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Expanding Opportunities for Jobs |
·Introduced and passed the State Employment Application Act (HB 1332 – 95th GA) through House and Senate stipulating that an application for state employment may not ask if the applicant had been convicted of a non-violent criminal offense. Vetoed by the governor, no veto override; similar legislation introduced in the 96th and 97th General Assemblies
·Introduced legislation that was signed into law creating the African American Employment Plan Act to: (1) improve the delivery of State services to Illinois’ African Americans; (2) increase the number of African Americans who are employed throughout State government and who are promoted; (3) assist State agencies in meeting goals established by the African American Employment Plan; and (4) establish an African American Employment Plan Advisory Council (Public Act 096-1341)
·Sponsors yearly Career Fairs linking thousands of job seekers with potential employers; partnered with State of Illinois Central Management Services, Chicago Urban League, Malcolm X College and others to host thousands of job seekers and more than 80 employers/vendors
·Sponsored a Parent Resource Day and Career Fair at Michele Clark High School to offer resources for families looking for work and interested in helping their children in school
·Hosted a Town Hall meeting to discuss the Eisenhower Expressway expansion and job opportunities through the Illinois Department of Transportation
·Holds workshops to teach how to write successful grant applications
·Partnered with Bethel New Life to host workshop on How to Effectively Manage an Office
·Teams with YWCA to hold Workshops in Economic Empowerment, especially for women
·Organized Job Intake Fairs in conjunction with Illinois Department of Employment Security at 5 Chicagoland locations for Vehicle Assembler jobs at Ford Motor Company
·Sends daily Workforce Development emails with at least 20 pages of job leads to thousands of subscribers
·Named Chair of the House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee in the 97th General Assembly
Improving Health
·Introduced landmark legislation that became law which makes it easier and less intrusive for patients to be routinely tested for HIV in health care settings while preserving the rights of those being tested (Public Act 095-0007)
·Introduced and passed House Resolution 0065 (96th GA) urging the Department of Public Health to establish a comprehensive plan to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS by the year 2010
·Discussed public policy issues with experts at 2008 International AIDS Conference, Mexico City
·Introduced legislation that became law establishing the Farmers’ Market Technology Improvement Program Act, which helps people use their LINK cards (Food Stamps) at Farmers’ Markets (Public Act 096-1088)
·Chief House Sponsor for successful legislation that amends the Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act to establish an electronic database to facilitate the purchase of fresh produce and food products by schools (Public Act 096-1095)
·Chief House Sponsor for legislation that became law requiring the State Board of Education to develop and maintain a nutrition and physical activity best practices database (Public Act 096-1223)
·Chief House Sponsor for legislation that became law requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish the Long Term Acute Care Hospital Quality Improvement Transfer Program, to improve quality in hospitals (Public Act 096-1130)
·Introduced legislation that became law establishing the Lupus Education and Awareness Program within the Illinois Department of Public Health (Public Act 096-1108)
·Introduced legislation (97th GA – HB0204) to update state statutes so the most up to date supplemental testing is done to confirm a preliminary positive HIV test – passed by the House and the Senate, sent to Governor
·Introduced legislation (97th GA – HB0299) so all CD-4 counts and HIV viral loads are reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health to improve the care of patients with HIV – passed by the House and the Senate, sent to the Governor
·Introduced legislation (97th GA – HB1600) to ban trans fats in foods served by food facilities – passed the House, defeated in the Senate
·Leader in the successful fight to continue state funding to support University of Illinois-Chicago Sickle Cell Anemia Clinic
·Early in the debate about national health care reform, introduced and passed House Resolution 0565 (96th GA) urging the President and Congress to enact comprehensive health care reform
·Went to Washington, D.C. in July 2009 to lobby Illinois’ congressional delegation to advance health care reform efforts
·Since 2008, on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, has sponsored the Family Health Challenge honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for elementary and junior high students in efforts to combat childhood obesity – more than 400 students participate. Has been held in Chicago, Berwyn and Oak Park.
·Sponsors community health fairs in conjunction with Circle Family HealthCare Network, Concerned Organization Who Cares, and local aldermen
·Sponsored “What’s Killing Us?” Community Health Fair during Black History Month in association with American Heart Association, Circle Family Health Care Network, Loretto Hospital, TACTS, Black Nurses Association, American Cancer Society, ChildServ, Chicago Department of Health, and IDPH
·Promoted Healthy Eating as part of Black History Month at a local grocery store, Leamington Foods
·Sponsors blood drives in Chicago, Oak Park and Berwyn, partnering with LifeSource, St. Martin de Porres Church, the Southeast Oak Park Community Organization, and the Combined Veterans of Berwyn
·Sponsors Austin Holiday Food Drive, collecting 10,000 items for local food pantries in 2010
·Member of Community Action Team for Healthier Kids (CATH-K), a coalition of 20 organizations working to decrease childhood obesity in Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park
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Improving Education |
·Introduced idea in May 2006 to locate a new comprehensive High School for the Austin community in Chicago at former Brach’s candy company site
· Initiated efforts to place a referendum on the ballot urging the construction of a new comprehensive Austin High School
· Introduced and passed House Resolution 0056 (96th GA) urging the State Board of Education to establish a comprehensive plan to close the student achievement gap by the 2010-2011 school year
· Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law authorizing school districts to purchase electronic textbooks, instructional materials, and the technological equipment necessary to support the use of electronic textbooks from publishers and manufacturers (Public Act 096-1403)
· Introduced legislation (97th GA – HB0139) that provides for a remedial summer school program emphasizing reading and mathematics for students performing below grade level for two consecutive years – passed by the House and the Senate, sent to the Governor
· Hosted Town Hall meeting on Early Childhood Education in Berwyn
· Held Hearings of State of Illinois House of Representatives Sub-committee on Education in the Eighth District to improve education in the Eighth District – Chicago and Oak Park
· Chair of Subcommittee Hearing of the House Appropriations-Elementary and Secondary Education Committee at Bethel New Life
· Sponsor of Education Summits in Austin and Oak Park to discuss education improvement
· Hosted public hearing on Renaissance 2010 at previous Austin High School
· Principal for a Day at Spencer Math and Science Academy and at George Rogers Clark Elementary School
· Commencement Speaker, Michele Clark Academic Prep. High School
· Commencement Speaker, Paul Simon Job Corps Center
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Promoting Small Businesses |
· Introduced legislation that became law establishing a micro-loan program for qualified ex-offenders who are establishing their own businesses (Public Act 096-0656)
· Introduced and passed House Resolution 1652 (96th GA) urging Congress to establish a small business recession rescue task force
· Introduced House Resolution 0576 (96th GA) calling on Congress to support community banks that were greatly affected by the economic downturn but had not yet received any rescue funds
· Introduced legislation (97th GA – HB3186) providing that not less than 10% of state contracts be awarded to small businesses; passed the House and the Senate, sent to the Governor
· Named Chair of the House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee of the 97th General Assembly
· Formed State Representative La Shawn K. Ford’s Business Growth and Creation Committee, with the mission of promoting economic vitality, by providing advice, training, resources, and research to entrepreneurs and existing businesses, with the vision of increasing the number of strong small businesses and creating more job opportunities
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Securing Housing and Preventing Foreclosures |
· Introduced legislation that became law providing that a defaulting homeowner be notified by mail that they have the right to remain in their home for 30 days after the entry of the order of possession (Public Act 095-0826)
· Introduced legislation that became law requiring the name and contact information of the holder of foreclosed property be recorded and available to the public (Public Act 096-0110)
· Introduced legislation that became law making it illegal for condo associations to disapprove a sale of a condo unit if the buyer uses financing guaranteed by the FHA (Public Act 096-0228)
· Introduced legislation that became law increasing the penalties for anyone falsely posing as a landlord and obtaining rent or security deposits (Public Act 096-0496)
· In November 2008, introduced and passed House Resolution 1276 (96th GA) urging Congress to enact a 2-year moratorium on interest rate reset increases under sub-prime adjustable rate mortgage home loans
· Introduced legislation (97th GA – HB0092) providing that appraisers of residential properties would have to exclude the sales prices of foreclosed properties for 12 months after the date of the sale when an appraisal is being prepared – Re-referred to Rules Committee
· Introduced resolution (97th GA – HR0045) urging the U.S. Congress to help prevent residential foreclosures
· Sponsored Foreclosure Town Hall Meeting by being the Chair of Congressman Danny K. Davis’ Advisory Committee on Foreclosures
· Moderator of Summit on the Foreclosure Crisis at Congressman Danny K Davis’ State of the District Meeting
· Sponsor of Homeowner Outreach Days, Malcolm X College
· Is a leader in advocating for funding for affordable housing in Illinois
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Supporting our Troops and Veterans |
· Introduced and passed House Resolution 0622 (95th GA) urging the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to allow free mailing of letters and packages to combat troops
· Joined to support the Combined Veterans of Berwyn and spoke at Flag Day celebration, Proska Park, Berwyn
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Safegaurding our Environment |
· Sponsored legislation (HB6342 – 95th GA) providing tax credits for those who use mass transit
· Sponsored legislation (Public Act 95-0104) that increases energy conservation in State of Illinois buildings
· Teamed with Bethel New Life to host a CEDA Energy Fair to spread information about energy conservation and reducing heating bills
· Leader in the fight to declare those areas affected by the July 2010 floods as disaster areas, and assisted residents to apply for aid by teaming with schools to open their computer labs to the public
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Budget Deficit |
· Introduced House Joint Resolution 0083 (96th GA) establishing the State Financial Crisis Task Force within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to address means of cutting costs and obtaining more revenue
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Increasing Public Safety and Decreasing Violence in our Communities |
· Introduced legislation that became law prohibiting tinted front windshields and front side windows on cars (Public Act 096-0530)
· Proposed using the Illinois National Guard to work with other law enforcement agencies to combat violence in Chicago
· Proposed increased funding for police in high violence areas (HR1208- 96th GA)
· Hosted Summit on Violence Prevention at John Hay Community Academy in Chicago
· Organized and hosted First Day of Summer Day of Mourning to honor children who had died in the community, and works with community groups to reduce gun violence
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Imporving of Community Life |
· Sponsored legislation that became law that established the Council on Responsible Fatherhood, which aims to support fathers and help them to become more responsible (Public Act 095-0960)
· Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law amending the Illinois Parentage Act so paternity testing is done using the most modern DNA testing methods (Public Act 096-1074)
· Supporter for the completion of Maze Library, Oak Park
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Social Justice |
· Introduced successful legislation stating the State of Illinois ratifies the agreement among the states to elect the President by National Popular Vote, to ensure that the candidate with the most votes is elected President of the United States (Public Act 095-0714)
· Introduced and passed House Resolution HR 0909 (95th GA) which urges Congress to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make all its provisions permanent
· Introduced successful legislation designating each March 25 as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (Public Act 096-0930)
· Authored and passed a House Resolution 0468 (96th GA) with bipartisan sponsorship urging that social justice be the guiding principle in decision making in the House of Representatives
· Chief House Co-Sponsor of SB2271 (97th GA) creates the Racial and Ethnic Impact Research Task Force to determine a practical method for the standardized collection and analysis of data on the racial and ethnic identity of arrestees by State and local law enforcement agencies.; passed the House and the Senate, sent to the Governor
· Speaker at Berwyn Flag Day Celebration
· Parade Marshal and Speaker at 4th of July Parade, North Riverside
· Conducted Redistricting Bootcamp as legislative boundaries were redrawn, working with the Lawndale Alliance, other community-based organizations and other elected officials
