BILLS UNDER THE 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AMMONS FIGHTS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST NUCLEAR WAR
With the safety of families in the United States being a top priority in trying political times, Rep. Ammons is fighting to ensure that the U.S will not be the first to use nuclear weapons. She wants to prevent the U.S from using nuclear weapons in response to non-nuclear attacks and to keep families safe.
AMMONS IS PUSHING FOR GENDER EQUALITY
Rep. Ammons believes that local government not alienate people based on gender. That is why sponsored House Bill 2252, which would adjust the Counties Code to make all references to the county clerk be gender neutral.
AMMONS IS FIGHTING FOR EQUITY IN MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION
Rep. Ammons knows that low-income communities of color have been hurt the most from prosecution for non-violent drug crimes. That is why she is sponsoring the Cannabis Legalization Equity Act to ensure that communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs benefit the most from the legalization of marijuana. This act would require at least 51% of the licenses issued by the Department of Agriculture for cannabis cultivation facilities and at least 51% of the licenses issued by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for retail cannabis stores be in communities disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs.
AMMONS IS ADVOCATING FOR ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE WITHIN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
Rep. Ammons believes that everyone has a right to basic healthcare. That is why when she found that inmates often could not afford the copay of necessary medical procedures, she was outraged. That is why she is sponsoring [BILL NUMBER]. She wants inmates to receive the proper health service without having to pay any co-payment to ensure that inmate health is a priority within the system.
AMMONS IS PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WITH STUDENT LOANS
By creating grant programs, Rep. Ammons hopes to reduce the cost of student loans. Higher education is important to Rep. Ammons and she wants to reduce the amount of loans students have to take on in order to graduate. The Illinois Student Loan Investment Act would allow the State Treasurer to invest up to 5% of the State Investment Portfolio into education loan products such as student loans or income-sharing agreements and provide relief to struggling college students and graduates.
AMMONS IS BRINGING EQUALITY TO THE ELECTION PROCESS
With millions of dollars being spent by big-name corporations and special interests on elections in our state, Rep. Ammons believes that the voices of everyday people are being ignored by some politicians. That is why she is sponsoring HB 1446. This measure would remove provisions of the Election Code that allows for candidates to accept contributions in excess of the State statutory contribution limit when either that candidate or another for the same office at the same election receives contributions or benefits from expenditures in excess of the statutory cap. This is colloquially known as “blowing the caps” in a race and is one reason special interests continue to control politics in our state.
BILLS UNDER THE 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AMMONS IS DEMANDING A BALANCED BUDGET AND HOLDING POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR SPENDING.
When Governor Rauner’s budget crisis tripled the state debt and incurred more than $1 billion in late payment penalties, Ammons worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass a new law that will require the administration to follow transparent, commonsense accounting practices so taxpayers know how their money is being spent.
AMMONS IS STANDING UP TO THE NRA AND DEMANDING STRONGER GUN SAFETY LAWS
Ammons fought to crack down on deadly military-assault rifles, ban bump stock modifications that turn semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic firearms, and hold gun dealers accountable to ensure dangerous criminals and those with a history of mental illness or domestic violence cannot obtain guns.
AMMONS IS FIGHTING FOR A FAIRER JUSTICE SYSTEM FOCUSED ON REHABILITATION
She worked to ensure that inmates will be allowed visitation from loved ones, and is fighting to provide young people with a second chance by prohibiting universities from inquiring about students’ past criminal histories.
AMMONS IS OUTRAGED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S TAX PLAN RAISES TAXES ON MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES IN ILLINOIS
The proposed tax plan intends to hand out big tax cuts to billionaires, like Trump, and other big corporations. Ammons is fighting to help working families keep more of what they earn while making the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share by working to pass a plan that protects middle-class families from the Trump tax.
AMMONS KNOWS WE NEED TO DO MORE TO END WORKPLACE HARASSMENT
When it came to light that some politicians were making our State Capitol a toxic atmosphere for women, Ammons passed a new law requiring independent investigations of all incidents and tough financial penalties on those who commit harassment.
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PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT
Representative Ammons is a passionate defender of the Environment and has a 100% rating from the Illinois Environment Council. Making sure we care for our environment is also critical for keeping our community healthy. Ammons sponsored House Bill 1326, which prevented manufacturers from polluting near the Mahomet Aquifer, the primary source of fresh water in the Champaign-Urbana area. Over 750,000 people use the Aquifer for drinking water everyday, and protecting it from harmful pollutants has kept thousands safe. House Bill 1326 has been signed into law.
PROVIDING CRITICAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Representative Ammons understands navigating the healthcare system is a daunting change for many hard-working families. That is why she sponsored House Bill 6213, a bill that reduces the information gap Medicaid consumers experience when selecting a Medicaid Managed Care Plan. Under it, all directories, medications lists, and formularies are updated so they are clear and easy to read. House Bill 6213 passed both the House and the Senate and awaits action from the Governor.
TAX ON MULTI-MILLIONAIRES TO HELP SCHOOLS
In 2014, area residents overwhelmingly supported a millionaires’ tax to improve funding for local schools. Ammons knows that too many of our local schools struggle to make ends meet and give our students the education they deserve. She sponsored House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 26, a plan that would increase funding for our schools by requiring millionaires – the majority of whom live in Chicago and the wealthy Chicago suburbs – to pay more to help our students.
ENDING UNFAIR CHARGES FOR PRISON PHONE CALLS
Representative Ammons believes when a person has been incarcerated, the connections to their family and support system are some of the greatest tools to recovery. In Illinois, prison phone calls are among the highest in the nation and include a commission for the state. Ammons sponsored legislation to cap the amount a person can be charged for a prison phone call, eliminating the state’s commission and preventing the state from taking advantage of some of the poorest residents. House Bill 6200 passed the General Assembly.
CREATING JOBS THROUGH CLEAN ENERGY
The price of energy continues to increase, so it’s important to think long-term and create sustainable energy solutions that will keep energy prices low for decades to come. Working with business, labor and environmental groups, Ammons is supporting a comprehensive proposal, House Bill 2607, calling for improved renewable energy standards and the creation of clean jobs throughout Illinois. Her legislation will expand the use of renewable energy and increase energy efficiency, which will help improve our environment while creating new, green jobs. The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition’s initiative has the potential to create tens of thousands of jobs in Illinois, while saving consumers money and creating a more sustainable energy portfolio.
CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL FIREARM SALES
Ammons knows that stopping the flow of illegal firearms is essential to preventing violence in our communities. That’s why she supported bipartisan legislation to crack down on criminals who illegally smuggle weapons into Illinois. The bill states that unlicensed gun owners who bring firearms or ammunition into the state in an attempt to sell their weapons will face tough, mandatory sentences of up to 30 years in prison. House Bill 6303 passed the General Assembly.
INCREASING VOTER PARTICIPATION
Ammons believes that while our state is growing more diverse, many communities have been historically under-represented at the polls. Because she knows the best way to make effective change in our government is to vote, she sponsored a measure that would modernize voter registration and allow eligible people to register to vote at state agencies while doing other state related tasks, such as renewing a driver’s license. This effort will be able to close the gap of more than 2 million unregistered voters and increase participation in the civic process. Senate Bill 250 passed the both the House and Senate and awaits action from the Governor.
ENSURING QUALITY CHILD CARE
When children in Illinois are being cared for, it is important that child care professionals receive standardized training to keep young people safe. To help ensure child care providers receive the most up to date guidance, Ammons sponsored a measure that would guarantee child care providers who receive state funds are paid $15 per hour for any mandated trainings and orientation. Senate Bill 2536 passed the General Assembly.