Sangamon Sun

Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) is proud a bill that would pull state investments in Russian businesses, while preparing for an influx of Ukrainian refugees passed the House so easily.

“It is good to see that when good legislation can be made better, we can pull it from the record, not take an immediate vote, and come back with an even better bill,” Davidsmeyer said from the House floor. “I hope this will be a lesson to this body on how we can better serve our constituents together. I really appreciate your willingness to pull it from a vote in the exec committee and come back with an amendment that would fix the bill and make it stronger for the Ukrainian people.”

Davidsmeyer was referring to Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago), the chief sponsor of House Bill 1293 in the House. She is joined by 30 colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, as co-sponsors in the House.

In addition to divesting from Russian businesses and providing help for Ukrainian refugees, the bill also creates the Money Laundering in Real Estate Task Force and the Illinois Elections and Infrastructure Integrity Task Force ahead of the 2024 election to prepare for and prevent potential cyberattacks. 

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) told Week 25 she saw Illinoisians’ effort to support Ukraine in the bill.

“This is the work of the people,” Ramirez said. “I want to affirm my support. And on behalf of the community that I get the honor to serve, the Ukrainian village community in Chicago, Illinois, this bill is a good bill.”

House Bill 1293 passed the House on April 5 unanimously with 114 yes votes. It has now moved on to the Senate, where it is sponsored by Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and has been referred to the Senate Assignments Committee.

Week 25 reported state leaders know the bill won’t end the war, but it’s meant to show Illinois stands with Ukraine.

“We’ve all witnessed the horrors taking place in Ukraine at the hands of Vladimir Putin, and his actions continue to threaten democracy around the world,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Westchester) in Week 25. “What the Illinois House passed today won’t stop Putin’s war, but it ensures Illinois is collectively pulling every lever possible to support the Ukrainian people.”