

To give people the opportunity to ask questions, engage in discussions with their neighbors and learn more about what’s going on in the community, State Senator Cristina Castro is inviting residents to join her for a cup of coffee and conversations.

“The voice of community members shapes the work I do each day – in our district and in Springfield,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “I encourage anyone who wants to meet and chat about how we can work together to make our neighborhoods even stronger to stop by and join us.”

The event will be held Tuesday, April 2 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Bear Family McDonald’s located at 1480 Larkin Ave. in Elgin. This event serves as an open forum for community members to engage in informal conversations with the senator and each other about issues facing the region and the state.