SPRINGFIELD – With a new session of the Illinois General Assembly underway, State Senator Javier Cervantes was recently selected to serve as the chair of the Senate Criminal Law Committee for the 104^th General Assembly.

“It is an honor to be selected as the chair of any committee, but I take special pride to serve as your chair of the Criminal Law Committee,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “In this role, I will be able to build on my previous legislative efforts and lead the committee in challenging outdated, unjust practices to create a better, nonviolent future.” 

As chair, Cervantes will help prioritize and guide discussions on legislative initiatives, oversee informational hearings on issues related to criminal law, and more. Cervantes hopes to support initiatives aiming to address the root causes of violence and further rehabilitation efforts. He also plans to highlight legislation that clarifies existing measures to prevent harmful misinterpretations that have historically led to people of color facing higher sentences than their action justifies.

SPRINGFIELD – Para asegurar que más profesionales del cuidado de la salud puedan trabajar en Illinois, el Senador Estatal Javier Loera Cervantes ha introducido legislación para apoyar mejor la fuerza de trabajo de asistentes médicos del estado y mejorar el acceso al cuidado.

"Antes de mi trabajo en la Asamblea General, trabajé con proveedores de salud para resolver problemas de inaccesibilidad, y vi de cerca cómo puede tomar semanas o meses para ver doctores y otros proveedores de salud, llevando a peores resultados de salud para el paciente que busca tratamiento," dijo Cervantes (D-Chicago). "Al optimizar el proceso de convertirse en un asistente médico autorizado, los pacientes podrán recibir ayuda médica más pronto." 

Según un informe de 2020 elaborado por el Centro de Trabajadores de Enfermería de Illinois, Illinois tiene actualmente una escasez de más de 15,000 profesionales de enfermería. Con proyecciones de una escasez de más de 6,000 doctores para el 2030, los pacientes podrían enfrentar retrasos significantes en ver a un proveedor, lo cual puede impactar negativamente en su salud.  

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure more skilled health care professionals can practice in Illinois, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes introduced legislation to better support the state’s physician assistant workforce and improve access to care.

“Before my work in the General Assembly, I worked with health care providers to resolve issues of inaccessibility, and I saw firsthand how it can take weeks or months to see doctors and other health care providers, leading to worse health outcomes for the patient seeking treatment,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “By streamlining the process of becoming a licensed physician assistant, patients will be able to receive medical help sooner.” 

According to a 2020 workforce report prepared by the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center, Illinois currently has a shortage of more than 15,000 nurses. With projections of a shortage of more than 6,000 doctors by 2030, patients could face significant delays in seeing a provider, which can negatively impact their health.  

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes was sworn in for his second term as state senator for the 1^st District as the 104^th General Assembly began Wednesday.

“It continues to be a great honor to serve the people of the 1^st District. This role has given me the opportunity to facilitate the voices of our community to be heard in Springfield,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “We have gone through so much together in the past few years, and as I look back, I remember who inspires me throughout the 1^st District and about the work and progress we have made. Legislative change powers my devotion to Illinois and the residents of my district as we tackle future challenges and endeavors.”

Cervantes spent his first term uplifting voices of his constituents and pushing a legislative agenda that focuses on creating more community resources, increasing professional development, protecting workers from marginalization and increasing protections for immigrant Illinoisans. With the start of his second full term, Cervantes will continue to prioritize the working-class people that make up the 1^st District and stand beside the voices of the community to create a positive impact on the residents of Illinois.