Issues
So many of our neighbors feel left behind, like the economy isn’t working for them – and they’re right. That’s why I’ve centered my work in Congress around building an economy that helps Illinois working families.
Tackling Inflation and Lowering Costs - My top priority is addressing rising costs that are hurting Illinoisans from the grocery store to the gas pump. I’m also committed to bringing down out-of-control drug prices, especially for our seniors.
I believe that reproductive health care decisions should be made between an individual and their doctor – not lawmakers. Uncle Sam has no place in a doctor’s office.
Recent decisions by the Supreme Court and state legislatures have threatened that common-sense right to privacy.
I will continue to work in Congress to break down barriers to accessing reproductive care, not building them.
I have spoken to way too many neighbors and friends who pay too much for life-saving prescription drugs and health insurance and still have trouble getting access to the care they need to survive.
I believe everyone has the right to be healthy, which is why I’m working in Congress to make health care more affordable, accessible, and efficient.
As a local meteorologist for over two decades, I know what so many other scientists know: the climate is changing. To me, there’s nothing political about that. We’ve seen the negative impacts of extreme weather firsthand across Central and Northwestern Illinois.
We need to find ways to protect our homes and farms from draughts, floods, and other adverse weather events while investing in clean power sources that will create sustainable, good-paying jobs right here in our district.
We need to invest in our public schools, students, teachers, and volunteers to ensure that any child from Central and Northwestern Illinois can make the world’s next great discovery, regardless of their ZIP code.
That includes offering more Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education so students have the tools to better understand the world around them.
Veterans have sacrificed so much for our nation and our community, and it is an honor to represent so many of these heroes across Central and Northwestern Illinois.
In return for their service, we must ensure our veterans receive the best care possible to treat injuries and ailments acquired during their time in duty. Veterans should never have their hard-earned benefits and care threatened by Washington politics.
I will always work to make sure our veterans’ needs are met, even long after they’ve hung up the uniform.
Seniors contribute so much to our communities. They shouldn’t have to worry about paying basic living expenses. But some in Washington want to threaten the services and programs that help our seniors the most.
In Congress, I’m working to protect and expand Social Security benefits for seniors to ensure they can maintain a good quality of life. I’m also using my position to advocate for the stability of Medicare, and for solutions to lower prescription drug costs that burden so many in our elderly community.
I am grateful to the brave law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to serve our communities. Unfortunately, many local departments are often working on strained budgets and lack the necessary equipment needed to adequately protect our neighborhoods.
As your Representative, I am taking strides to invest more into local law enforcement agencies to support their training needs, help them better retain and recruit officers, and build better relationships with the communities they serve.
One of my highest honors in Congress is representing our service members and veterans in Central and Northwestern Illinois. From the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria to the Rock Island Arsenal, our members of the armed forces have always played a key role in strengthening national defense and uplifting our communities.
That’s why I’m committed in Congress to making sure those serving are taken care of and receive the pay and benefits they’ve rightfully earned.
Illinois family farmers know it’s more difficult to farm on the same land today that their predecessors farmed on generations ago. A changing world has brought new challenges, and I’m working to ensure Illinois remains a productive and sustainable hub for agriculture.
For so many, transportation means opportunity – to jobs, to education, to seeing family. A strong public transit network is essential for any thriving community and is a necessity for countless working families in Illinois. I’m working with local partners to provide and strengthen public transit networks to expand these opportunities to everyone in our District.
Serving as a local meteorologist for over 20 years required me to be a trusted neighbor to the people in Central and Northwestern Illinois. In Congress, I’m still working to be a trusted voice for the people of Illinois’ 17th District.
That means being willing to work with anyone – Republican or Democrat – to make sure everyone in my District has their needs met. It also means being accountable and transparent about the work I’m doing in Washington on your behalf.