CHICAGO – As communities continue to recover from the ongoing novel coronavirus crisis, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is encouraging organizations specializing in relief efforts like housing assistance and mental health support to apply for a grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

“In many ways, COVID-19 has hit Black and Brown communities much harder than other communities,” Peters said. “The ICJIA grants will help organizations that are providing support in these communities and make it easier for them to do the job they’ve set out to do.”

Read more: Peters encourages organizations to apply for grants for food, housing, rent

CHICAGO – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is applauding an expansion to the state’s vote-by-mail program becoming law after Gov. JB Pritzker signed it Tuesday.

“Since everyone deserves the right to be healthy, it’s critical that we figure out a way to help people stay healthy while they exercise their right to participate in the democratic process,” Peters said. “Voting by mail is a safe, convenient way for folks to have their voices heard without having to worry about contracting COVID-19.”

Read more: Peters applauds vote-by-mail expansion becoming law

CHICAGO – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) released the following statement after Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Fiscal Year 21 state budget into law Wednesday:

“When we passed the budget, we included funding for many important services for those who are struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. At the time, we didn’t know that we were only a few weeks away from widespread protests against systemic inequality and a global fight for justice. While this budget doesn’t directly address any of the issues that demonstrators are protesting against, it does provide support to the vulnerable people that many are marching in support of. It boosts funding for mental health and substance abuse programs and provides nearly $400 million in rent and mortgage payment relief, as well as offering many other different types of assistance to the families that need it the most.”

SPRINGFIELD – On its final day of a special session to address COVID-19 concerns, the Illinois Senate passed a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), who supported the budget, issued the following statement:

“This has been one of the most trying few months in most of our lives, and there are folks in my community and all across the state who have been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Working class families are struggling. This budget provides much needed services, support and relief to the families that need it, and I’ll always support budgets that do this.”