CHICAGO (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk says a new federal spending bill will include about $18.5 million in additional money to combat gang violence. The money will be used to target gangs of "national significance."

Kirk along with other Illinois law enforcement officials discussed gang violence at a news conference Tuesday in Chicago. Kirk says Illinois leads the country in gang members per capita. The Illinois Republican says "it is time the federal government steps up and provides our local police with the assistance they need to stop violence."

Kirk has been pushing for several months for more federal resources to combat gangs, particularly in Chicago.