CALUMET CITY, Ill. – State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, issued this statement following the conclusion of the General Assembly’s 2021 spring session:
“As we continue to grapple with the short and long-term effects of the pandemic, we focused on protecting essential services for our most vulnerable, assisting small businesses and positioning our state to come back from this crisis stronger.
“COVID-19 has shined a light on a fundamental problem with our health care system, especially in the telehealth area. For people who are unable to travel consistently, telehealth is a critical form of health care which is not addressed comprehensively in our system as it stands. Lack of telehealth can leave a huge absence in a patient’s care. I assisted in crafting major legislation to improve telehealth access for communities across Illinois.
“In addition to this, many low-income patients cannot afford the medical care they need because corporations have made massive profits jacking up prices on prescription drugs and medical procedures. Working-class families often cannot keep up with these added costs, which is why I helped pass legislation to cap monthly prescription drug prices to help put an end to this system of abuse.
“It’s also important that we continue to take steps to stop gun violence, which is why I recently voted to fix a loophole in the tragically flawed Firearm Owner Identification card laws which helped lead to a mass shooting in Aurora two years ago. It’s one stop in a larger effort to tackle gun violence and make our communities safer.
“I am determined to restore our small businesses to full strength and bring good-paying, sustainable jobs back to our community. I am thankful for the ongoing work done by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and am glad to see we passed a responsible budget that prioritizes small businesses.
“My role as this community’s representative in Springfield is one I value highly. Whether I’m crafting a budget, legislation to make health care more equal, a bill to support small business or other initiatives, I will always work to make sure I act on the priorities of the people in my community.”