Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

Inspired by her mother who was a physician right here in the 12th district, Sara grew up having a unique and up-front view of what access to health care truly meant to individuals and working families.

A commanding voice for women's health, Sara stood up to special interests by passing legislation requiring insurance companies to cover routine mammograms, earning her an award from Susan B. Komen for the Cure, an organization committed to bringing survivors and activists together by raising awareness about breast cancer.

Sara passed the first stem cell research bill in Illinois to improve the quality of care for persons living with mental illness and developmental disabilities and to help find cures for juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Passage of this legislation brought hundreds of scientists and new jobs to Illinois and put Illinois on the map as a magnet for private research dollars.

Sara is the Chair of the Human Services Appropriations Committee in the Illinois House which oversees $29 billion of our state budget. Sara works to improve the quality of life for countless Illinois residents and at the same time works toward efficient, cost effective health care delivery models.

A robust AIDS drug assistance program keeps people with HIV living healthy, productive lives and helps them return to the workplace. Sara fights for this program because of its extraordinary impact on the people in her community living with HIV as well as the cost effectiveness.

A firm believer that health care is a right, Sara worked alongside then-State Senator Barack Obama to pass the Family Care Bill. An efficient and cost effective program, today Washington sends 65 cents back to Illinois for every dollar we spend.

Sara has always fought for mart spending and quality health care.

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