Dear Friends,

Thank you for an incredible first year in Congress! Over the past 12 months, I have been hard at work in Washington, DC fighting to ensure that the voices, needs, and priorities of our communities are heard in the halls of Congress. 

Since January, my office has responded to more than 20,000 letters and engaged in 180 listening sessions, townhalls, constituent meetings, and site visits in the 4th Congressional District. For ease of access, we have also opened two new District offices.

As 2019 comes to a close, I wanted to give you an update of all that we have accomplished in the past year. 

I have fought against Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda and stood up for civil rights for all. As the first Mexican immigrant from Illinois elected to Congress, immigration is deeply important to me and our community. In the past 12 months, I have introduced several bills that would ensure permanent protection for DACA recipients, provide additional support for people on the path to citizenship and end laws that criminalize immigration. 

I was the first Member of Congress in Illinois to call for Donald Trump’s impeachment. As has been proven by substantial evidence from documents and testimony, President Trump bribed a foreign government for his own political gain. His actions defy the laws of the US Constitution he swore to protect. No one should be above the law--not even the President. 

I took on Big Pharma and prioritized healthcare affordability and accessibility. Currently I am leading the Health Equity and Accountability Act, which is a comprehensive proposal to eliminate racial health disparities in treatment, care, and outcomes for communities of color. As I continue pushing for Medicare for All, I am focused on limiting and lowering the costs of prescription drugs. 

I have taken several actions to address the climate crisis. I have supported needed legislation to invest in the growth of renewable energy while simultaneously decreasing funding for fossil fuel industries. I have worked to stop the GOP’s attempts to rollback environmental protections and introduced bills to protect children from harmful emissions. Along with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressely and Congressman Mark Takano, I launched the Future of Transportation Caucus which is focused on promoting equity, access, and sustainability within our transportation systems--currently the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. 

I have advocated for workers’ rights and the protection of their jobs. In collaboration with Senator Elizabeth Warren, I introduced legislation to hold Wall Street players accountable and to enforce private corporations’ compliance with important workers’ rights. I have been a consistent voice defending workers’ right to collectively bargain, and I have led efforts to prevent the offshoring of American jobs.

As a member of the Financial Services Committee, I have promoted affordable housing, corporate accountability, and economic justice. I have been leading on a plan to promote transit-oriented development, which will prioritize affordable housing and accessible public transportation in towns and cities across America. I have also introduced several bills aimed at protecting consumers from harmful practices by banks. I recently introduced a bill to block Facebook and other Big Tech firms from providing banking services that would harm consumers. 

Lastly, I am focused on winning an expansive funding package in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. For too long, our communities have gone without sufficient maintenance to our roads, bridges, and infrastructure. I am committed to ensuring that our communities have access to high quality infrastructure and innovations aimed at improving our daily lives.

Once again, thank you for an incredible first year in Congress. It is my honor to represent you in Washington, and I am deeply grateful for your support. 

I look forward to another year of work together.

In solidarity,

Chuy