Sen. Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria) and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) have taken child health care under their wing.
Working with Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) and Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) on children’s health care reform, the two Republican lawmakers kicked off the Children’s Health Caucus at a Feb. 28 press conference in Springfield.
Weaver began by thanking Morrison for involving him in the new caucus devoted to children.
“It really means a lot to me and it is great to be a part of this,” Weaver said, adding two parallel paths are taking place. “You are seeing the kickoff now is with regard to the legislative children’s caucus, but also at the same time there is a collaboration for children’s’ health.”
While Weaver said the focus will be on different sectors across the state and will grow over time, Morrison said the investment in child health is already obvious in the numbers of insured adolescents, but more can be done.
“The Children’s Health Caucus will be a place for legislators to investigate, innovate and collaborate in a bipartisan, bicameral way,” Morrison said. “We have the same concern for children and families across the state regardless of where you live or what your economic story is.”
Weaver pointed out the objectives the Children’s Health Caucus is attempting to accomplish.
He said the key concerns are the social, emotional and physical development in early childhood development and birth through 18 years old and in community well-being.
“The word we are starting to use is health equity,” Weaver said. “What we mean by that is how we can help in each of those three groups and have the best possible health they can have throughout the state.”
Moving forward, the senator said the public will see activity from the legislative caucus and statewide collaborations.
“It is about going out and gaining a lot of support through different sectors and other agencies to come together to work on policy, and they will serve as administrative support to and also education to our communities,” Weaver said.
Demmer said he was short of words to note why the Children’s Health Caucus is so important after his “esteemed colleagues” spoke prior to him.
“Off of the perspective as legislators, we are often asked to vote and weigh in on issues that involve every aspect of peoples lives across the state of Illinois, and health is at the center of many of those issues,” Demmer said. “Health dictates how well a child can learn, health dictates what kind of opportunities and challenges a family faces and health dictates the direction an entire community can go through.”
Lily said it is unacceptable to have health disparities in the state, and they do exist. “It is so unfortunate our young people are the bunt of those disparities,” Lily said. “It is true that every child in Illinois deserves meaningful and quality access to health care.”
That is why Demmer said he too is thrilled to bring together health care experts with the other lawmakers.
“We will bring together all voices to the table that will really let us as legislators get a bigger picture appreciation of how important it is for children of Illinois be in good health and have good opportunities ahead of them,” Demmer said.
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