ELGIN – A measure co-sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) meant to provide support to casinos became law Tuesday.

“Many businesses have been able to reopen under the Restore Illinois plan, but casinos have not,” Castro said. “A casino can be one of the largest sources of employment in its area, and the surrounding communities are often heavily reliant on the tax revenue it provides. If casinos are forced to close for good as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it would have long lasting and devastating effects on the area.”

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ELGIN – As part of efforts to address the unique and unprecedented financial effect the COVID-19 outbreak has had on Illinois, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) has been appointed to the Legislative Budget Oversight Commission.

“The coronavirus pandemic put our state in a position unlike anything we could have imagined,” Castro said. “It’s not feasible to continue the budgeting process in the same methods we have in years previous. Additional oversight and scrutiny is necessary to ensure Illinois can navigate this crisis and continue to prosper when it’s over.”

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ELGIN – The Supreme Court of the United States struck down the Trump administration’s attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy. This effectively ends the push to give the federal government the legal authority to deport immigrants who came to the country illegally as children, also referred to as “Dreamers.” State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) was relieved to hear the decision.

“Many Dreamers have established lives in this country, with jobs and families, and a deportation would risk completely uprooting that,” Castro said. “They are undocumented through no fault of their own, and the purpose of DACA is to protect them. I’m so relieved that the decision made by the Supreme Court today is going to ensure their protection lasts.”

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ELGIN – On Tuesday, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill expanding the state’s vote-by-mail program. State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) supported the measure to help safeguard the health and safety of voters.

“Even though we are in unprecedented times and a lot of us are taking things one day at a time, there are many aspects of our lives that will not wait for the coronavirus pandemic to end, and voting is one of them,” Castro said. “Election Day is coming, and people are going to want to vote, so we need to make sure that they can do so without risking their health or the health of their loved ones.”

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