Dear friend,
Welcome to my January 2025 wrap-up newsletter. It’s been a very difficult last week of the month, as we mourn the victims of the plane and helicopter crash near Washington National Airport on January 29. I want to express my deepest sympathies to the victims, their families and loved ones during this difficult time. As a Member of the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I support a timely, thorough investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and we’ll be working to implement resulting safety recommendations.
Last month, I was officially sworn into Congress for my fourth term and rejoined both the Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where among other things, I will be focused on protecting civil liberties, and finding bipartisan opportunities for common sense fixes to our public transit and highway systems. I closed the month back at home, connecting with constituents, advocacy groups, and local officials. In addition to that, my team and I have been working tirelessly to ensure that everyone in our community—regardless of immigration status—understands their rights. I’ll dive deeper into that below. Like many of you, I am outraged by Trump's executive orders that would freeze federal funding and grants across the country. Let me be absolutely clear: this decision will affect low-income families, children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.That's why the American people made their voices heard loud and clear regarding Trump's funding freeze—and now he's rescinded the decision. But we know the attempts to cut funding will continue, and I will persist in doing everything in my power to oppose federal cuts and ensure Illinois has access to these critical funds. If you have been affected by these funding freezes, I want to hear from you! If you would like to share your story, please do so here.
|
As an immigrant, I recognize the contributions immigrants have made in our communities. I do not support the terrorizing that ICE and other law enforcement entities have generated in our communities, including recent actions in our district. Let’s not forget immigrants pay over $380 billion in federal and state taxes—they are our neighbors, and it’s simply inhumane to target them and separate them from their families after everything they’ve done for our country. As good neighbors, it’s essential everyone knows about our civil rights protections. The Constitution guarantees certain basic rights to everyone living in the country, regardless of immigration status. If you or anyone in your family is an immigrant, it’s crucial to understand your rights in the event of an encounter with immigration officials.
|
My team and I have prepared a list of Know Your Rights resources on Instagram and on my website. Please share with neighbors, friends, and family! We’ve partnered with organizations across the district to provide in-person training—if you’re interested in hosting one, reach out!
|
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed in the power of compassion and caring for one another, dedicating his life to building coalitions across all identities in the fight for equality. I was honored to join local officials, leaders, and members of our community in honoring his legacy. My work in Congress is deeply inspired by Dr. King’s dream of peace, justice, and opportunity for all.
|
Securing funding for the long-overdue CTA Red Line extension is one of my priorities on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee: it’s a matter of economic and racial justice, and will give thousands of people easier access to basic services. Earlier this month I joined CTA and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) representatives for the signing of the funding agreement for this project. I was proud to celebrate this milestone with local officials, and I look forward to celebrating again when construction begins!
|
In the first week of the Trump administration, my Progressive colleagues and I held a press conference to demand real solutions for everyday people, not big corporations and billionaires. As the Whip of the Progressive Caucus this Congress, I’m committed to holding the Trump administration accountable for empty promises to working people and advancing real, people-centered reforms. If you missed it, check it out here.
|
My Congressional Hispanic Caucus colleagues and I stood together to send a clear message to President Trump in response to recent executive orders on immigration: These are not real solutions. They don’t address the root causes of migration or make it easier for people to come here legally.
His orders for mass deportations are being challenged in court, and his attacks on birthright citizenship have been declared “blatantly unconstitutional" by a judge. Through my work in the Judiciary Committee, I will keep fighting for meaningful immigration legislation and for a pathway to citizenship for our Dreamers, farmworkers, and immigrant families.
|
My colleague Representative Ramirez joined me for an immigration roundtable with local advocates on ways we can join our efforts to protect and serve immigration communities. There’s no doubt our communities are already feeling the effects of Trump's orders, and we must continue to work together to ensure everyone knows their rights.
|
Last Congress, I joined efforts with state and local elected officials to ensure Cook County and municipalities across our district received federal assistance to recover from the severe flooding we experienced in 2023. I’m happy to share that thanks to those efforts, the Town of Cicero, Chicago, and Cook County have received a total of $776 million in federal grants to support disaster recovery. This vital funding will help our community rebuild and recover stronger than ever.
|
Know Your Rights Workshop Thursday, February 6th 06:00 PM to 8:00 PM Melrose Park For more information, please call my office at (773) 475-0833 or (773) 342-0774. Citizenship Workshop Saturday, February 22nd 09:00 AM to 11:30 AM 2520 S. Western Ave. Chicago, IL 60608 This workshop is by appointment only. To register, call 773-475-0833 or 773-342-0774.
Free Public Tax Filing Great news! Direct File, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, is now open for 2025! I’ve long supported a public filing option and now, many Illinois tax filers are eligible for free, direct filing! To learn more, please visit https://directfile.irs.gov/ Free Tax Preparation (now through April 12) Brighton Park Public Library 4314 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, IL Fridays 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
|
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 or call my office at 773-475-0833 or 773-342-0774.
|
|
