Republican St. Rep Tom Demmer of Dixon is sponsoring bills that will provide additional funding to aid in the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees. Demmer says this is a part of an effort from public and private entities to put economic pressure on Russia for the unprovoked attack.
But he also says we need to think about the humanitarian effort. Says the bills would add $40 million dollars over the next two years to help support aid.
He says he hopes the efforts in the Illinois house will make it clear to the Biden Administration that the US is ready to accept Ukrainian refugees on a larger scale. He says the bills would ensure the availability of mental health counseling and orientation services to help refugees adapt to American life.
This is the entire speech made by Demmer:
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin has also sponsored a two bills that will prevent the state from investing public funds in any investment instrument that is based in or tied to Russia. They would also require the state’s five pension funds to divest from any holdings in Russian companies.