Gov. JB Pritzker Signs Illinois Birth Equity Initiative Into Law To Improve Maternal Health Access

3 months ago

Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) signed a bill to codify the Birth Equity Initiative into law, as part of a broader effort to improve access to maternal health care.

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Transcript

00:00Great, so welcome everyone.

00:18Welcome to Chicago Beyond for this exciting, exciting day.

00:22I'm Liz Dozier and I'm the founder and the CEO of Chicago Beyond.

00:27It is an absolute honor and a pleasure to welcome Governor Pritzker, Lieutenant Governor

00:33Stratton and all of our distinguished guests into our space today for this important moment

00:39for women and families here in Illinois.

00:43Chicago Beyond, as some of you may know, has a vested interest in birth justice.

00:47We are a national philanthropic organization that addresses systemic inequity by truly

00:53backing solutions led by those who are closest to the issues.

00:58Since our inception in 2016 with the generous support of Mark and Kimber Walter, we have

01:03dedicated over $65 million to individuals and to organizations who are truly in the

01:12fight closest to these issues.

01:14So one of our incredible leaders that we have had the pleasure and the honor of partnering

01:18with is Janine Valerie Logan.

01:20We invested in Janine to give her space, to give her time, and to give resources to actualize

01:27her dream of opening Chicago's Southside Birth Center.

01:31The center, as many of you know, will provide vital options to more women and to more families

01:38in our city.

01:39My team and I are focused on birth justice, not just here in Chicago, but ultimately nationwide

01:46because it is unacceptable that black women are three times more likely to die from a

01:51pregnancy-related complication than white women.

01:56Governor Pritzker, your partnership in these efforts continues to be invaluable.

02:01You are an integral part of this journey in many ways.

02:04Today is truly a full circle moment.

02:07Last year, we actually shared a stage with the governor at the Clinton Global Initiative,

02:13and Governor, it was then that you championed women's reproductive rights and shared your

02:18vision for Illinois.

02:20At that same event, Chicago Beyond committed to the Fellowship for Black Maternal Health,

02:26which was modeled after our investment in Janine, and our partnership grew from there.

02:32Earlier this year, our governor uplifted Janine and her work at the State of the State Address,

02:37unveiling the very bill that he will sign today.

02:41In February, we all met at the Chicago Southside Birth Center to underscore the importance

02:48of this bill.

02:49And Lieutenant Governor, our team recently shared a stage with you to share our work

02:54with other national funders, and now, here we all are here today in this full circle

03:00moment of this bill signing.

03:02It's a special thank you again to Governor Pritzker, and thank you to Lieutenant Governor

03:08for advocating on behalf of women and on behalf of families in our state.

03:14Thank you for using your platforms to amplify community-based birth leaders who have proven

03:20solutions for impacting and improving black maternal health.

03:24Again, I'm thrilled that this moment is happening, this historic moment for Illinois is happening

03:29in the space of Chicago Beyond, and that this space truly was designed to uplift, to elevate

03:35voices that are often unheard, to fight for our collective work for equity.

03:41So thank you.

03:42And with that, I'd like to welcome to the stage, it's my great honor and privilege to

03:46welcome to the stage, Lieutenant Governor Stratton.

03:50Lieutenant Governor Stratton Good morning, everyone.

03:59I am Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, she, her pronouns.

04:03First of all, thank you to my friend, Liz Dozier, for your kind words and your leadership,

04:09and thank you to Chicago Beyond for hosting us.

04:12Do you all feel that?

04:15It's the page turning on a new chapter in maternal health care.

04:21Before I dive in, I want to pause and shine this spotlight on the community leaders who

04:25set the birth equity initiative into motion.

04:29In 2022, Janine Valerie Logan and a group of black midwives and doulas, some of whom

04:35are in this room, joined my office for a monthly community engagement that we call Tea with

04:42the LG.

04:45It was good, we had, we actually had tea.

04:48But they brought with them candor, concern for their people, optimism, and meaningful

04:53ideas for change.

04:56And it is because of them that our conversation transcended into legislative action, reminding

05:02us all that those closest to the problem are also closest to the solution.

05:09I want to wholeheartedly thank leader Robin Gable, and Senator Lakeisha Collins for guiding

05:15this bill through this session with powerful conviction and urgency to our partners in

05:22the General Assembly, including representatives Morris Moller and Blair Sherlock and Kanti

05:28and Senators Preston and Johnson and all the advocates who are joining us this morning.

05:34Thank you for your willingness to hear what Illinoisans need and join in delivering results.

05:41And finally, to the man wielding that long awaited pin, Governor Pritzker.

05:48In the last few months, I've emphasized your ability to thread compassion and responsibility

05:53throughout your leadership.

05:55And today I am overwhelmed at what that delicate balance has accomplished.

06:02That said, I have to acknowledge how darkly ironic it is that we celebrate Illinois's

06:09work to empower women, as our neighbors to the West woke up this morning with even fewer

06:15rights than they had last night.

06:19Iowa is now the 22nd state in the nation to enact an extreme abortion ban, solidifying

06:26that one in three women of reproductive age in America now live without access to comprehensive

06:32reproductive care.

06:34The Birth Equity Initiative is Illinois' way of strengthening protection for the full spectrum

06:41of reproductive care.

06:43It bolsters our administration's belief that no government should decide when or if a family

06:49grows and ensures that when families do expand, both mom and baby have access to the care

06:56they need to get home safely.

07:00This initiative then goes a step further, acknowledging the substantial gap in care

07:06for mothers who do not fit the criteria of white and urban dwelling with unlimited access

07:13to resources.

07:15As eyes are glued on the Summer Olympics in Paris, I'm thinking of Olympic gold medalist

07:21Alison Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete in history, who facing unexpected

07:28complications during the birth of her daughter, realized that no amount of money or status

07:34can compete with the pervasive racism in health care.

07:38If she, an Olympian in top shape with a robust support system, was not spared from the risks

07:46that haunt black mothers, no one is immune.

07:51Speaking out on the issue, Alison said, the more women who speak up, the more women will

07:58have a voice.

08:00Because when a woman speaks up and shares her truth, you really feel that collective

08:07power.

08:08Well, I'm proud to say that Illinois heard that collective power, and now it's our turn

08:16to deliver.

08:18We're bringing private insurers up to parity with Medicaid, demanding coverage for holistic

08:24birthing care and postpartum support.

08:26We're investing millions into assessing the crisis in mortality for black women, and we

08:33are activating a pilot program to tackle the hidden health emergency facing 47% of

08:40American families, diaper needs.

08:45Every woman, regardless of race or zip code, deserves to bring life into this world safely

08:52and with dignity.

08:55And whether you're on the south side of Chicago or downstate in Cahokia Heights, no family

09:02should welcome a new soul with grief for the one who carried it.

09:08I'll end with a word to the families for whom this support comes too late.

09:16Your loved one lives on in you, in each of us, and in our shared home state.

09:26The Birth Equity Initiative is a promise that her life and death mattered, and for

09:33as long as this administration has breath, Illinois will honor her.

09:42Today really is a great day in our state, and it couldn't have happened without the

09:47extraordinary leadership of our great governor, the best in the nation, by the way.

09:54Please welcome Governor JB Pritzker.

09:59Well, good morning.

10:07Thank you all for joining us for this truly significant step forward for maternal health.

10:13I want to start by recognizing the truly tireless work of a true champion for women and families,

10:20and that's the best lieutenant governor in the nation, Juliana Stratton.

10:28Juliana put in countless hours of work to make this Birth Equity Initiative a reality.

10:34Listening to our communities in need, crafting language with experts and stakeholders, and

10:40negotiating to get it across the finish line, I am exceptionally proud and immensely grateful

10:46to have her as my partner in governance.

10:49Thank you, Juliana.

10:55This law never could have found the light of day, but for the vital role of the Illinois

11:00House and Senate, especially the chief sponsor's leader, Robin Gable, and Senator Lakeisha

11:07Collins.

11:10Yeah.

11:13The General Assembly has been our partner in progress for years, and I want to express

11:19my deep gratitude to them on this occasion, and also to their leaders, House Speaker Chris

11:25Welch and Senate President Don Harmon.

11:30Yeah.

11:33In Illinois, we have some of the most dedicated and caring community and healthcare advocates

11:39who made this their mission in the 2024 spring session.

11:44Liz Dozier, we just heard from our host, and of course, right here at Chicago Beyond

11:51does work that almost no one else does, and we're so grateful for the work that she does

11:56to support organizations across the city and beyond.

12:01Sarah Garza Resnick of Personal Pack, and Kelly Hubbard of Ever Thrive Illinois, and

12:08so many others.

12:09I just want to say that, as you know, in the General Assembly, we have champions in the

12:14House and the Senate, in the governor's office, but often, the reason there is excitement

12:19and movement on these issues is because people who are doing this work on the ground are

12:24making it happen, and so I want to just say to the advocates, thank you for everything

12:30that you do to advance this cause.

12:37From start to finish, the birth workers who are here with us, including Dr. Jeanine Valerie

12:43Logan, brought their experiences and passion to help shape this initiative from the very

12:49beginning, and they are on the front lines ensuring its success.

12:53We have work to do.

12:55There's no doubt.

12:56There is a lot of work ahead, but it is because of them that we will be able to deliver on

13:01the promise of this legislation.

13:03Finally, I am blessed to work every day with compassionate and visionary people in the

13:09office of the governor.

13:11Emily Miller came into my office one day last year, and she said, Governor, we can't

13:19wait any longer to solve the problem of women being denied equitable access to health care

13:26when they're pregnant and being put in danger by the inequities of the health care system.

13:31Now, you know when someone who works for you and that you care about comes in to tell you

13:35that, you need to act.

13:40Then she went to work with Juliana and proposed how we would do it, what it would cost, and

13:46who we would work with to get it done.

13:49She was all in, and so was I.

13:52That's why I want to say a special thank you to Emily Miller for her exceptional work in

13:57getting this across the finish line.

14:04Reproductive freedom and maternal health go hand in hand.

14:08Every time we make an advancement in the cause, I thank my mother for instilling in

14:14me the drive to protect those rights.

14:18For too long, we have failed to live up to the promise of equal health care for black

14:23and brown mothers in this state.

14:26For example, as you well know, black women are three times more likely than white women

14:31to die from medical complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

14:35That is appalling, and it's unacceptable, and we're not going to let that happen anymore

14:41in the state of Illinois.

14:46It isn't right that some women are forced to weigh their own mortality or their future

14:52health against bringing life into this world.

14:56All mothers must have the full spectrum of maternal health care available to them.

15:03With the enactment of this new law today, we bring ourselves closer to a state where

15:07every mother, no matter her race, economic status, or zip code, is afforded the right

15:14to a safe and healthy pregnancy.

15:17This initiative is part of the most robust birth equity effort in the entire nation.

15:23It is a package of reforms and investments that will assist pregnant women and families

15:29at every step in the process.

15:31It will improve long-term health outcomes and make pregnancy-related care more culturally

15:37responsive.

15:38Again, there's more work to do, but this is an enormously important first and big step.

15:45Our birth equity initiative creates funding opportunities for birth centers in underserved

15:51areas.

15:52It expands home visiting programs.

15:54It creates a pilot program, as you heard, providing free diapers for new mothers most

15:59in need.

16:00And it cuts red tape to help make doulas and midwives more accessible to more people.

16:07This is the kind of absolutely vital pregnancy care that makes a transformational difference

16:13to new and expecting mothers' health outcomes.

16:17Since day one of my administration, I have committed myself to the same goal, to make

16:21this the best state in the nation to raise a family.

16:26And I'm incredibly proud to be with all of you today as we take an enormous step closer

16:32to making that vision a reality for all families in Illinois.

16:36And with that, I want to hand this podium over to another tireless advocate for Illinois

16:42children and families and someone without whom we could not have made this progress

16:47and in so many other areas moved the ball forward on protecting women and children in

16:53this state, Senator Lakeisha Collins.

16:57Sorry, I have to bring the microphone down just a little bit.

17:06Good morning.

17:07Good morning.

17:08I'm State Senator Lakeisha Collins, and I represent the 5th Senate District, which we

17:13are sitting in right now, which is one of the best districts in the state of Illinois,

17:19I might add.

17:21I would like to thank Liz Dozier and Chicago Beyond for hosting us here today, and to my

17:27colleague and my friend and a leader in the House of Representatives, Robin Gable, for

17:33your instrumental role in advancing this vital piece of legislation.

17:38I also would like to extend my gratitude to the advocates, the doulas, the healthcare

17:42professionals who have shared their personal stories and expertise to ensure the success

17:47of this initiative.

17:49A huge thank you to Janine Valerie Logan for her hard work and for standing on the front

17:56lines for black women across the state of Illinois.

18:00And I would also like to thank a good friend of mine who, I don't have enough words to

18:06say this, but she truly is a good friend of mine, and that's Sarah Resnick.

18:11Thank you for all of your support.

18:14I applaud our governor for his steadfast commitment to uplifting women overall and supporting

18:19equity in black maternal health, and for standing with all women in the face of opposition.

18:25We have a governor who talks the talk and walk the walk, and I admire his fearless leadership

18:31and being unapologetic for putting women and families first.

18:36Furthermore, I would like to thank our beloved lieutenant governor, Julie Anna Stratton,

18:43for her fierce leadership and unwavering support.

18:48Throughout this process, she has stood on her commitment to getting this across the

18:52finish line, and I know how hard she worked to make this a reality, and even telling her

18:57own personal story, which I relate to so deeply.

19:01We have a lieutenant governor who would check on you and encourage you.

19:05She checks on you about your self-care, and through this process, I'm going to be a little

19:09bit vulnerable here.

19:11It was hard for me.

19:13New to the Senate, but this bill was definitely a challenge.

19:18Not a challenge like you think.

19:20It was a challenge because, one, I know that there are women who look like me, and women

19:26all over this state, who are faced with these barriers, and I knew how important it was

19:32to get it done.

19:34It's a mental wear and tear sometimes when you're fighting for what's right, but to have

19:39my lieutenant governor call me and just say, hey, how are you?

19:43Are you okay?

19:44Did you take some self-care today?

19:46I want to know how you're doing.

19:48We're going to get it done, but take care of yourself.

19:51I thank you for that, lieutenant governor.

19:57This collaboration within our administration is truly commendable, and I would also like

20:01to thank our administration's remarkable team for their tireless efforts to ensure we got

20:06this right and we got it done.

20:08Thank you, Emily.

20:09Thank you to all the staff, to all the LAs for all of your hard work, and I also want

20:14to give my appreciation to our House and Senate leadership and to my colleagues on both sides

20:19of the chamber for their support of this legislation because it truly takes all of us in both chambers

20:25to make this a reality.

20:27I would also like to thank our staff in both chambers as well for the important work that

20:32they do.

20:34As a black woman and a mother of three young black boys, this legislation was personal

20:39to me.

20:40The increasing rates of infant and maternal mortality, particularly among black women,

20:46it demanded urgency.

20:48African-American women are three to four times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications,

20:55and what's even more horrifying is that 80% of those cases are preventable, but by passing

21:02House Bill 5142 and witnessing our governor sign this historic piece of legislation into

21:08law today, I am proud of what we all accomplished here.

21:13We lost an alarming number of black women who were simply trying to seek the health

21:18they needed and deserved, but unfortunately was too late in receiving proper care.

21:24But today, Democrats here in Illinois have changed that narrative.

21:33Together, we have broken yet another barrier, rewriting the wrongs of history and ensuring

21:40that this cycle of systemic racism and oppression ends, restoring confidence in black maternal

21:46health so that women can feel seen, feel heard, feel safe, and feel comfortable that when

21:52they go to their health care professional with concerns that they're not brushed off,

21:57that they're listened to, and that cost is no longer a barrier, and now they have option

22:03to birth their babies at homes or at a center, which is deeply rooted in our history.

22:09This legislation will provide life-saving health care for women and their babies, regardless

22:16of their income, background, or race.

22:19It will require that providers cover services such as midwives, doulas, postpartum care,

22:26certified lactation consultants, breast pumps, equipment, and so much more.

22:32And I've said this before, but from Chicago to rural southern Illinois, women across every

22:38community, every zip code, they face unexpected complications during pregnancy.

22:44And without the coverage of insurance, are faced with life-threatening complications

22:48that are preventable.

22:51But no one, and I mean no one, should have to pick and choose their health, the health

22:55of their babies, for basic necessities.

22:59They should be able to do both.

23:01This law is not just about health care.

23:03It's about justice.

23:05It's about equality.

23:07It's about the right of every mother and child to have access to the safest and the most

23:11effective care.

23:13And ultimately, what we have done here in Illinois is we have, we are reducing the mortality

23:18rates and ensuring a healthier future for all Illinois families.

23:23I'm grateful to have a governor and a lieutenant governor, along with my colleagues who get

23:27it, who continue to show up for our families across our state.

23:32And when we are attacked for simply trying to do what's right, we continue to push forward.

23:38Because we understand that lives are on the line.

23:41And like so many other important pieces of legislation, this will save lives and increase

23:47healthy outcomes.

23:49Thank you, governor and lieutenant governor, and to my chief co-sponsor, Leader Gable,

23:54and all who stood on the front lines with us to make this a reality.

23:58And next, I would like to bring up my friend, one of my leaders when I was in the House,

24:03but she is truly a leader.

24:05She's been doing this work for a very long time, and she does it from the heart and from

24:09her experience and from her lived experience.

24:11And so, I want to introduce to you, Leader Robin Gable.

24:16Well, we've heard a lot already, haven't we?

24:29I was going to do my thank yous at the end, so I think I'll keep with that.

24:35But there are so many thank yous to give.

24:38I do want to just thank Governor Pritzker for this transformative policy for birth equity

24:45in Illinois.

24:46It was really my honor to sponsor this legislation in the House.

24:52As a lawmaker and former executive director of Ever Thrive, a policy and advocacy organization

24:58for maternal and child health, I have spent my career working on behalf of newborns and

25:04mothers.

25:06It is so heartening to me to see a governor who understands that a safe, healthy pregnancy

25:13shouldn't be predicated on one's income, background, or race.

25:17It is a fundamental right.

25:25With the signing of this legislation, we will now have laws that require insurance companies.

25:31You know, Illinois has been the Wild West of insurance companies.

25:35They have pretty much done whatever they wanted.

25:38And in this administration, that is not going to be true any longer.

25:44There are going to be a required, and Medicaid is going to pay for the most effective ways

25:50to improve maternal health and infant health, doulas, midwives, and lactation consultants.

25:57Having somebody walk that walk with you when you're pregnant and verify how you're feeling

26:02and helping you maneuver through the medical system has been shown to be the best use of

26:10our dollars.

26:13This is even more important in the context of a recent nationwide decline in maternal

26:18and child health.

26:20Maternal mortality has increased.

26:22It is shocking that the wealthiest nation that has ever existed in this world has this

26:28problem.

26:29It must and will be addressed.

26:38So along with the diaper pilot program, which you've heard about, a bill that I carried

26:43for a number of years unsuccessfully, so I'm glad that we finally have that done, and a

26:50child tax credit, which will actually put dollars into the pockets of working families

26:56with children.

26:58This legislation truly is transformative and will improve the lives of so many women

27:03and so many families.

27:06So I would like to thank everyone that's already been thanked, but I'll do it again.

27:13First Governor Pritzker for his forward thinking policies and his whole policy team led by

27:19Emily Miller.

27:20Thank you, Emily.

27:25I also want to thank advocates like Janine Valerie Logan, who has been working so hard

27:30on this issue, and in addition, some folks over at the University of Illinois who have

27:41been working on a maternal health project for a number of years and have really helped

27:46to inform our policy at the state level and the national level, Arden Handler and Stacey

27:51Geller.

27:56So I truly want to thank our Lieutenant Governor, who is amazing, just amazing, and such a support

28:05to all of us.

28:06She sat there in committee with me.

28:08I think you were on the floor when I did the bill as well.

28:14First of all, to share her story, which is so compelling, and second, just to be there

28:18to support all of us.

28:20So much appreciated, Lieutenant Governor.

28:26And I also want to thank my colleague, Senator Collins, who so deftly guided this legislation

28:31through the Senate and so proudly tells her own lived experience as well.

28:36Thank you, Senator Collins.

28:41So now, as we say after we pass these important bills, on to implementation, right?

28:52It is my pleasure to now introduce one of my newer colleagues in the House, Representative

28:58Yolanda Morris, who I am so excited to have in the House.

29:03She is such a bright light and full of energy, and she is truly a rising star.

29:09Come on, Yolanda.

29:15Good morning, everyone.

29:18I am Yolanda Morris, State Representative of Illinois' 9th District.

29:22I am a proud advocate for House Bill 5142, which addresses the needs of pregnant individuals,

29:29new mothers, and their newborns in Illinois.

29:32Having experienced health disparities in my own family, I am passionate about ensuring

29:36equitable access to maternal health care.

29:39Our communities, especially those of color, face significant health inadequacies, leading

29:47to poor outcomes for women.

29:50House Bill 5142 is a vital step in addressing these issues.

29:55It requires insurers to cover essential services for paternal doulars, licensed midwives, including

30:03home births and support during labor, abortions, or miscarriages.

30:09We also emphasize postpartum care by providing coverage for lactation consultations and necessary

30:16supplies for at least one year after birth, without cost sharing.

30:21Let us unite to create a health care system that is inclusive and equitable for every

30:25woman and child in our state.

30:27Together, we can ensure that all families have access to care they deserve.

30:32Thank you all for your support in building a healthier and more equitable Illinois.

30:44And with that, sorry.

30:49And I would like to introduce Janine.

30:52Sorry, I had a blur moment.

31:00Y'all sweet.

31:09Good morning.

31:11There are so many things I want to say today, but I'll start off by saying thank you.

31:16Thank you, Governor Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Stratton.

31:23Thank you, Senator Collins and Leader Gabel for carrying this bill.

31:28This is truly a historic day.

31:30My name is Janine Logan.

31:32She, her goddess pronouns.

31:33I'm the founder and lead steward of Chicago Southside Birth Center and the leader in residence

31:38here at Chicago Beyond.

31:40I'm leading the effort to establish the first black midwife-led birth center on Chicago

31:45Southside.

31:52And ultimately change how people choose and receive reproductive health care in their

31:57own community.

31:59Although we still have quite a ways to go before we open our doors, HB 5142 will give

32:05families greater access to midwives, to doulas, and mental health services and resources they

32:12need to change systems.

32:15Be it in government, philanthropy, community birth, a huge part of our work to change systems

32:20is to gather, share experiences, deep listening and trusting of each other to make this change

32:27happen.

32:28The culmination of this work is exactly what we did and exactly what you're seeing today.

32:35Thank you to all of the community partners in this room, being strong advocates for your

32:40partners, your clients, your families.

32:43You all made this happen, so thank you.

32:50And thank you again, Lieutenant Governor Stratton for hearing us.

32:53You listened and you heard us, and HB 5142 is just the beginning we need to right the

32:59course of birth equity across our state, and together, I know we can't be stopped.

33:06I woke up today thinking about a lot, but my daughters were one of them.

33:10This bill along with ongoing support for expansive reproductive health policies in Illinois gives

33:16me the hope that in their lifetime, my daughters and their peers can experience birth equity

33:22and the legacy of community birth that we all are working so hard towards in this state

33:26and across the nation.

33:28I also envision them not only being safe in their pregnancy and postpartum, but also their

33:34whole lives.

33:37It saddens me to think about Sonia Massey and all the other families that are grieving

33:41now for senseless killings and preventable childbirth trauma.

33:51I will turn it back to our Governor Pritzker for the signing of HB 142, and thank you.

34:51Okay, I'm happy to take a few questions from members of the audience.

35:25Happy to take any questions.

35:26Mary Ann.

35:27All right.

35:28I'm pivoting to off-topic a little.

35:33This is an amazing group of people.

35:34If you have questions, honestly, this is the best group.

35:38Okay.

35:39And there was a lot of enthusiasm.

35:40I appreciate it.

35:41Okay.

35:52As you know, we have a partnership with Cook County and with the city of Chicago.

35:57There was an awful lot of planning that went into effect back in the early part of this

36:03year, and we're excited about the Democratic National Convention coming.

36:10We're also excited to have this partnership in place, as you know, and you can go to the

36:15city of Chicago's website to see how many beds are currently occupied, how many beds

36:21are available, and also that we have a plan for expanding that if necessary.

36:28So far, we have not seen the influx that we might have expected, and one of the reasons

36:33for that is because despite the fact that Donald Trump told Republicans to walk away

36:40from an immigration bill that would have helped us actually secure the border, that the president

36:46has nevertheless put in place a series of agreements with countries throughout Central

36:53America and North America, including Mexico, to make sure that we've stemmed the tide of

37:01border crossings.

37:02And so, actually, we've seen some of the lowest numbers of border crossings in the last two

37:06years over the last several months, and I check on that weekly, talk to the White House

37:11and others to make sure that that's still the case.

37:14Are you sources are talking back and forth?

37:17Is that an avid threat, or might that really happen?

37:21Well, of course.

37:22We have a governor in Texas who cares nothing for the human beings who have crossed the

37:29border who are in his state.

37:31He frankly ships them all across the country, including to Chicago, threatened to do it

37:36again when he was at the RNC.

37:38But we've not seen any evidence of him increasing the numbers that have been sent to the city

37:44of Chicago.

37:45Yes?

37:46On and off.

37:47On and off.

37:48Good.

37:49You mentioned any and all of the reports that can be done.

37:50Is there any talk about any new legislation coming into play?

37:51What else is going on?

37:52Well, let's be clear, we need more than just one birth center on the south side of Chicago.

38:05Meanwhile, let's actually effectuate what we've got on the plate and make sure that

38:16Janine is able to get her work done.

38:18But there's more to do.

38:19And it isn't just in the city of Chicago, though we could use more here, but also across

38:24the rest of the state.

38:25So there's work to do.

38:27We have to make sure that we have the right partners and also that we're providing the

38:31right amount of resources for those centers to open.

38:35And that's just one example.

38:38You heard a pilot program for providing diapers for moderate and low income women.

38:46And if that pilot program is a successful one, we'll want to make sure and expand that.

38:51That's just one example.

38:52Yeah.

38:53Well, I've done a lot of research on this topic, but let me be clear, there isn't much

39:12change.

39:13I mean, I made it clear to the bears leadership that it would be near impossible to get anything

39:18done if there was a proposal put on the table by them that could get done.

39:24You couldn't actually get it done probably during the veto session and would have to

39:30wait until next spring.

39:32But in reality, there isn't a proposal on the table right now that would be acceptable

39:36to anyone that I know in the legislature.

39:41This may be the 73rd time that you and your colleagues have asked this question.

39:57I'm not going to talk about those conversations today, but I've had many conversations and

40:01continue to, as I have for weeks and weeks and weeks when Joe Biden was going to be our

40:06nominee and now with Kamala Harris as our likely nominee.

40:10I talk to the campaign regularly because I want to do everything I can to make sure

40:14that Kamala Harris wins and that Donald Trump does not.

40:31All I'm saying is that I'm going to work my heart out for this ticket.

40:38I'm sorry.

40:39I think I've been very transparent about almost everything about being governor and everything

40:44that's occurred.

40:45And in this case, all I can say is that my guess is over the next 10 or 14 days, we'll

40:53all know who the vice presidential nominee is.

40:57How did I do?

40:58Yeah.

40:59Oh, wait, I'm sorry.

41:00I'm sure that somebody who hasn't asked a question, Chris, how many times can we get

41:13asked this question?

41:14Yeah.

41:15Yeah.

41:16Yeah.

41:17Again, I'm not going to talk about the conversations that I've had with the campaign about that.

41:20Well, I've listened to it.

41:46I've actually talked about it yesterday.

41:50The truth is there are a lot of very weird, strange things coming out of both the Republican

41:56nominee and the vice presidential nominee on the Republican side.

42:00I mean, there's this consistent kind of talk about Donald Trump's fear of sharks.

42:05I'm not sure why that's relevant to becoming president of the United States.

42:09There's the talk about couches and dolphins on the vice presidential candidates case.

42:17And it's just, you know, I don't understand.

42:19We should be talking about the issues that are important to working families across the

42:23United States.

42:24That's what Kamala Harris is talking about.

42:26That's what all of us ought to be focused on.

42:29Yes.

42:30And I'd like to know, what are the tertiary hospitals who see these very high risk maternal

42:51cases?

42:52Will there be a bill or more money given to them to render services to these types

43:02of cases?

43:04So as you know, critical access hospitals, safety net hospitals, those I think are the

43:09ones that you're referring to are a real foot and those that aren't covered by that are

43:15the focus of a lot of work that we need to do about providing midwife reservices as well

43:22as doulas and making sure that we're addressing the broad issue of maternal health.

43:29It's not been done adequately, even in some of the best hospitals when we talk about women

43:34of color in particular.

43:36And so that's why we've got to change the way the system operates.

43:39One of the things that we've done is expanded Medicaid to pay for particularly culturally

43:45sensitive doulas, culturally sensitive provision of services for women of color.

43:51And so there's a lot of work to do.

43:53That's why I said that earlier.

43:55And I think you heard it consistently.

43:57We're not finished.

43:58This is a but this is an awfully good beginning to something that's important for us to accomplish.

44:03Yes.

44:04Yes.

44:25Look, I think that they're in the middle of a negotiation.

44:28And so I think they're going to say things that they think are going to, you know, will

44:32advance their cause.

44:33I think I've been clear.

44:35I want to fully fund education, public education in the state of Illinois.

44:39I have worked hard during my term in office to do that.

44:44Billions of dollars more have gone into education, public education for our state.

44:48I want to do even more.

44:50We're taking every resource that's available to us for education and putting it there.

44:54So I know that there are people who would like more.

44:58I'm one of them.

44:59And so let's go do that.

45:01But that is not something that can happen immediately during their negotiation.

45:05It is something that I think we should be working on every single year.

45:09And I've done that again.

45:10Almost half a billion dollars more has gone into public education every single year since

45:17I took office.

45:18And and I, you know, again, I, I will do everything I can to meet the needs of our students and

45:25make sure that we're paying our teachers properly.

45:28But, you know, criticism at this moment isn't helpful.

45:31I think, you know, they came to Springfield.

45:34They talked to the legislature.

45:37We in fact did provide a significant amount more money for public schools and we'll continue

45:42to do it every year I'm in office.

45:44Yeah.

Gov. JB Pritzker Signs Illinois Birth Equity Initiative Into Law To Improve Maternal Health Access

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