Congresswoman Kelly Joins Governor to Urge General Assembly to Pass Illinois Public Safety Act and Take a Stand Against the Violence

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn, joined by Congresswoman Robin Kelly, today visited the site a recent fatal shooting in Chicago's Morgan Park neighborhood to urge legislators to stand with families and communities and take action against gun violence. The Governor pushed passage of the Illinois Public Safety Act, legislation that would ban the sale or delivery of assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois and require background checks for the transfer of guns. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to make Illinois neighborhoods safer.

"The recent epidemic of violence in Chicago is unacceptable and we must join together to fight back," Governor Quinn said. "Public safety is government's foremost mission and Illinois should not wait any longer to act. There are too many victims of a war being waged on our streets, a war fueled in part by the availability of deadly, military-style assault weapons that have no purpose other than killing.

"We must work together to protect the lives of those we love and stop what's happening in our communities. I urge the Illinois General Assembly to take a stand and pass this legislation that will save lives and protect communities."

The Governor today was joined by Congresswoman Robin Kelly who recently released the Kelly Report on Gun Violence in America, the first-ever Congressional analysis of the nation's gun violence epidemic that offers a blueprint for ending the crisis.

Senate Bill 3659 - the Illinois Public Safety Act - was introduced during the recent spring Legislative session by State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) and supported by Governor Quinn. It bans the possession, delivery, sale and purchase of assault weapons, large capacity ammunition feeding devices such as magazines or clips, and .50 caliber rifles and cartridges in Illinois. Valid Firearms Owners Identification Card (FOID) holders who possess any of these devices at the time the law is enacted would be allowed to keep them, but could not transfer or sell them except to a family member. The legislation also requires background checks for the transfer of firearms except to a family member or at a gun show.

A review of mass shootings between January 2009 and January 2013 by Mayors Against Illegal Guns found that incidents where assault weapons or large capacity ammunition magazines were used resulted in 135% more people shot and 57% more killed, compared to other mass shootings.

"This is a common-sense solution to preventing gun violence and keeping our children and families safe," Senator Kotowski said. "This measure will protect our communities by ensuring that military-style assault weapons are off the streets and out of hands of criminals."

Governor Quinn has long fought to protect Illinois neighborhoods from gun violence. He signed legislation in 2013 that increases penalties on gun owners who don't report the theft or loss of a weapon. This major legislation was a key priority in the Governor's 2013 State of the State address. He also signed a law in 2011 to increase penalties for convicted felons who are found carrying guns - this helps fight gun crime in Illinois by ensuring that felons who are convicted of new weapons offenses will be sent to prison and not allowed to walk the streets of Illinois. Governor Quinn also signed a law in 2009 establishing mandatory prison time for gang members convicted of possessing a loaded gun in a public area.

Seven states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws banning assault weapons: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. In addition, Minnesota and Virginia regulate assault weapons.

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Signs New Laws in Washington and Gifford to Help Communities Recover From Disasters

WASHINGTON - Governor Pat Quinn today announced $11.6 million in state relief to help Illinois local governments recover from the deadly November 2013 tornadoes. The assistance is part of $45 million multi-agency relief package assembled earlier this year at the Governor's direction following the denial of the state's appeal for federal disaster assistance for local governments. Governor Quinn also today signed three new laws in the tornado-damaged communities of Washington and Gifford that will help Illinois communities recover from disasters.

Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure the safety of people in every community across Illinois.

"Illinois has faced a record number of natural disasters in recent years, but we are committed to helping each and every community get back on its feet," Governor Quinn said. "The disaster donation, insurance adjustment and small business recovery laws I'm signing today will help ease the disaster recovery process for communities now and in the future. I thank every first responder and volunteer who donated their time, material and funds to assist with recovery efforts statewide."

The $11.6 million state relief comes from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). The IDOT funds help communities repair storm-damaged infrastructure. IEMA assistance helps municipalities pay for costs already incurred for items such as debris removal, emergency protective measures and overtime payments. The communities applied for the funds, and to date all eligible requests for assistance have been approved. Some of the communities receiving tornado recovery funds include :

·         City of Washington, $7,685,593; Community High School, $6,769; Township Road District, $11,568; Park District, $20,877

·         Village of Gifford, $379,295

·         Brookport, $1,803,334; Massac County, $31,399

·         City of Pekin, $115,666

·         Diamond, $441,853

·         Coal City, $446,096

·         East Peoria, $268,393

·         Compromise Township, Champaign County, $185,130

Numerous other municipalities are receiving disaster recovery funding in addition to those listed.

"We want to thank Governor Quinn for this first set of payments from the State Tornado Relief," Washington Mayor Gary Manier said. "The approval of the entire City of Washington submission to IDOT is greatly appreciated and allows us to take yet another step toward recovery."

"I can't thank Governor Quinn and his agency directors enough for all they've done for us in Brookport to help us recover from the tornado," Brookport Mayor Pro Tem Tom Souders said.

When certain federal disaster recovery assistance for local governments was denied, Governor Quinn directed state agencies to assemble a $45 million relief package for Illinois communities devastated by the November 2013 tornadoes. Visit Ready.Illinois.gov for more information.

Governor Quinn today also signed three new laws related to disaster recovery:

House Bill 4590, sponsored by State Representative Chad Hays (R-Catlin) and State Senator William Brady (R-Bloomington), creates the Illinois Gives Initiative that allows current and retired state employees to donate a portion of their paycheck or annuity to Illinois chapters of the American Red Cross whose territories are affected by disasters. The law is effective immediately.

Senate Bill 2922, sponsored by State Senator William Haine (D-Alton) and State Representative Dan Beiser (D-Alton), sets a limit of 10 percent on the amount of compensation an insurance adjuster may receive when representing a consumer in a claim resulting from a disaster. The law is effective Jan. 1, 2015.

Senate Bill 3259, sponsored by State Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign) and State Representative Chad Hays (R-Catlin), protects small businesses that rebuild after being affected by a disaster. The law slowly phases in property taxes over a 15-year period to prevent an immediate tax hike on the repaired or rebuilt business property. The new law is effective immediately.

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Borggren Has Served as Veterans Affairs Director Since 2011; Rodrigo Garcia to Lead IDVA

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today appointed Erica Borggren as Acting Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). An Illinois native and Army veteran, Borggren has served as Director of the Illinois Department of Illinois Veterans Affairs (IDVA) since 2011.

"Erica Borggren is a proven leader who has served our state and nation with excellence and integrity," Governor Quinn said. "From graduating first in her class at West Point, to serving as an outstanding military officer and successfully leading large organizations, I am confident she will be an exceptional Transportation Secretary. I also thank Ann Schneider for her years of hard work and dedication and wish her well."

As Director of IDVA, Borggren managed a 1,300-person staff dedicated to serving veterans. During her tenure, IDVA has partnered with public and private partners to launch a veteran entrepreneurship program, a women veterans' program and an interagency effort to make military training count toward state licenses.

Borggren designed and now spearheads Illinois Joining Forces, a public-private network of more than 150 organizations committed to collaborate towards making the "sea of goodwill" more navigable for Illinois veterans, servicemembers and their families. For this work, she was honored as a White House "Champion of Change" earlier this year. In 2013, Borggren was selected as a Leadership Greater Chicago fellow and was also appointed to serve as the Secretary of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.

Prior to leading IDVA, Borggren served as a senior staff member for Army Gen. David H. Petraeus during his time as Commanding General of Multi-National Force - Iraq and as head of United States Central Command throughout the Middle East. For her service in these missions, Borggren was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Bronze Star as well as the Joint Service Achievement and Iraq Campaign Medals. She returned home to Illinois from the Middle East in 2009.

"I am deeply honored to have been asked by Governor Quinn to lead the state's transportation mission," Borggren said. "I look forward to serving with the IDOT team to maintain and build Illinois' world-class infrastructure, which will create more jobs and drive economic growth for years to come."

Prior to her time in the Middle East, Borggren served in the United States Army Medical Service Corps in Yongsan, South Korea, rising as an officer in the 18th Medical Command to a Company Commander at the 121 Combat Support Hospital, for which she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

A Rhodes Scholar, Truman Scholar and the valedictorian of her West Point class, Borggren holds postgraduate degrees in comparative social policy and theology from Oxford University. Borggren was raised in Crystal Lake and she now resides in Chicago with her husband, Erik, and their children.

Borggren's appointment is effective July 11.

Governor Quinn also today announced IDVA Assistant Director Rodrigo Garcia will become Acting Director of the department. A Chicago native and Marine Corps veteran, Garcia served overseas on three separate tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning multiple decorations. He holds an undergraduate degree in finance from Northeastern Illinois University and two post-graduate degrees, one in finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the other in public policy from Northwestern University. Recently, Garcia completed a senior executives program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

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CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today issued the following statement on the anniversary of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the landmark law on June 25, 1938, which banned oppressive child labor, set a maximum hourly workweek and established the nation's first minimum wage at 25 cents an hour. If the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation, it would be at $10.75 today.

"When President Roosevelt signed the Wages and Hours Bill into law, he gave workers benefits and protections that no other country had seen before, and put Americans on a path toward a fair standard of living.

"What was landmark legislation then is common-sense today. We know that children shouldn't be abused and forced to work. We know there should be limits on how many hours a week someone works. And we know that no one should work 40 hours a week and live in poverty.

"If the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation it would be $10.75 today. Raising the minimum wage is good for workers and good for growth. It puts purchasing power back into the hands of hardworking Americans, helps reduce poverty and strengthens the economy.

"As we work to build a majority to raise the minimum wage in Illinois, let's remember this is about dignity and decency.

"The hardworking people of our state deserve the opportunity to earn a decent living. Building an economy that works for everyone makes our state stronger and more competitive, not the other way around."

Governor Quinn first proposed raising the minimum wage to at least $10 an hour in his 2013 State of the State address. Studies conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago show that an increase of $1 in the minimum wage generates approximately $3,000 in household spending per year, greatly improving purchasing power and strengthening our economy. Six out of every 10 minimum wage workers are female, including many single parents. Additionally, nearly two-thirds of small business owners support raising the federal minimum wage because they believe it will help the economy and in turn enable them to hire more workers, according to a recent survey conducted by the Small Business Majority.

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