Updates from Washington

My Bill Reese’s Law Passes Congress and is
Headed to President’s Desk

Last week the Senate passed Reese’s Law, a bipartisan bill I led to protect children from ingesting button cell batteries. I’m thrilled that President Biden will soon sign the legislation into law. Reese Hamsmith lost her life far too early, and now her legacy will be protecting other families from experiencing the same tragedy.

The legislation was brought to my attention by Reese’s mother, Trista Hamsmith, following Reese’s death. Trista founded Reese’s Purpose, a non-profit organization founded to identify, advocate and correct safety issues impacting children and their families.

This needed legislation will help protect consumers across the country from harmful button and coin cell batteries. Passing this legislation would not have been possible without the work of Trista Hamsmith, who has tirelessly advocated for this policy despite her own grief.

Congress Passes Historic Inflation Reduction Act

Today I voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. This historic bill will lower families’ kitchen table costs, create millions of good-paying jobs while delivering the most significant action on climate in history, and dramatically reduce the deficit. The Inflation Reduction Act will also make the biggest corporations and ultra-wealthy pay their fair share in taxes by strengthening IRS enforcement against wealthy tax cheats, closing tax loopholes exploited by the wealthiest few, and implementing a 15% corporate minimum tax – which applies only to the 150 corporations earning over $1 billion in profits that pay less than 15% in taxes.

According to 126 leading economists—including seven Nobel Prize winners, three former chairs of the Council of Economic Advisers, two former Treasury Secretaries—our legislation “will fight inflation and lower costs for American families while setting the stage for strong, stable, and broadly-shared long-term economic growth.”

I am proud to have voted in favor of this legislation and am proud of my fellow Democrats for continuing to work for the American people.

President Biden Signs Legislation into Law

This week President Biden and his administration kept delivering for Americans by signing two bills into law.

On Tuesday, President Biden signed the CHIPS Act into law, which will bolster the domestic production of semiconductors — a vital component for almost every electronic device we use today — to help prevent future supply chain crises and increase competition with China.

On Wednesday, President Biden signed the PACT Act, which expands health care benefits for veterans who developed illnesses because of their exposure to toxic substances from burn pits on U.S. military bases during their service. This legislation will help countless men and women who have served our country.  Initially voted down by Republicans in the Senate, public pressure from advocates and military veterans pushed this bill forward and has now been signed by President Biden.

Updates from District

Black Women and Girls Symposium: “Reclaiming Our Wellness

On Saturday, August 6th, I hosted a Black Women and Girls Symposium titled: “Reclaiming Our Wellness”.

The event focused on addressing the eight domains of wellness for women: mental, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual wellness.

I want to thank all of our panelists for making this event a success and thank you to all of the wonderful people who volunteered and attended.

Barn Hall

On Wednesday, I visited Rick and Corey Johnson’s Farm in Monee, IL and held a ‘Barn Hall’ with farmers, growers and food security advocates to discuss pandemic impacts on Illinois farmers, food insecurity and opportunities for partnership, and their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill.

There are more than 1,200 farms throughout Illinois’ Second Congressional District. Many of these farmers and producers have felt the squeeze of the pandemic’s economic impacts and supply chain challenges. Our farmers are vital to Illinois’s economy, and during my visit, I heard more about the measures our farmers want us to take in Congress to support them. I am also pleased to hear that Illinois farmers are utilizing farming techniques like cover crops, reduced till and other conservation methods to protect the environment.

I want to thank Rick and Corey Johnson for hosting me. I am proud to represent a district that looks like the real depiction of America- urban, suburban and rural.

Constituent Success Story

It is an honor to serve the people of Illinois’ Second Congressional District. It makes me so proud when constituents contact my office to thank my staff and I for the work we’ve done.

"I applied and expedited my passport and there was no hope in getting my passport before my trip with my daughter before I return to work. I contacted Robin Kelly's office and within 24 hours I had an appointment to receive my passport before my trip. This is a much-needed vacation I need after working thru the pandemic and having my first overseas trip with my daughter. Words can't express how grateful I am for the office of Robin Kelly.”

Has my staff helped you deal with a federal agency? If so, I’d really like to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to fill out my Constituent Testimonial Form. If you’d like to read more positive stories from my office, please visit my Constituent Success Stories page.