CHICAGO – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is encouraging residents struggling with addiction and family members of those struggling with addiction to call a toll-free hotline with resources on opioid abuse and treatment.

“The opioid epidemic has touched every community; ours included,” D’Amico said. “Addressing the crisis requires action by residents at every level, from our representatives in Washington and Springfield to neighbors and family watching out for one another.”

Residents can call the Illinois Hotline for Opioids and Other Substances at 833-2FINDHELP to speak with a specialist about treatment. The hotline is free and confidential, and you don’t need to have insurance to access treatment. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to offer assistance to residents suffering from opioid addiction. Additional treatment information is also available at helplineil.org.

D’Amico supported the establishment of the toll-free number last year through House Bill 3161, which required the Department of Human Services to post information on their website about heroin and opioid abuse for the public.

“Opioid-related deaths doubled in the past three years alone,” D’Amico continued. “Addiction is not a choice; it’s a chronic disease, and one of the most difficult challenges life can throw your way. Taking away the stigma behind opioid abuse and providing free, confidential support can begin to address it.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, encourages residents to help ensure every child receives a gift this holiday season by dropping off new and unwrapped toys for his Toys for Tots collection drive at his district office by Friday, Dec. 14.

“The holidays should be a time of happiness and cheer, but some families in our community can’t afford to pay bills, let alone buy gifts,” said D’Amico. “I’m proud to partner with Toys for Tots to help bring joy to children whose families are experiencing difficult times.”

D’Amico requests donations of new and unwrapped toys and gifts, particularly for children between 7 and 14. Good items include popular toys such as Frisbees, footballs, soccer balls, skateboards, sports equipment, board games, purses and small electronics.

D’Amico will accept toys through Friday, Dec. 14 at his district office, located at 4404 W. Lawrence Ave. in Chicago, on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information and a complete list of local Toys for Tots drop-off locations, please visit www.toysfortots.org.

“While shopping this holiday season, families should remember those in need,” D’Amico said. “This is the season of giving, and the smallest gestures can go a long way in brightening a child’s holiday.”

CHICAGO – In response to the Chicago Tribune’s disturbing reports of sexual abuse at several Chicago Public Schools (CPS), state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is backing stronger measures to protect Illinois students from predatory school professionals and ensure student accusations are not ignored.

“As a father of three, the Chicago Tribune’s reports hit home,” D’Amico said. “I refuse to stand by and allow predators to continue to take advantage of CPS’ inability to protect students.”

The Chicago Tribune investigation, titled “Betrayed,” outlined the district’s broken processes that failed to protect students from abuse. According to the Tribune, CPS conducted faulty backgrounds checks, or no background checks at all on school personnel. CPS also ignored credible accusations from students sexually assaulted by school personnel. In addition, CPS keeps little data on sexual assaults within their schools.

The D’Amico-backed House Bill 5914 would address the perverse culture that allowed sexual assaults to occur at CPS. The legislation requires the Illinois State Board of Education to monitor all background checks conducted by a school district to ensure they are completed in a timely fashion. The legislation would also allow a school district to share investigative findings on sexual assault and harassment with other school districts to prevent teachers found to have assaulted or harassed students from simply changing schools. In addition, D’Amico’s legislation would close the loophole in Illinois law that currently allows a teacher to have a consensual sexual relationship with a student over the age of 17.

“Students, parents and the community deserve peace of mind that their school is a safe place and its employees only want the best for students,” D’Amico continued. “We now know that tougher laws are required to find and expel the predators.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, recently supported legislation to help human trafficking survivors and others impacted by traumatic crimes more easily attain Nonimmigrant U and T visas.

“If someone is the survivor of an abusive crime, they should feel safe in going to law enforcement for justice,” D’Amico said. “It is important we stand with survivors, regardless of citizenship status, by letting them know they are not alone and will not be punished for coming forward.”

The D’Amico backed Senate Bill 34 would create the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors (VOICES) Act. Currently, nonimmigrants who are survivors of certain crimes resulting in physical or mental abuse, such as domestic violence or human trafficking, may apply for a Nonimmigrant U and T visa. To qualify, individuals need a police department or other agency to provide certification confirming that the individual is contributing or will likely contribute to an investigation. However, agencies are currently not required to respond to certification requests. Senate Bill 34 would require law enforcement and other investigative agencies to respond to certifications for U visa applicants and T visa applications for survivors no later than 90 business days after receiving the request

“In order for law enforcement to serve and protect, there must be a culture of trust and cooperation in their communities,” D’Amico said. “I urge the governor to sign this important legislation to aide survivors and law enforcement so we may do right for all of those in our state.”

CHICAGO – After three years of higher education funding uncertainty due to the budget impasse, state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is helping to provide security for students and families by backing a four-year agreement to fund Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants.

“MAP grants largely target the neediest students,” D’Amico said. “Illinois needs to do more to compete for local students rather than lose them forever to neighboring states. That’s why it was important to not just hold the line, but to also boost investment in local Illinois colleges, such as Northeastern Illinois University and North Park University.

The Monetary Award Program (MAP) provides grants, which do not need to be repaid, to Illinois residents who attend Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need. MAP grants were not paid to students for the majority of the three-year budget impasse due to Gov. Rauner’s veto of higher education spending. During 2017, MAP provided an average of $2,850 in aid to over 121,000 Illinois students that attended an Illinois college. Last year’s average annual family income of a traditional MAP recipient was $33,632. Often times, taking out additional student loans may not be an option for many MAP recipients, as they have already maxed out their possible federal student loans.

“The state’s higher education system should be something everyone takes pride in, but politicians like Gov. Rauner held the system hostage for his extreme demands,” D’Amico said. “The future of our state is dependent on us having a strong higher education system that attracts and keeps students here in Illinois. A stable commitment to MAP grants helps in this effort.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, passed legislation last week to close a loophole that has made it very difficult to prosecute carjackers.

“Families ought to know that the laws are written to keep them safe,” said D’Amico. “But carjackers are too often let loose because of a blatantly unfair loophole that makes our neighborhoods more dangerous.”

The Chicago Tribune recently reported city residents were victim to nearly 1,000 carjackings in 2017, roughly double the number in 2012. Currently, 9 out of 10 Chicago carjacking offenses do not result in an arrest, as very often suspects are released because they can take advantage of a loophole in the law by claiming they borrowed the car from a family member or friend. As a result, repeat offenders make up 37 percent of those arrested and charged in these cases.

The D’Amico backed-Senate Bill 2339 would close this loophole, making it easier for police and prosecutors to bring charges against carjackers. D’Amico’s legislation also directs courts to examine a youth’s prior arrests to determine the best course of action in order to cut down on repeat juvenile offenders.

“Carjackings are violent and malicious acts that punish the survivors with not just financial problems, but the longer lasting burdens of trauma,” D’Amico continues. “I won’t let carjackers continue to break the law and then use the same law to demand that their crime ought not be punished.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is applauding the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution, which he supported as part of a bipartisan group of lawmakers.

“Wednesday evening, legislators on both sides of the aisle stood on the right side of history by voting for the passage of the ERA,” D’Amico said. “This vote shows that we support the women in our life by urging their recognition in the text that is the foundation of our country.”

First introduced in 1923, the U.S. Congress finally passed the ERA in 1972. Per the amendment process outlined in the Constitution, it was then sent to the states for ratification, stopping short of the necessary 38 states for approval. With D’Amico’s support, Illinois became the 37th state to ratify the ERA on Wednesday.

“The passage of this amendment is long overdue, but it is never too late to do the right thing,” D’Amico said. “I hope that our ratification sets a good example for our children by letting them know we support the treatment of people equally, regardless of sex.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, worked to pass a bipartisan, balanced budget, pass gun-safety measures to protect first responders, increase safety on Illinois roads and stop President Trump’s attack on women’s rights by strengthening state-level protections during the spring legislative session.

D’Amico worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass a balanced budget that holds the line on taxes and spending, while continuing to correct Gov. Bruce Rauner’s failures. The budget eliminates wasteful spending within state agencies in order to invest finite resources in critical services for local communities, including $350 million in new funding for schools, violence-prevention programs that will keep families safe from senseless shootings, and lifesaving medical care for seniors. By carefully managing spending, D’Amico’s budget plan provides a $15 million surplus and commits another $1 billion to paying down old bills accrued during Rauner’s budget crisis.

“The damage done by the governor to this state through his budget crisis was catastrophic,” said D’Amico. “This budget is part of the healing process that will continue to move our state forward.”

D’Amico also led on gun-safety initiatives, especially measures to protect first responders. Most notably, D’Amico backed the Paul Bauer Act, House Bill 1469, in response to the tragic death of Chicago Police Cdr. Paul Bauer. In Feb 2018, a fleeing suspect shot the 31-year Chicago Police department veteran six times using a semi-automatic weapon with a 30-round clip. The Paul Bauer Act would limit the number of bullets that can be sold in clips going forward.

“Even as shootings in Chicago have risen, first responders continue to have our backs,” D’Amico said. “We need to do everything in our power to have their backs by preventing criminals from gaining access to the weapons that place first responders in harm’s way.”

D’Amico also partnered with Secretary of State Jesse White on critical driver safety legislation, specifically an initiative to reduce texting while driving. According to the National Safety Council, texting while driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk, with one out of every four accidents caused by texting while driving. D’Amico’s legislation ends the “warning” police must provide to drivers the first time they are caught texting while driving. D’Amico was selected as the 2018 “Legislator of the Year” by the Illinois Insurance Association (IIA) for his advocacy to discourage distracted driving.

“Texting while driving is a deadly habit that is still too popular with drivers, especially young drivers,” D’Amico continued.  “It’s time our laws reflect the seriousness of this issue.”

D’Amico also was instrumental on issues important to women’s rights, most notably the effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Illinois, SJRCA4, and passing equal pay protections for women, House Bill 4163.

“Trump has imposed more barriers that prevent women from accessing health care and equal pay,” D’Amico continued. “That’s why the state-level protections we pass to push back against the Trump agenda are so critical.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation to remove burdensome and ineffective quota requirements on police officers.

“Police officers have one of the most difficult jobs, having to be ready at all times to respond to crisis and ensure public safety,” D’Amico said. “Mandating that an officer fulfill a certain quota does not aid in their ability to protect our communities, only serving as a distraction from carrying out their jobs effectively.”

The D’Amico-backed Senate Bill 3509 removes a provision of current law that allows the City of Chicago to require police officers to meet a certain quota for citations within a given period of time. The city may also compare the number of citations an officer issues against other officers with similar duties as a job performance evaluation metric. Law enforcement and public safety advocates have long proposed the removal of quota requirements as they have shown little effect on increasing public safety, aiding community-police relations, or assisting job performance reviews. Quota practices are currently prohibited across the state, but Chicago has been exempt from the years-long prohibition.

“We must do everything we can to give officers the tools necessary so they may serve and protect rather than place arbitrary and frivolous requirements on them,” D’Amico said. “I stand with police officers and urge my colleagues to do right by them and our communities by supporting this important legislation.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, took part in welcoming members of the Loyola basketball team after a historic finish in the Final Four Championship, including Coach Porter Moser and Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt, the 98-year-old Catholic nun and chaplain.

“Countless negative stories come from the sports world,” said D’Amico. “I am so proud that a Chicago basketball team could captivate the country through great sportsmanship and teamwork.”

After three winning seasons over the past 30 years, Moser led Loyola to a 32-win season, a Missouri Valley Conference title and Loyola’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 1985. After upsetting the first three teams it played by a combined four points, Loyola won over Kansas State to qualify for its first final four in 55 years. During its championship run, Loyola, an underdog as a #11 seed, captivated the country’s admiration. Sister Jean especially became a national sensation due to her continued presence on the sideline. Currently, the bobblehead of Sister Jean is the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s best-selling item ever.