CHICAGO – State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes was sworn in as the newly-elected State Senator for the 1^st District Wednesday.

“It is my honor to serve the people of the 1^st District. I look forward to assisting and representing our community in Springfield,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Through the many challenges we have faced in years past, I am devoted to serving the local communities and ensuring their legislative voices are heard as we tackle and face the challenges ahead.”

Cervantes comes with a passion for community organizing and the arts. He has deep roots in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, where he developed his intrinsic characteristics of hard work and sacrifice due to his challenging childhood. Cervantes’s passion and dedication, specifically to helping his community, was a natural progression to his career path at Service Employees International (SEIU Health Care Illinois and Indiana), dedicating 12 years as a Union Representative.

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SPRINGFIELD – With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes is proud to support new legislation protecting those who seek reproductive health care in Illinois, making these procedures and medicine more accessible.

“Illinois should not be in the way of people’s choice to access reproductive health care,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “It is our job to make sure individuals who seek out health care in this way are supported throughout the entire process, and this law ensures that Illinois will continue to protect those decisions.”

House Bill 4664 protects legal and practical access to abortion care in Illinois following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. The measure will allow people seeking reproductive health care in Illinois to be safe from out-of-state subpoenas related to the issue and gives them the ability to counterclaim the state forbidding access.

Similarly, the bill would protect licensed professionals who are practicing within Illinois, and would expedite the process for receiving temporary licenses for out-of-state professionals who wish to provide care in Illinois along with telehealth.

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Cervantes votes for assault weapons ban

SPRINGFIELD – As a child with experience of gun violence first hand, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes supported a measure to ban assault style weapons on Monday.

“I lost my father to gun violence when I was a young child, and now I have the opportunity to protect communities from the pain I experienced and support a ban on these weapons of war,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “My personal experiences have shown how awful and tragic gun violence can be. I am proud to play a part in removing these weapons that cause so much damage and trauma from our streets.”

In response to recent tragedies in Illinois, Cervantes and fellow Senators were part of the ongoing conversation to find solutions to bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines from being manufactured or sold in Illinois.

Studies show that approximately one-third of public mass shooting events include the use of an assault weapon, and nearly 40% involve a high-capacity magazine. When an assault weapon and/or a high-capacity magazine is used in a public mass shooting, nearly 14 times as many people are injured, and twice as many people are killed. Not only are there more injuries when assault weapons are used, but the types of injuries are far worse.

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CHICAGO – State Senator Javier Cervantes released the following statement after hearing of a tragic shooting outside Benito Juarez High School:

“The news of this shooting is horrifying. I’m deeply saddened for the victims, their families and our entire community.

“This act of violence is extremely disheartening. Our community is strong and we have to support one another through this difficult time.”