State Senator Cristina Castro advanced a plan to give more transparency in firefighter death records.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to partner with firefighters across Illinois on legislation that would improve our service to first responders,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “We owe it to the firefighters who gave their lives in service to their communities.”

Nearly 2,000 firefighters have died in the line of duty over the past 20 years, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. In addition to injuries and deaths that occur in the line of duty, firefighters are at a higher risk of cancer and other illnesses – highlighting the need for state-level data to guide interventions that protect their health and safety.

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State Senator Cristina Castro joined Governor JB Pritzker, state lawmakers, agriculture officials and business leaders on a trade mission to Mexico this week.

“Countless benefits are the result of a successful economic partnership between Illinois and Mexico — stability for public and private sectors, a strong workforce, environmental sustainability, agricultural and economic growth and more,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “With so much at stake given the federal administration’s hostility toward one of our strongest trade allies, this trip could not have come at a more prudent time.”

On Monday, Castro stood alongside Governor Pritzker and State of Mexico Governor Delfina Gómez Álvarez as they signed an expansion of the 1990 Illinois-Mexico Sister State Memorandum of Understanding. The expansion builds on the initial MOU, which focused heavily on research and higher education, by promoting strategic alliances between state governments, universities and research centers, and highlighting the importance of bilateral trade, agriculture and manufacturing. The MOU also focuses on the importance of efficient and sustainable water usage and the biotechnology necessary to support a clean water future — a critical issue for agricultural communities in Illinois and Mexico alike.

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Illinois law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who report illegal activity, unsafe working conditions, discrimination, harassment or other violations. Thanks to a new law led by State Senator Cristina Castro, workers exercising their rights to break and rest periods are also safeguarded from retaliation.

“Most employers do the right thing — but when the bottom line drives supervisors to create a culture of fear and intimidation, it discourages vulnerable workers from exercising their rights, including their right to go home and be with their families after a week’s work,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Strengthening the state’s labor laws will help put an end to threats and intimidation in the workplace and improve conditions for everyone.”

Castro’s new law strengthens the One Day Rest in Seven Act, which entitles workers to at least one full day of rest for every seven consecutive work days, by explicitly barring employers from firing, taking adverse action, or discriminating against workers who exercise their rights under ODRISA, such as filing a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor.

Over 20 million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes and Chicago-area waterways annually, the majority being single-use plastics with an average use of just a few short minutes. Once in the water, plastic breaks down into smaller pieces known as microplastics — toxic particles that make their way into drinking water, harm animal life and contribute to environmental degradation.

To tackle excessive plastic pollution and safeguard Illinois’ natural resources, State Senator Cristina Castro is working with consumers, businesses and environmental experts to pass legislation to cut down on single-use plastic bags.

“Illinois can’t be a true, nationwide climate leader if we leave our natural resources behind without addressing the hazards posed by plastic pollution,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “We as legislators have a responsibility to strive toward sustainability and protect our fragile ecosystems for future generations.”