Jan's Plans & Pans - May 16, 2023

The United States is now on track to set a record in 2023 for mass killings. Just last week, a neo-Nazi with an arsenal of firearms killed eight people and wounded seven others at a Dallas-area shopping mall. These tragic mass shootings are in addition to the everyday shootings that we continue to see. We need action now. As a proud member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I have had conversations with my Republicans to see if there is anything at all they could agree to. We need universal background checks, a ban on assault weapons, and so much more. We are not giving up, and neither are the advocates all across the country.

For nearly one year, the City of Chicago has sheltered and provided resources for thousands of immigrants sent to our community as part of a dehumanizing political stunt orchestrated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. We are a nation of immigrants. Illinois prides itself on being a welcoming state, but we need more resources. I am appreciative that Chicago received $5.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Emergency Funding Shelter Program in 2022, but the city has spent $75 million on resources for migrants overall. I am joining my colleagues in calling on FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security to ensure Chicago receives the resources necessary to care for these migrants.