Mike Quigley: 2024 candidate for U.S. House 5th District Representative

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office Sought: U.S. House 5th District

City: Chicago

Age: 65

Occupation: U.S. Representative

Previous offices held: Cook County Board of Commissioners (1998-2009)

What must be done to achieve a consistent national policy on immigration, not just in terms of what such a policy should be but also in terms of getting a policy through the Senate?

The time for quick fixes to our immigration crisis is long past and it’s high time that Congress tackle comprehensive immigration reform. That must include everything from securing our border to reforming our immigration court system to passing the DREAM Act. Immigrants who come to our country are seeking a better life and want to work and provide for their families. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not wielded as political pawns to appeal to the conservative base.

We must make that easier by improving court processing times and simplifying the work permit system. Critically, any immigration reform must also include addressing the root causes of migration by providing targeted aid to the nations that migrants are overwhelmingly arriving from. This is a big issue that requires big solutions. Our state’s senior Senator, Dick Durbin, has been a strong voice on this issue and I have long agreed with his calls for comprehensive immigration reform.

Do you believe the nation's election system and those of the individual states are secure and fair? If not, what must be done to improve them?

The United States conducts some of the fairest and most secure elections in the world. Nonetheless, our election systems are under constant threat by forces who seek to influence the results. It is important that states are equipped to combat this interference.

That’s why I support robust funding for the Election Assistance Commission which helps provide states with the resources to protect the integrity and security of our electoral system. Our elections also benefit from efforts to combat disinformation and a commitment to transparency.

The federal government should share with the public when there are attacks — whether they be misinformation campaigns or assaults on election infrastructure.

The most dangerous threat to our elections continues to come from within. I oppose conservative efforts to restrict voting access and hijack local election boards. The counting of ballots and certification of election results must remain a nonpartisan, radically transparent process.

What responsibilities does the United States have toward achieving peace in the Middle East? Do you support a two-state solution?

The conflict in the Middle East is one of the most complex foreign policy challenges of our time and addressing it requires nuance and an acknowledgment of generational hurt.

First, we must recognize that the attack on Oct. 7 was the largest terrorist attack in Israeli history. Since that day, I have unwaveringly supported Israel’s right to defend itself. Hamas’ capability to launch attacks must be eradicated and all remaining hostages must be returned.

As one of our closest allies, Congress should continue providing Israel with aid to defend itself. Simultaneously, Congress must take steps to address the unprecedented loss of civilian life in this conflict, including by ensuring aid reaches Gaza in much higher numbers than it is currently. Congress must also reiterate our continued dedication to a two-state solution.

Hamas must be rooted out of Gaza. Israel must recommit to efforts to limit the loss of civilian life. The only true path forward is through diplomacy.

Do you think the United States is providing adequate support for Ukraine? Should the U.S. support Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO?

As co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, I am a longtime supporter of Ukraine’s independence and I have repeatedly called on Congress to continue to provide Ukraine with the resources it needs to defend itself.

I have visited Ukraine three times since the beginning of the war and have seen firsthand how important our continued support is. Congress’ support for Ukraine ensures the continued existence of Ukraine as a sovereign, democratic nation and sends a clear message to Putin and autocrats around the world that they cannot invade a neighboring democracy with impunity.

Additionally, our aid displays our commitment to preserving democracy across the globe. Failure to continue our aid to Ukraine would be a dereliction of duty as the world’s most powerful democracy. I am also a strong supporter of Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO. The fight to protect their democracy embodies the principles NATO was founded on and they have more than earned their place in the alliance.

How do you perceive the financial health of Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid? To the degree you may see problems with these programs, what should be done about them?

The Social Security Board of Trustees and the Medicare Board of Trustees have predicted that Social Security and Medicare will have the resources to meet 100% of their obligations until the mid-2030s.

While this is short-term good news, Congressional action is needed to shore up these accounts and ensure cuts do not have to be made to seniors’ benefits. No federal program does more to prevent poverty than Social Security and Medicare has fundamentally transformed how seniors access health care in our country.

Those paying into these programs deserve to be confident they will reap the benefits when the time comes. I support several proposals in Congress that would raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans so we can sustain the benefits offered by these programs for many years to come.

This cannot turn into another manufactured crisis. Congress must act sooner rather than later to protect Social Security and Medicare long before anyone’s benefits are truly threatened.

How do you assess the state of the national economy? What should be done to make it stronger or more stable?

Under President Biden, the U.S. economy has seen unprecedented growth, with more jobs created in three years than under any other President. The Federal Reserve’s policies have been regarded as overwhelmingly successful, threading the needle of decreasing inflation while avoiding a recession.

Nonetheless, many Americans are still making difficult decisions with their budgets and the cost of living remains too high. I strongly support Vice President Kamala Harris’s proposals to cut taxes for the middle class, reduce grocery costs, take on corporate price gouging, and lower the costs of owning and renting a home. When Democrats win back Congress in the 2024 election, I will become chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Housing.

Through that position, I look forward to working with the Harris-Walz administration to lower housing costs and end America’s housing shortage.

What personal qualifications do you bring that would make you an effective congressional representative in dealing with the issues the country will face in the next two years?

It has been an honor to represent Illinois’ Fifth District in Congress. As your Representative, I have utilized my position on the Appropriations Committee to bring funding home to our community and ensure that our needs are prioritized in government funding.

As the highest-ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, I have been deeply focused on improving our public transportation so it works for everyone and building infrastructure for the next century.

When Democrats take back the House in the 2024 election, I expect to become the chair of that subcommittee and be even better positioned to advocate for Chicago’s needs. This includes advocating for safer, more accessible public transportation and lower housing costs to address our nation's housing crisis