$18.5 Million to Fight Gangs

January 29, 2014 $18.5 Million to Fight Nation's Worst Gangs Dear Friends, One year ago today, 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was gunned down. When I met her family in the following weeks, I promised to do everything I could to make sure other families don't have to go through such a terrible tragedy. Illinois leads the nation in per-capita gang members, and Chicago is the only city in the United States to rank in the top five in distribution for heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine trafficked by Mexican cartels. In the city, the Chicago Police Department estimates that gangs account for 80% of all murders. Throughout Illinois, gangs are a serious problem and hold back the economic potential of our communities. This month, a more than six-month effort to provide law enforcement, prosecutors and local communities with additional funding was signed into law. Congress boosted resources to fight "gangs of national significance" with a total price tag of $18.5 million. This money will be used to combat gangs such as the Gangster Disciples, who are believed to have killed Hadiya. Now that these funds are law, I will work with the Department of Justice to follow through on their promise to bring Illinois the needed resources to keep our communities safe. Click above to watch a video about my efforts and the importance of funding to fight dangerous drug gangs in Illinois. To learn more, please visit my website www.kirk.senate.gov. To get updates on Twitter click here, to find photos on Instagram click here and to receive news on Facebook click here. Very Truly Yours, Mark Kirk United States Senator Chicago 230 South Dearborn, Suite 3900 Chicago, IL 60604 Phone: 312-886-3506 Fax: 312-886-2117 Springfield 607 East Adams, Suite 1520 Springfield, IL 62701 Phone: 217-492-5089 Fax: 217-492-5099 Washington, DC 524 Hart Office Building Washington DC, 20510 Phone: 202-224-2854 Fax: 202-228-4611