The Illinois Senate unanimously passed a plan to protect seniors from health care workers who have a history of taking advantage of the elderly. State Senator Mattie Hunter sponsored a measure to require the Department of Human Services’ Inspector General to add employees undergoing financial abuse investigations to the Department of Public Health’s registry of unqualified workers.

“Documenting people with a history of taking advantage of seniors is absolutely necessary. Not only is taking advantage of seniors illegal, but it is downright ruthless and disrespectful,” said Hunter, Vice-Chair of the Illinois Public Health Committee. “We need to protect vulnerable seniors from health care workers with dubious records.”

Illinois seniors will benefit from a new task force aimed to end disparities based on race, geography and native language. Chicago Democrats, State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins and Mattie Hunter, successfully pushed the task force plan through the Senate without opposition today.

“Regardless of geography, native language or race, every senior should receive the same level of care,” said Hunter, Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee. “The legislation passed six-to-one in Human Services and I’m glad to see my colleagues voted for it unanimously in the full Senate.”

In an effort to fight obesity and other health issues, Chicago Democrat, State Senator Mattie Hunter has filed a plan to tax sugary drinks.

Sen. Mattie Hunter, Vice-Chair of the Senate Public Health Committee, filed a proposal on Valentine’s Day to add a penny-per-ounce tax to sugar-sweetened beverages. The tax is a part of the legislator’s push to decrease cases of obesity in the state.

From 1994-1996, Senator Mattie Hunter had the privilege of helping the people of South Africa by serving as the managing director for the Center for Health and Human Services in Johannesburg. In this video, she reflects on the experience and excitement of being a part of an international move to fight the effects of apartheid.