Government Transparency
As of this week, over 1.5 million Americans have contracted coronavirus and over 90,000 have died – including more than 4,100 here in Illinois. And last month, nearly 22 million Americans filed for unemployment. I know that essential workers can't wait for support and families can't wait to pay rent or to keep food on their tables. I was proud that Congress mobilized quickly to pass three pieces of smart, bipartisan legislation but the crisis hasn't ended, and Congress can't consider our work done either.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) introduced the Court Access Amid the Pandemic Act, which would authorize video and teleconferencing of judicial proceedings during the COVID-19 emergency period. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced federal courts across the country to change their daily operations to protect the wellbeing of the Justices, court staff, and the public. Quigley's bill would enable public access to these proceedings while experts recommend against gatherings.
Specifically, this bill:
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman on Financial Services and General Government and co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Transparency Caucus, sent a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts requesting that the Supreme Court allow real-time audio and video access to all Court proceedings. Quigley argued that, in a time when live-streaming of appellate courts is highly normalized, modernization of the Supreme Court is overdue.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler during a hearing on the Agency's Fiscal Year 2021 budget request.
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (NY-10) and Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced the 21st Century Courts Act, a robust legislative plan to increase transparency in the federal court system. This legislation aims to dramatically enhance the accountability, accessibility, and transparency of the federal judiciary to improve public trust in our system.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH), continued their call for greater public access to our federal court deliberations by reintroducing the Eyes on the Courts Act, legislation to require cameras be permitted in the Supreme Court and all federal appellate courts.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump based on two articles of impeachment:
"Today, I cast my vote in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump because if Congress did not hold this President accountable for his actions, we would have forsaken our duty, betrayed our oaths of office, and sent the message that some people can avoid justice.
"No one is above the law.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services & General Government (FSGG), released the following statement after voting in support of H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158, the fiscal year 2020 funding packages:
"House Democrats have secured a strong, bipartisan funding agreement that protects our nation and upholds American values.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after the Committee released their draft report on the impeachment inquiry:
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) questioned Ambassador Kurt Volker, Former U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine, during a House impeachment hearing. Under Quigley's questioning, Volker, who was called as a witness by Republicans, testified that when he pressed Ukrainian President Zelensky's aides not to prosecute their political opponents, Zelensky's aide replied, "What, you mean like asking us to investigate Clinton and Biden?"