OAK PARK - Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood), who led the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda through the Senate, emphasized the importance of access to quality health care at a press conference centered on the health care and human services pillar of the agenda. 

“The key point is that the quality of health care you receive should not be determined by your race, your income or your address. Quality, affordable health care should be recognized as a right for all,” Lightford said at the press conference.  

SPRINGFIELD – In effort to support new employees of Illinois’ educational system, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) is working to create a New Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program and a New Principal Mentoring Program. 

“Ensuring all new educators receive support while developing essential knowledge, skills, and experience will result in a high-quality education for all students,” Lightford said. “A mentoring program would be a great way to build our new educators’ confidence and teaching strategies, helping create a great learning environment and experience for Illinois’ diverse learners.”

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) continues to support the privacy of sexual assault survivors, passing legislation out of the Senate that makes personal details more difficult to access for the press and the public. 

“Survivors of sexual assault should be the only ones allowed to tell their stories,” Lightford said. “Their privacy should come first, and only they know how best to overcome their trauma.” 

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) continued her work to keep Black history alive in Illinois by creating a state holiday for Juneteenth National Freedom Day on June 19, as her legislation establishing the holiday passed the Senate Thursday.

“Juneteenth should be a state holiday – it’s the oldest national celebration of the freedom of all slaves in this country,” Lightford said. “It should be celebrated by all Illinois residents in order to highlight how far our society has come.”