SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois House lawmakers have passed a bill that takes action in support of Ukraine.
The legislation divests state pension funds from interests in Russia and Belarus, and will make it easier to offer resources to Ukrainian refugees.
One of the bills passed on Tuesday is sponsored by Chicago Rep. Lindsey Lapointe.
“We cannot sit back and wait for this to be over. We in Illinois have to use our tool box to do our part,” Lapointe said.
Lapointe went on to say, “As one of the most comprehensive state responses in this country, this bill is a part of our part. And, though it will not be enough, I consider this a must do.”
Some components of the legislation addresses the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees here in Illinois, and sets up a group to work on protecting elections from foreign interference, according to Rep. Tim Butler of Springfield.
“It happened here in Illinois in 2016, as we know, the Russians hacked into our state election systems, got data out of the state election system. And so, this path for us will being taking a look at how we can secure systems in the state of Illinois,” Butler said.
The bill, which now heads to the Senate.
