Washington, D.C.  - Congressman Dave Loebsack today announced that the Calamus Volunteer Fire Department will receive $67,678 in funding from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program.

"Our firefighters and first responders stand ready to serve us the moment disaster strikes," said Loebsack.  "This funding will ensure that they are able to secure the resources and training they need to respond quickly to emergencies and keep our families and communities safe."

The AFG program allows our first responders to purchase firefighting equipment, implement wellness programs that focus on health, and improve facilities. Funds can be used for a myriad of needs, including new protective equipment, health and safety modifications to stations and training for emergency personnel.

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

Bill No.: HB 494

An Act Concerning: Education

Places a one-year moratorium on the establishment of virtual charter schools in all school districts except Chicago, and requires the State Charter School Commission to submit a report on virtual schooling by March 1, 2014.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

DES MOINES - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that his staff will visit all 99 Iowa counties this summer to discuss polices and collect ideas for increasing economic security in America.  The tour will center on four themes central to Senator Harkin's Chairmanship of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee: retirement security, paid sick leave, rebuilding American manufacturing, and increasing the minimum wage.  The "mobile office" tour begins June 6, 2013 in Indianola, Iowa.

"Congress has the ability through meaningful policies to improve economic security for working families in Iowa and across the country," said Harkin. "Throughout the summer, my staff will visit each county and talk to Iowans about the ideas I am promoting to shore up retirement security, rebuild our manufacturing base, and ensure workers have access to paid sick leave and to a fair wage.  I hope that Iowans will attend these events and share their ideas for policies that would help their families."

Senator Harkin, as Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has introduced four initiatives his staff will discuss during the tour:

Real Retirement Security: The Universal, Secure, and Adaptable ("USA") Retirement Fund. USA Retirement Funds combine the advantages of traditional pensions - e.g., lifetime income benefits and pooled, professional management - with the portability and ease for employers of a 401(k).  That will give middle class families the opportunity to earn secure retirement benefit that they take with them as they change jobs and that they cannot outlive.  Importantly, USA Retirement Funds also make it simple for employers to offer a benefit without having to take on all of the risk and administrative burden.

Allowing Workers to Earn Paid Sick Leave: The Healthy Families Act. The proposal would allow workers to earn up to 56 hours (7 days) of paid sick time per year, by earning 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Workers can use this time to stay home and get well when they are ill, to care for a sick family member, to obtain preventative or diagnostic treatment, or to seek help if they are victims of domestic violence.

Raising the Federal Minimum Wage: The Fair Minimum Wage Act. The proposal would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour from its current $7.25?in three steps of 95 cents?then provide for automatic annual increases linked to changes in the cost of living. The bill would also gradually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers?which currently stands at just $2.13 an hour?for the first time in more than 20 years, to 70 percent of the regular minimum wage.

Bolstering American Manufacturing: The Rebuilding American Manufacturing Act of 2013. The proposal requires the President to establish a National Manufacturing Strategy to better utilize existing federal resources and effectively support American manufacturing.  Senator Harkin also supports President Obama's call to create a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, a public-private partnership to help manufacturing companies innovate, create new products, and improve the manufacturing process.

Each summer, Senator Harkin's staff visits each Iowa County to talk to Iowans about the issues impacting them and their families.  Staff will then post information on their visits on Senator Harkin's web site (http://harkin.senate.gov/)

A full list of events for this year's tour is still coming together, but all events will be advised to media by county.

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New Legislation Introduced Friday Bans the Sale of High-Capacity Ammunition Magazines in Illinois

CHICAGO - Parents who suffered unfathomable loss during the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., today joined Governor Pat Quinn, Senate President John Cullerton and Senator Dan Kotowski to urge lawmakers to ban the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois. Recent shootings such as in Newtown, where a gunman fired 154 bullets in less than five minutes, have put a spotlight on the extreme and unnecessary danger posed by high-capacity magazines. To enact safeguards in Illinois, Sen. Kotowski on Friday filed legislation - Senate Bill 1002 - to ban the sale of these weapons throughout the state.

"No family should go through what the families of Newtown have endured," Governor Quinn said. "While there are no words in the English language to comfort their loss, as elected officials, we are in a position to do something about it to help save lives in the future. Banning the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines is common-sense public safety policy that will have no impact on hunting or sport. This legislation will help minimize the risk of violence in our communities, and better protect our children and loved ones."

Nicole Hockley, Mark Barden and Francine Wheeler each lost a child in the unthinkable tragedy that occurred in Newtown, and they stand with Governor Quinn to push for common-sense gun laws in Illinois.

"In the days and weeks since tragedy from gun violence rocked our community on December 14, we have been comforted by the outpouring of kindness and support from individuals and families from every state, including the good people of Illinois," said Nicole Hockley, mother of Dylan, age 6, who was killed at Sandy Hook. "We are here in Illinois to provide our perspective and our support, meeting with elected leaders to promote legislative changes that will help end gun violence. Senate Bill 1002, which limits the sale of high-capacity magazines, will help to prevent tragedies like the one that occurred in Sandy Hook and prevent other families from experiencing our grief.  We commend Governor Quinn and the Illinois state senators and representatives who are working to save lives and keep communities safer."

The governor strongly supports Senate Bill 1002, which will allow Illinois to join more than 10 other states across the country that put reasonable restrictions on the size of ammunition magazines. High-capacity ammunition magazines have been used in almost all mass shootings in recent history, including Tuscon, Ariz., to Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn. Because of their capacity to hold many rounds of ammunition, these magazines significantly increase the deadliness of the firearms using them.

"I stand with Senator Dan Kotowski and Governor Pat Quinn in the effort to prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines and limit the damage caused by weapons," President Cullerton said. "I hope that the families that are here today encourage more of my colleagues in the General Assembly to pass responsible gun laws."

"I'm proud to introduce this legislation in honor of all victims of gun violence especially those children and teachers who suffered that tragic day at Newtown," Sen. Kotowski said. "This bill will limit the horrific damage caused by weapons with high-capacity ammunition magazines. It will also increase punishment for people who use of these lethal magazines in acts of crime or violence."

Senate Bill 1002 would ban the delivery and sale of ammunition magazines that accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Sale or delivery of these high-capacity magazines would result in a prison sentence of up to three years. Sale or delivery of multiple of these magazines, or a subsequent offense with one magazine would result in up to a five-year sentence.

Additionally, sale or delivery of an even-larger magazine that accepts more than 17 rounds would result in up to five years in prison. A subsequent violation, or violation with multiple of these 17+ round magazines would result in a seven year prison term.

As reported by numerous news outlets, several children were saved when the Newtown gunman paused to stop and reload. Passing this bill will allow Illinois to join states such Connecticut, Maryland and Colorado who have responded to Newtown and other recent tragedies by adopting reasonable restrictions on the size of ammunition magazines. A recent poll showed that nearly 70 percent of Illinois voters?approximately 80 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of Republicans?support a ban on high-capacity magazines. (March 27-April 2, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner).

Exemptions from this legislation include law enforcement and retired law enforcement, correctional officers, and military personnel. High-capacity ammunition magazines were originally designed for use only by military personnel.

With two weeks to go until the end of the spring session, Governor Quinn, the Newtown parents and leading lawmakers are working to pass this legislation. The Newtown parents will travel to Springfield on Sunday evening where they will stay in the governor's mansion. They will also meet with legislators at the Capitol on Monday to discuss their experiences and the necessity of this public safety measure in Illinois.

Following the July 2012 mass shooting in Aurora, Colo., that killed Petty Officer 3rd Class John Larimer of Crystal Lake, Governor Quinn proposed to ban high-capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois. This new measure is part of Governor Quinn's public safety agenda - which he announced during his 2013 State of the State address - to ensure the safety of all communities across Illinois.