FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION:
June 5, 2013 State Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr
Phone: 773-783-8492
Evans Closes Legislative Session After Passing Health Care Reform and Job Creation Bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –After a long extended session day, State Rep. Marcus C. Evans Jr., D-Chicago, ended the his first full spring session, Friday, after he helped to pass several bills to improve Illinois’ fiscal standing, increase access to health care and protect homeowners.
“As a member of the Appropriations General Services Committee, I worked to ensure an open and transparent process to provide a performance-based budget,” Evans said. “We had to make difficult decisions, but maintaining strong fiscal standing is important to improve our state’s economy. We have to provide a welcoming environment for businesses so that we can help get residents back to work.”
Evans also voted for a second time to cut legislators’ pay, supporting legislation making lawmakers work 12 days without pay and freezing cost of living reimbursements.
Evans helped to pass a bill that would provide new jobs, creating development projects throughout the state, including Chicago and the south suburban region. It includes provisions for the construction of an additional airport in the south suburbs, and allows for upgrades to Navy Pier as well as a new 10,000 seat arena and boutique hotel. Additionally, it invests state funds in the South Suburban Brownfields Redevelopment Zone to encourage job creation and economic renewal.
“Our communities have been terrorized by gun violence, and each day our children are being killed without pause. In order to take back control of our neighborhoods and provide a path to success for our youth we must pass laws that will help to keep them safe and also create new jobs and opportunities for them to be productive citizens. All of these issues are interconnected, and I have served my term fighting for policies to protect our youth, support programs that local families depend on and provide equal access to health care. We have passed landmark legislation that will have lasting impacts on local families and put us in a better position to provide for future generations.
Evans backed a bill to improve school safety by requiring police officers to notify a school when a student has been arrested for gang activity. Evans also co-sponsored a bill to establish a teen dating violence policy for students in grades 7-12, requiring an age-appropriate program for students and procedures for schools to effectively respond to incidents of teen dating violence that take place at the school.
As a cancer survivor, Evans understands the importance of having access to health care. That’s why he co-sponsored Senate Bill 26, providing health coverage to 7,474 uninsured residents in the 33rd District under Medicaid expansion, also adding $83 million in federal funding to the district from 2014-2016 through Medicaid provider payments. Evans also passed an initiative warning parents of the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke and urging parents not to smoke in a vehicle with children under the age of 13.
He also passed a measure to protect unsuspecting homeowners from unlawful practices, increasing penalties for criminals who intentionally file false liens on someone else’s property. He introduced this legislation in response to an increase in complaints of this type of action by the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office. Filing false claims against someone’s property can cost victims thousands of dollars in legal bills and lost opportunities to sell or refinance their homes. This bill increases the criminal penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony and passed with bipartisan support.
Evans also sponsored legislation to honor the brave soldiers that have fought for our freedoms, naming U.S. Route 41 the Purple Heart Trail, and also backed a bill to protect seniors from elder abuse, requiring a 24-hour helpline to report incidents.
Evans plans to return to the 33rd District to continue working with local families on new ideas for the next state legislative session and local initiatives. Evans is hosting a community Shred Day event with the Lynwood Chamber of Commerce on June 22, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Lynwood Senior/Youth Center Building, Behind the Lynwood Village Hall, located at 21460 Lincoln Highway in Lynwood.
Evans represents the 33rd District, which includes parts of Chicago’s 7th, 8th and 10th Wards, as well as parts of suburban Burnham, Calumet City, Lansing, Lynwood and Sauk Village. For more information, please contact Evans’ full time constituent service office at (773) 783-8492, e-mail repevans33@gmail.com or go to www.staterepevans33.com.