Here’s a brief look at what’s happened on the Hill this past month

Dear friend,

Welcome to my September wrap-up newsletter. Here’s a brief look at what’s happened on the Hill this past month. First, extreme conservatives brought us to the brink of a government shutdown in an attempt to make deep cuts to critical social programs. They failed. My colleagues and I held the line and we passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government open for another 45 days. The CR did not include the worst of the Republicans’ policies, like a bill that restricts asylum and jails migrant children, but it only keeps the government open through November 17th. We should not confuse this last-ditch effort to avoid a catastrophic shutdown as anything close to the sort of funding we must pass to meet the needs of our communities.

Last week, Kevin McCarthy was removed as Speaker of the House. Chaos on the other side of the aisle has ground Congress to a halt, as the right is mired in an internal fight to choose their next leader.

Emergency Help for US Citizens in Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza

If your loved one is a US citizen in Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza and needs help getting home, you can contact the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem by calling 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131 or filling out the intake form at cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake.

UIC’s Great Cities Institute

I visited my alma mater UIC to celebrate the launch of the Great Cities Institute’s Latino Research Initiative. Their research will be fundamental for policy makers, activists, educators, and community leaders who are creating programs and making change to empower the Latino community.

Pilsen Center for Oral Health Promotion Grand Opening

For too many people, healthcare is a privilege and not a right. I celebrated the grand opening of the Pilsen Center for Oral Health Promotion, which will expand access to oral healthcare to many people across the Southwest Side. I was proud to secure $500,000 in federal investments for this center through the Community Project Funding process.

Democracy Now!

I joined Amy Goodman and Juan González, hosts of Democracy Now!, to discuss immigration reform and the need to address the root causes of what is driving people to our border. I also talked about Hispanic Heritage Month, reflected on my experiences fighting for civil rights and economic justice, and celebrated my friend and mentor Rudy Lozano’s legacy. Click below to watch my interview.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Roundtable

I joined my colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for an immigration roundtable, and we discussed our priorities to create an immigration system rooted in dignity and opportunity.

FEMA Flood Recovery Assistance and Workshop

Cook County residents affected by the severe storm and flooding between June 29 - July 2 may now call, go online, or visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to register for disaster assistance from FEMA. To apply for assistance over the phone, please call (800) 621-3362. The deadline to apply for assistance is October 16th.

To apply for assistance online, please visit: DisasterAssistance.gov

My office will be hosting a workshop with special guests from FEMA and local officials this Saturday, October 14th at 10:00am at the Little Village Community Church. I encourage you to stop by my workshop, and we can help you get the assistance you need. More information is below.

Property Tax Workshop in Proviso

Join us for a workshop to learn about recent reassessments in Proviso Township and learn how to file for an appeal. This workshop will be in collaboration with special guests from the Cook County Assessor’s Office on October 16th from 6pm-8pm at the Stone Park Village Hall (1825 N 32nd Ave Stone Park, IL 60615).

Need Help with a Federal Agency?

Our office has a dedicated team of caseworkers that assist constituents with many federal services. Some services we can help with:

Social Security claims
Medicare and Medicaid claims
Passport requests
SBA loans
Veterans benefits
Immigration case inquiries

Click here to request help.