Dear Friends,

It’s Day 10 of the Republican Shutdown, and I was in Washington this week working to reopen the government and protect our healthcare. Without action to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, monthly healthcare costs in our district could rise by more than 250 percent.

At the same time, I continue to push back against reckless decisions that put our communities at risk—from dangerous ICE operations to the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago. On Thursday night, a federal judge made it clear: Illinois isn’t a war zone, and federal troops cannot come into our state to instigate violence and fear.

Families First: Ending the Shutdown and Defending Health Care

Speaker Johnson has not called back the House into work for over 20 days in the midst of a government shutdown. While Republicans were on vacation, I was back in Washington this week working to reopen the government and protect your healthcare. Due to Republican inaction, your monthly insurance bill could increase to over $2,000.

I’m fighting to make sure that doesn’t happen, because every American has the right to affordable healthcare. We need Medicare for All.

Illinois Rejects the National Guard

Many of you have called, written, and spoken out against President Trump’s attempt to deploy the National Guard to Chicago. I heard you, and I am working to protect our communities and ensure that our government works for the people, not against them. I convened gun safety advocates and community violence intervention leaders — the real heroes fighting against crime and gun violence to discuss real solutions to combat gun violence. You can watch the full press conference here.

Last night, a federal judge temporarily blocked the deployment, affirming what we already know: Illinois does not need troops on its streets.

Protect Your Privacy 

My team will host our annual Privacy Fair on Saturday, October 18, from 9 AM to 12 PM at the South Side YMCA (6330 S. Stony Island Avenue, Chicago). Bring your sensitive documents for free, confidential shredding and pick up resources to help prevent identity theft.
Appointments aren’t required, but RSVPs are encouraged to help us serve everyone quickly: https://bit.ly/IL02PrivacyFair

If you have questions, please contact my Chicago office at (773) 321-2001.

If you would like to share your thoughts with me, feel free to visit my website. You can also keep in touch through Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and BlueSky.

Sincerely,

Robin L. Kelly
Member of Congress