Coronavirus

On Friday, Congress passed legislation to continue funding the government, avoiding a government shutdown. A shutdown would have sidelined federal services, such as anti-poverty food assistance and customer service functions at the Social Security Administration. The legislation contains $18.8 billion for domestic disaster recovery efforts, including Western wildfires, floods in Kentucky and hurricanes in the Southeast. For some reason, 201 House Republicans voted against this bill. They wanted to shut down the government, just as the federal response to Hurricane Ian is beginning.

When Republicans promise to take away basic freedoms, we must believe them. Last week, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced legislation that would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, nationwide. Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) introduced a bill which would give pharmacists freer rein to refuse to provide medication they suspect could be used to terminate a pregnancy. While these bills are not likely to pass, we can see my colleagues' intentions.

This past week, I hosted a gun violence listening session at the Glenview Public Library. I heard from students from Glenbrook South, New Trier, and Maine West. I also spoke with advocates from Moms Demand Action. What I heard in that room was power. Students and activists have had enough. Bulletproof backpacks, active shooter drills, and planned escape routes. These are just some of the things our students are forced to deal with. Kids no longer feel safe in school. We can't sit back. We need action, and we need it now. I am committed to making a change.

Ahead of Labor Day, I was thrilled to welcome Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh to Chicago to tout the Biden administration's efforts to help hardworking labor workers and retirees get the pension funds they deserve. The American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law last year, created a Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program to avert the immediate multiemployer pension crisis threatening the retirement security of workers, retirees, and their families.

History was made in Washington this week when President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act. This law makes the largest-ever federal investment in addressing the threat of climate change, lowers prescription drug costs, and implements commonsense measures to make wealthy individuals and corporations finally pay their fair share in taxes. Furthermore, small businesses and families making under $400,000 will not have to pay a penny more in taxes.

Our most fundamental rights are under attack. In the last two weeks, the House of Representatives passed legislation to protect the right to abortions, contraception, interstate travel, and gay marriage. Now, it is up to the Senate to pass these bills so they can be sent to President Biden's desk and signed into law.