After recent news stories surfaced about alleged sexual abuse of foster children in the care of Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center in Chicago, State Representative Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) issued the following statement:

In this latest episode of our Have All Voted Who Wish podcast, we hear from Illinois State Representative Jed Davis. 

Representative Davis talks about his first term in the Illinois General Assembly and how he is laser-focused on keeping kids safe. This session he introduced a legislative package of bills crafted to provide greater protections for children. 

Rep. Jed Davis' protecting children legislative package includes the following bills:

On March 12 of this year House Republican members introduced the "Protect our Children" initiative, a package of legislation designed to keep children and families safe from gang and gun violence.

Yesterday, Illinois State Representative Jim Durkin passed out of the House of Representatives, HB3009 a piece of legislation from that package. His legislation increases the criminal penalties for gang recruitment and changes the current requirements for proving coercion and physical force, making it easier to convict gang recruiters.

“In order to address the root of the problem and deter gang recruitment, we must be able to prosecute those who are poisoning our streets and killing innocent kids,” said Durkin. “A zero tolerance attitude on gang violence must be in place and this bill is a step forward.”

 The bill now moves to the Senate for further debate.