Press Releases

Details: Category: Press Releases; Monday, June 01, 2020 08:07 PM

CHICAGO—State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the governor declared a state of emergency for Cook, Champaign, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Macon, Madison, Sangamon and Will counties:

“I commend the governor for responding to mine and other requests for a disaster declaration, especially in the Southland area.

“Our communities are experiencing the compounded devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic and a desperate need to end systemic racism.

“This step will help provide necessary resources to assist businesses and community members who have been so greatly affected, both physically and emotionally.

“It will be extremely difficult for our communities to recover, but this is a great first step to help them.

“I will continue to work with my colleagues and the governor to hold bad actors accountable, fix our broken system and aid communities in recovery.”

Details: Category: Press Releases; Monday, June 01, 2020 09:38 AM

CHICAGO— State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement after protests and riots in Chicago and across the country fueled by recent negative racial interactions involving African Americans, including the death of George Floyd, who died in the street as a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck:

“Our communities are desperate to arrive at a place where the same opportunities are available to all. Sadly, we have yet to “get to the promised land” spoken so eloquently by Dr. King, because we have never fully addressed the divisions of the racism that divides us or the systemic barriers erected to support it, which have allowed some communities to struggle while others have flourished.

“What we are witnessing from many of the protestors is a demand for change—an acknowledgment that the status quo is unacceptable and must end. They are crying out, screaming to be heard and wondering aloud how many more will have to die before we finally recognize the sanctity of black lives.

“In the case of Mr. Floyd’s death, it is only natural to feel outraged after seeing such a callous disregard of life, policy and proper procedure, but the fight is not over.

“Unfortunately, there are some who are using the pain of this moment for personal gain and selfish purposes which is offensive, unproductive and undermines the significance of this moment. I support the right to protest and call for changes to end to the systemic racism keeping us from being the best version of ourselves, but to endanger the life, health and economic well-being of our communities is selfish and will not be tolerated.

“As we fight tirelessly for justice, I ask that we don’t use lawlessness as a means to do it. I know there is an overwhelming need to be heard and understood. If no one else hears you, I do. I will continue to work relentlessly with leaders on all levels to fix our utterly broken system and hold bad actors accountable.

“We can, and we will, achieve change together.”

Details: Category: Press Releases; Sunday, May 24, 2020 01:06 AM

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SPRINGFIELD—State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the Senate passed a budget Sunday:

“This is a very deliberate and responsible fiscal plan to help the state of Illinois recover from the devastation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Funds from the CARES Act, a U.S. stimulus package, will help the state of Illinois provide more resources to the communities hardest hit during the pandemic, including $100 million in housing assistance and $636 million for various business interruption grants.

“We are also preserving core services, including $12.6 billion for P-12 education and an additional $1 billion to the state and local health departments.

“As a budgeteer, I saw firsthand how difficult it was to craft this budget during these unprecedented times, but I take pride in knowing that it will provide needed relief and address issues of inequity in marginalized communities throughout the state.”

Details: Category: Press Releases; Friday, April 03, 2020 11:19 AM

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GLENDALE HEIGHTS – State Senators Elgie Sims and Tom Cullerton worked with PathoSans/Klarion Technologies, a division of Spraying Systems Co., to spearhead efforts to make disinfectant and sanitizer more readily available to first responders across Illinois.

Sims (D-Chicago) and Cullerton (D-Villa Park) partnered with PathoSans Technologies to secure up to 5,000 gallons per day of its PathoCide® disinfectant and sanitizer, which will allow the state to clean vehicles, work surfaces, and facilities to keep government personnel and citizens safer during the coronavirus crisis.

“All of us at PathoSans are honored to do our part to help the State in this unprecedented time of crisis,” said Dr. William J. Kohley, President of PathoSans/Klarion Technologies, USA.“ The systems we make and sell are designed to supply large volumes of environmentally responsible cleaners and sanitizers. We make these products right here in Illinois, and we knew we could help people by supplying this critical product that’s currently not available from other suppliers.”

PathoSans Technologies will donate the disinfectant to state first responders and the teams that support them, as well as other state personnel who cannot secure enough disinfectant and sanitizer due to shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is the generosity and goodwill of people and companies throughout the state that will get us through this unprecedented and difficult time,” Sims said. “I commend PathoSans for doing their part to keep our first responders and frontline workers safe. Thank you for stepping up. I can only hope that others will follow your lead as we work to fight COVID-19 in Illinois.”

Sims and Cullerton were pleased to work with an Illinois business to help battle this pandemic. One of the key steps in limiting the spread of COVID-19 is cleaning and disinfecting commonly used surfaces.

“I’m incredibly proud to see a business within our community join the fight to battle this awful pandemic,” Cullerton said. “Our first responders are working day and night to keep us all safe. Making this disinfectant readily available will help stop the spread of COVID-19. It is absolutely essential that we take every possible step to give our first responders and constituents the resources to be safe during this pandemic.”

PathoSans thanks Governor J.B. Pritzker and his staff, especially Deputy Governor Christian Mitchell; the Illinois Department of Agriculture, including Director Jerry Costello, General Counsel John Teefey and the department’s technical staff; State Senators Tom Cullerton and Elgie R. Sims, Jr.; State Representative Deb Conroy; DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin; Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle; Cook County Emergency Management Director Bill Barnes; President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Mark Denzler; and Andrew Wheeler, Vice President of Marketing, FutureCeuticals, and Chairman, Kankakee County Board. Without their help, PathoSans could not have navigated the regulatory process that enabled us to deploy PathoCide sanitizer in the fight against COVID-19.