SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago will advocate for a community-oriented, progressive approach to reducing gun violence as part of the House Firearm Public Awareness Task Force.

“Families in my district know the devastating realities of gun violence all too well, including the painful loss of loved ones and a fear that can cripple communities,” Harper said. “The only way we can offer justice to these families and prevent others from suffering is to meaningfully and sustainably reduce gun violence through a community-driven approach.”

Harper is a member of the bipartisan House Firearm Public Awareness Task Force, a 20-member working group charged with making legislative recommendations to reduce gun violence. The task force is chaired by state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, and contains 10 Democratic and 10 Republican members.

Harper has advocated a multifaceted approach to reducing gun violence that focuses on empowering communities through economic development and job creation, enacting criminal justice reform that allows law enforcement to focus resources on combating violent crime and providing a trauma-informed response for survivors and families impacted by gun violence.

“For too long our approaches to reducing gun violence have left out the voices of those in communities plagued by violence and the trauma it causes,” Harper said. “As a member of the House Firearm Public Awareness Task Force, I intend to put community voices first and advocate a well-rounded, holistic approach to reducing gun violence that is focused on treating trauma, devoting law enforcement resources to combating violent crime and creating meaningful economic opportunity for communities hurt by gun violence.”

Harper represents the 6th District, which includes all or portions of Armour Square, Bridgeport, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, Back of the Yards, Canaryville, New City, West Englewood, Marquette Park, South Loop and River North.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.– During her first session in the Illinois General Assembly, state Rep. Delia C. Ramirez, D-Chicago, supported numerous progressive reforms aimed at eliminating homelessness, strengthening women’s rights, raising the minimum wage, promoting equality and inclusion for all parents, expanding healthcare, leading in criminal reform with a focus on children whose parents are incarcerated and housing for people with records, and supported the Fair Tax proposals with an emphasis on Property tax relief.

“As the first Guatemalan American serving in the House of Representatives, I fight every day to ensure that my district’s voice is heard and listened to,” said Ramirez. “My background addressing issues of racism and poverty cultivated my desire to ensure Illinois became a leader in reducing homelessness, supporting housing equity and speaking for those who have for too long been ignored.”  

Ramirez spearheaded the Homeless Prevention Act, House Bill 3331, which expands the types of assistance offered to families and help them secure an affordable and permanent home, shorten their time in emergency shelters and ultimately preventing homelessness.

Fighting to provide tax fairness for the middle class, Ramirez supported various efforts to ensure that Illinois develops a robust middle class. Ramirez supported the Fair Tax proposals to provide tax relief for 97% of taxpayers, and property tax credits, and also demand the ultra-rich to pay their fair share. Also, Ramirez chief cosponsored Senate Bill 1 to increase the state’s minimum wage over the next five years to $15 per hour. In her plan, the wage increase law includes tax credits for small and medium-sized businesses, including non-profits, to help offset the cost of additional wages. The overall impact of the wage increase is expected to generate more than $19 billion annually in new economic growth.    

“The Fair Tax Amendment is a step toward our goal for fairer taxes for middle-class families that are being squeezed out of existence in Illinois,” said Ramirez. “My plan will also generate billions in new revenue that will help fund education, job training and critical life-saving services. Alongside tax relief, the minimum wage increase will ensure that working families obtain fair compensation, and help stimulate the state’s economy by generating billions in annual economic activity.” 

While Donald Trump and his extreme allies work to strip away peoples’ health care across the country, Ramirez advocated for women’s rights by supporting Reproductive Health Act (RHA) and those who suffer from pre-existing conditions. Senate Bill 25, establishes that women will always have the right to make their own medical decisions regardless of the extremist efforts by right-wing judges to overturn Roe v. Wade. Ramirez also supported bills that would rein in the high cost of prescription drugs and empower the Department of Insurance to review massive rate increases on health care costs. Those measures, House Bills 156 and 471, will keep health care more accessible and more affordable.

“While women’s rights continue to be under attack by Trump and right-wing extremists, Illinois chose to protect people with pre-existing conditions and trust women to make their own health care decisions,” said Ramirez. “Although these are victories in women’s rights movement, I am clear that we have yet a long way to go in equity and I will never give up my fight for quality health care for everyone.”  

A measure led by Ramirez, House Bill 3711 modernizes our state’s policies and make public restrooms friendlier to families. HB 3711 requires that all restrooms that are open to the public in a public building shall be equipped with baby changing facilities that are safe, sanitary, and usable for all mothers and fathers.

“Reserving baby changing stations to only the women’s restrooms excludes the different types of families and restricts them from a basic service,” said Ramirez. “Social norms are constantly changing, and we must ensure that our public facilities accommodate the needs of all families.”

Ramirez, the vice-chair of adoption and children welfare committee, championed the efforts to create the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents, HB 2649, to create a roadmap to reform policies and safeguard children whose parents are involved in the criminal justice system by making sure children’s rights and best interests are always considered. The task force will review available research, best practices, and effective interventions to develop and propose policy recommendations that reduce trauma and impact on children whose parents are involved with the criminal legal system. Also, Ramirez passed the Child Welfare WorkForce, House Bill 2723, to analyze the pay and workload of child welfare workers to help improve future recruitment and retention in Department of Children and Family Services. 

“After much work and collaboration with state agencies, and community advocates, I was honored to lead the charge in the creation of two decisive taskforces that will help shape policies that address existing obstacles faced by children of incarcerated parents and foster children,” said Ramirez. “Illinois’ future is the children of this state, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that we provide them with the necessary resources for them to succeed because when they succeed, we all succeed.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As technological advancements cause manufacturing to require a more skilled workforce, state Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, passed a measure out of the House that would introduce a new state program aimed at educating underserved students.

“When young people finish high school, the skills that they learned often do not provide as many opportunities for employment without having an advanced degree, keeping good people from find good-paying jobs,” said Flowers. “The point of our public school system is to prepare these young people with the training they need to be successful and clearly the options need to be expanded to fit today’s needs.”

Flowers is the sponsor of House Bill 5062, a bipartisan measure that requires the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to develop and maintain a program aimed at facilitating education in advanced manufacturing technical skills. The bill provides that, beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, the new program should be implemented in at least 12 high schools throughout the state. The goal of the program is to bring disadvantaged students so ISBE must introduce these programs in at least two schools on the south side, two schools on the west side and two in the south suburbs of the City of Chicago, where many underserved students have difficulty finding gainful employment upon graduation.

“If we don’t put resources in place to help young people in our community get the relevant skills to find employment, then we simply aren’t doing our jobs,” said Flowers. “The goal here is to provide pertinent information to reduce unemployment and bring stability to families in communities that have been underserved for far too long.”

House Bill 5062 passed out of the House on Wednesday with bipartisan support. It has been placed on the Senate calendar and is expected to be heard for consideration next week.

State Rep. Mary Flowers represents the 31^st district, which includes portions of the Auburn-Gresham community in Chicago, Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge, Countryside and others. For more information, please contact Rep. Flowers’ constituent service office at 773-471-5200 or email her atmaryeflowers@ilga.gov.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As the nation recently watched in horror as neo-Nazis in Charlottesville VA, inflicted violence against protestors, legislation supported by state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, was signed into law on Tuesday that will increase the penalties against those convicted of committing hate crimes against houses of worship.

“Nazis-sympathizers are not just causing damage in Charlottesville, but in Illinois as well,” said D’Amico. “Our community must both remain a welcoming place for people of all faiths while simultaneously standing up against hate in all forms.”

With more incidents of vandalism and racist graffiti targeting houses of worship throughout Illinois, the D’Amico supported House Bill 2390 allows police and prosecutors to charge criminals who target religious institutions with a hate crime. In order to prevent future crime, those convicted of committing hate crimes must attend in-person educational classes focused on discouraging hate crimes. A judge would also have the flexibility at sentencing in determining fair financial penalties based on the severity of the crime.

“In addition to punishing hate crime offenders swiftly, we need to educate them as to why hatred against certain groups is wrong,” continued D’Amico. “People who would commit such horrible offenses need professional help in changing their ways.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, issued the following statement after Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed his legislation, House Bill 3419, which forbids the state to invest or contract with companies that are avoiding paying state taxes by stashing profits overseas:

“Our state should not be spending any taxpayer dollars on companies that are gaming the system by using intricate, unfair corporate structures to evade paying taxes. The governor’s veto prioritizes millionaire CEOs and corporations, which will do anything to get out of paying their fair share, at the expense of the financial well-being of the state.

“Due to these unfair tax-evasion practices, there is an increased tax burden placed on middle-class families and small-businesses that are playing by the rules. It’s unfortunate that the governor continues to give handouts to his corporate allies, forcing working families in Illinois to pick up the tab.

“I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to stand with law-abiding small-businesses and the middle-class by voting to override Governor Rauner’s veto.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Offering additional funds to cash-strapped Chicago Public Schools (CPS), state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, voted to pass reform that dramatically reshapes education funding in Illinois and creates a fairer, more equitable system to provide support to every public school in the state.

“As a father of two children in CPS schools, I understand the concern that many in our community feel due to the inequitable nature of our state’s school funding formula—a child’s educational opportunities should not be dependent on their zip-code,” Andrade said. “We have the most regressive education funding in the nation. Our current funding formula is overly reliant on local property taxes, causing burdensome taxes on our homes, while also creating a system that is inequitable to lower income areas.”

The Andrade-backed Senate Bill 1 would, for the first time, provide Chicago schools with equitable funding, by increasing state support by $300 million annually. Most importantly, the new formula sends more money to schools with a higher percentage of students in poverty, English language learners and special needs students. Senate Bill 1 accomplishes this without reducing funding for any school in the state.

Currently, the state of Illinois contributes the fourth lowest amount to education of any state, even though the Illinois constitution mandates the state serve as the primary funder of education. As a result, local communities have to make up the state’s short fall in education funding.

Senate Bill 1 passed the House and Senate and currently awaits approval by the governor. In a recent interview Governor Rauner’s Education Secretary, Beth Purvis, was quoted as saying that the governor supports “90 percent” of the proposal.

“Chicago Public Schools are facing the prospect of not being able to open their doors next school year, yet the governor refuses to sign school funding reform that he nearly completely agrees with,” Andrade said. “I urge the governor to come to his senses and support this proposal that will improve the quality of education at schools in our neighborhoods and all across the state.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As part of House Democrats Economic Reform Agenda, state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, recently helped pass legislation cracking down on corporations that ship jobs out of state, reducing fees for small businesses, and lowering taxes for working families.

“I am fed up with large corporations getting sweetheart deals, while small businesses struggle to stay open,” Jones said. “The House Democrats Economic Reform Agenda invests millions of dollars into Illinois’ economy and helps create good-paying jobs in our community.”

Jones’ House Bill 160 is a comprehensive package of economic reforms that includes ideas from both sides of the aisle. His legislation reduces the fees to open small businesses, expands tax credits for working families, and encourages job growth by creating tax incentives for companies who hire new workers. Jones’ measure also cracks down on corporations who ship jobs out of state by forcing outsourcers to pay back every dime they’ve received from Illinois taxpayers.

“This reform package includes ideas from both sides of aisle and is designed to help Illinois recover from the Rauner Budget Crisis by lifting-up middle class families and providing a boost to small businesses,” Jones said. “I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly pass this measure and I encourage the governor to sign it into law, so we can begin moving our state forward.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To protect students and student loan borrowers from predatory lending practices, state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, helped pass legislation that creates a Student Loan “Bill of Rights” in Illinois.

“As a recent college graduate myself, I understand the severe burden that student loans can place on students in Illinois,” Andrade said. “With the cost of college degrees increasing every year, predatory student loan companies have stepped in and begun taking advantage of students. Other industries are regulated to protect consumers and there’s no reason that student loan lenders shouldn’t be as well. This proposal will put in place similar protections to help ensure students are not saddled with unfair loans.”

Andrade sponsored and voted to pass Senate Bill 1351, which in addition to establishing a Student Loan Bill of Rights, also creates a Student Loan Ombudsman within the Office of the Attorney General to assist students with any questions about the loan servicing process. The legislation also allows the Attorney General to enforce provisions that prohibit student loan servicers from engaging in unfair business practices. Finally, the legislation requires that all student loan vendors be licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

“A college education should not condemn students to a lifetime of debt,” Andrade said. “Protecting students from predatory loans will help them not only pursue their academic dreams, but also give a boost to the economy as young people will have more discretionary income and be more likely to purchase a house or start a family.”

CHICAGO – To give parents a greater voice in their children’s education and make Chicago Public Schools (CPS) more accountable, state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, helped pass legislation that would create an elected school board at CPS.

“With CPS facing a serious budget crisis and potentially being forced to end the school year early, it’s obvious that the status quo is not working,” Andrade said. “The last few years we have seen the devastating results of mismanagement at CPS including teacher layoffs, increased class-sizes, and even school closures.”

Andrade voted to pass his legislation, House Bill 1774. His proposal abolishes the unaccountable, mayoral appointed board and replaces it with an elected, 21 member body. During the last municipal election, voters overwhelmingly approved an elected school board with nearly 90 percent of respondents in support of the proposal. The proposed structure of the board would mirror how other Illinois school boards are currently arranged.

“Residents that live in every other school district in the state are able to have a voice in selecting their school board members,” Andrade said. “We should have that same right in Chicago and be able to elect a board that will fight to provide quality educational opportunities for students in our neighborhoods.”

House Bill 1774 passed the full House and is currently awaiting further action in the Senate.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Local employers would receive relief from high workers compensation costs under legislation passed by state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, establishing a non-profit workers’ compensation insurer as an alternative for Illinois businesses tired of paying high premiums to pad corporate profits.

“The reforms that we passed in 2011 have decreased costs and injuries statewide,” D’Amico said. “Yet the majority of the resulting savings were wrestled away from small businesses by corporate insurance companies. These proposals are about leveling the playing field, so that corporate insurance can’t continue to game the system.”

Gov. Bruce Rauner is pushing to further pad corporate profits by demanding changes to workers compensation that will jeopardize the economic security of workers hurt on the job through no fault of their own. D’Amico is working toward reforms that help small and medium-sized employers save money without unfairly harming the families of injured workers.

D’Amico voted for House Bill 2622 which creates a not-for-profit insurance provider that would be able to sell workers’ compensation insurance to businesses throughout the state. The Illinois Employers Mutual Insurance Company can offer the same quality insurance as for-profit companies, but will be committed to delivering the best value for businesses, not turning a profit for investors. The competition will also encourage for-profit insurers to offer lower-cost options for Illinois employers. The non-profit established under this legislation is similar to state-chartered insurance companies in 20 other states, including Missouri, Kentucky, California and Texas.

Additionally, D’Amico supported reforms that require for-profit insurance companies to pass savings from workers’ compensation reform on to Illinois employers. Since Illinois enacted workers’ compensation reforms in 2011, costs, injuries and claims have all dropped significantly, but instead of passing on the savings to businesses, insurance companies are padding their profits. D’Amico voted for House Bill 2525 which gives the Department of Insurance authority to review insurance rates before they become effective and reject those it finds excessive.

“The governor’s approach unduly harms working families, so that he can give a handout to the corporate insurance industry,” D’Amico said. “The savings are there. Our proposal protects working families and makes sure that small and medium-sized businesses receive the savings from the 2011 reform.”

Both House Bill 2622 and House Bill 2525 passed the House and are awaiting further action in the Senate.