SPRINGFIELD – To continue pushing for equality and break down the social and economic barriers that continue to hold back women, State Senator Jacqueline Collins advanced a new measure that would focus state resources on researching and implementing policies to help women and girls in Illinois.

Senate Bill 3402 would create the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, a group that would advise the governor and the General Assembly on policy issues with a female focus. The council would be required to issue twice-yearly reports on its policy recommendations by June 30 and Dec. 31 of each year. The Senate State Government Committee approved the measure Wednesday.

“The Illinois Council on Women and Girls would focus on finding those areas of systemic disadvantage or bias in our policies and seek realistic ways of reforming them,” Collins said. “I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take this step toward knocking down the barriers that stand in the way of our sisters and daughters.”

State Senator Jacqueline Collins delivered the following remarks Wednesday, March 14 alongside members of the Illinois Senate during a 20-minute walkout that coincided with student walkouts throughout the country to call for action on gun violence.State Senator Jacqueline Collins delivered the following remarks Wednesday, March 14 alongside members of the Illinois Senate during a 20-minute walkout that coincided with student walkouts throughout the country to call for action on gun violence.

I speak now because I respectfully requested that my colleague Senator Bush allot an additional three minutes to today’s action. I want to speak about who they symbolize.

Young people throughout the country raise their voices today to demand the protection they are due in a society that values life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It would be remiss of us today not to remember that the epidemic of gun violence recently took the life of one sworn protector, Police Commander Paul Bauer, who died in the line of duty in Chicago. He is just one of hundreds to lose his life to gun violence over the past year.Let us take three minutes of silence: One to honor Commander Bauer and two more to honor all victims of gun violence in Illinois.

We call gun violence an epidemic for a good reason – because guns and bullets do not care about race, religion, age, gender, or creed, whether you wear a school uniform or a police uniform. For that reason, we must stand united. Let us unite, and after today’s solidarity and reflection, let us raise our voices together.

State Senator Jacqueline Collins issued the following statement today after Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed legislation that would impose licensing on gun dealers in Illinois:State Senator Jacqueline Collins issued the following statement today after Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed legislation that would impose licensing on gun dealers in Illinois:

“In every corner of our country, the voices of young people who have seen the lives of their friends and loved ones cut short are raised in unison to call on us to act,” said Collins, D-Chicago. “By choosing to veto this legislation, the governor has chosen to ignore the clear voice of the people in favor of a gun lobby whose aims no longer represent the views of even the vast majority of gun owners.

“To do this is to turn his back on the families who, united in pain, have pushed for change and found support in the legislature.”

Collins is a chief co-sponsor of the legislation, SB 1657.

SPRINGFIELD – A rate hike on check cashing services will be lower than originally proposed, and rates for those on public assistance will become lower, under a compromise reached today.

State Senator Jacqueline Collins joined activists from a number of groups pushing against a higher proposal at a press conference today to thank advocates and explain the impact of new rates.

“Today is a good day for unbanked households, which are disproportionately lower-income, African-American, Hispanic and working-age people with disabilities,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “working with the Woodstock Institute and other consumer advocates, we were able to protect consumers from an across-the-board double-digit increase on the maximum fees that could be charged for check-cashing by Currency Exchanges. Most importantly, public assistance checks will see a rate decrease. We must continue to reform a system where those with the least pay the most.”

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