Blue Room Press Conference Wednesday: Yang Rohr, Avelar, Syed, Davis Push for Passage of Alyssa’s Law to Quicken Emergency Response in Schools

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep.’s Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, Dagmara ‘ Dee’ Avelar, D- Bolingbrook, Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, and Will Davis, D-Homewood, will join the mother of a victim of the Parkland 2018 mass shooting and other gun safety advocates in the Capitol Blue Room on Wednesday, April 23 at 3:30 p.m. to urge the legislature to pass House Bill 1072, which cuts emergency response times through the expansion of mobile panic alert systems in Illinois schools.

“I am honored to be joined by dedicated gun safety advocates like Lori Alhadeff to urge the House and Senate to pass this bill,” Yang Rohr said. “We have seen time and again how delayed emergency responses have led to greater loss of life during school shootings, natural disasters and major medical emergencies. As we face a growing gun violence epidemic, we cannot afford to wait when we have solutions we know can and will save lives. Kids shouldn’t be worried that law enforcement won’t get to them in time, when life-threatening emergencies take place. Alyssa’s Law will address this issue.”

“Now more than ever we must prioritize a solution that protects our children and families from traumatic gun violence that has become a norm in our communities,” said state rep. Dagmara Avelar, D-Bolingbrook. “We cannot waste more time. Giving our classrooms safe access to emergency responders will save lives, because time equals life in these situations. Alyssa’s Law is a vow to that, and is a big first step in addressing the senseless tragedies happening in schools and the places we call home.”

“Requiring more comprehensive preparations in our schools to be ready for emergencies like natural disasters and gun violence is a building block of both a better education system and a safer Illinois,” said state Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine.  “Alysa’s Law represents the immediate progress on these issues that Illinois kids deserve, and it is a privilege to fight for its passage.”

“While we can’t pinpoint or predict exactly where or when a dangerous situation will arise in our schools, we can choose to be prepared the next time it does,” said state Rep. Will Davis, D-Homewood. “As gun violence continues to become more common in our schools, our young people cannot afford to wait a moment longer. Let’s get Alyssa’s Law passed, and start saving
lives today!”

Working closely with Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education committee chair David, Yang Rohr, Avelar and Syed are advocating for House Bill 1072, which would create a
mobile ‘Alyssa’s Alert’ panic alert system installed in Illinois schools to cut response times during emergency situations. The legislation is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a victim of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglass High School mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. in 2018. Her mother, Lori Alhadeff, will join legislators at the press conference and stand before the House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Subject Matter Committee at 4 p.m. in Rm. 114 to advocate for the legislation.

Texas, New York and Florida are among several other states who have implemented similar threat response systems.

For more information, visit ILGA.gov or contact info@repyangrohr.com.

Who: State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, State Rep. Dagmara ‘Dee’ Avelar, State Rep. Nabeela Syed,
State Rep. Will Davis, Lori Alhadeff
What: Advancing Alyssa’s Law Press Conference & Subject Matter Hearing
When: Wednesday, April 23; 3:30 p.m., Hearing at 4 p.m.
Where: Capitol Blue Room, Capitol Rm. 114