Kelly Backs Legislation to Lower Costs, Improve Transit Efficiency, Implement Immigration Raid Protections

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Focused on addressing issues facing families, state Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, supported a veto session agenda this week that will lower energy costs, reform public transportation and implement safeguards related to immigration raids.

“Things don’t have to be so hard,” Kelly said. “From passing new energy legislation that will lower costs for everyone to protecting our communities from unlawful federal overreach, we’ve been laser-focused on making things a little easier for families across the state.”

Kelly supported a comprehensive energy package that aims to lower home electric bills both immediately and over the long term. Dubbed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, the measure expands on past energy legislation and is expected to create thousands of jobs and further strengthen the state’s electric grid.

After years of inefficiency at local transit agencies, Kelly backed a transformative public transportation reform plan that will create a new overarching Northern Illinois Transit Agency (NITA) tasked with improving the rider experience. Additional reforms aim to strengthen service, unify the region’s fare system, improve rider safety and crack down on financial issues with new independent auditors and reserve fund requirements.

With federal officials continuing to stoke unnecessary fear in communities with violent raids, Kelly backed a commonsense, human-centered proposal implementing safeguards at hospitals, daycares, courthouses and higher education locations.

“Hospitals, daycares and schools should be places where people can feel safe and they don’t have to worry about the possibility of being suddenly grabbed by masked individuals,” Kelly said. “I’m excited to build upon our work in the spring legislative session and continue driving costs down for working families.”