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. 

CICERO – State Senator Javier Cervantes and Nicor Gas hosted a grocery and energy resource fair at Morton College on Thursday, giving over 250 residents the opportunity to learn about their energy rates, sign up for utility bill assistance and receive free groceries.

“We are here to help residents in need and make sure they have the opportunity to find resources that help them at home and save them time and money,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “I want to thank our partners from Nicor, CEDA, and other agencies who were here to help residents with their utility bills and facilitate a great event where we could give back to our community.”

Over 250 residents who registered for Thursday’s event at Morton College were able to collect grocery care boxes curated by TopBox. Attendees also connected with Nicor representatives to learn about energy efficiency programs, residential and income-eligible assistance, energy bill assistance programs, job openings and general energy and natural gas education.

CHICAGO — State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes recently announced three adult and family literacy programs in the 1^st Senate District have been awarded $215,000 in grant funding.

“This funding will support students, families and our workforce by strengthening literacy and adult education in our community,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Libraries offer pathways to lifelong learning and growth, and I’m excited for the new opportunities this will open up for families in the 1^st District.”

The grants, awarded by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, included nearly $22 million for library services and $6 million for literacy programs throughout the state. Three organizations and schools in the district Cervantes represents received funding to enhance literacy programs that promote basic reading, math, writing and English language skills: