Catching Up With Quigley: Week of June 24
Dear Friend,
I wanted to take a moment to look back on some of the work I did this week while in Washington, DC and share some important information regarding LGBTQ+ rights.
1. Joined WGN Radio to Discuss the Supreme Court Legalizing Bump Stocks
On Monday, I joined WGN Radio to share my thoughts on the Supreme Court's recent ruling overturning a bipartisan ban on the sale of bump stocks. Put simply, bump stocks make semi-automatic firearms operate like machine guns. In 2017, 60 people were murdered and hundreds were wounded in Las Vegas because a bump stock enabled a gunman to fire more than 1,000 bullets in ten minutes. That tragedy is what encouraged the Trump Administration to institute a ban on bump stocks, which was later upheld by the Biden Administration. The reversal of this common-sense, bipartisan ban is a dangerous step backwards in the fight to end gun violence. In Congress, I am a proud cosponsor of the Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act to ban these devices for good. It is my hope that Democrats and Republicans can come together and pass this critical legislation to keep people safe.
To listen to my full interview with WGN, click HERE.
2. Stood Up For Reproductive Freedom
On Thursday, I joined my Democratic colleagues to reaffirm our support for reproductive freedom. We made clear that we stand on the side of women's rights and bodily autonomy.
Our nation just recognized two years since the overturning of Roe V. Wade. In that time, extremist politicians in Congress and across state legislatures have sought to ban abortion, IVF, and birth control. It is both a terrifying and confusing time as women grapple with their states' laws and try to understand the care available to them. We cannot roll back the clock on women's rights. In Congress, I am a proud cosponsor of legislation to protect access to abortion for women across the country. Democrats will not give up until women's reproductive rights are secured, no matter where they live.
In Illinois, your rights are safe. To learn more about the care available to you in our state, click HERE.
3. Met with Top Directors in the Department of Energy
As Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, I convened top directors in the Department of Energy (DOE) – Jigar Shah, Director of DOE’s Loan Programs Office and Maria Robinson, Director of DOE’s Grid Deployment Office – to discuss grid deployment. We talked about how to leverage public funding for clean energy and how to deliver that clean energy to the areas that need it most.
Advancing our grid system is critical to preparing our country for the clean energy future and I'm proud to lead a bill in Congress to do just that. My Streamlining Interstate Transmission of Electricity Act would improve our nation’s power infrastructure and streamline the regulatory process to help put the country on the path to a sustainable future.
ICYMI: LGBTQI+ Rights When Working with Federal Agencies 🏳️🌈
While Pride Month may be coming to a close, the work to protect LGBTQI+ individuals is unrelenting. Part of that protection includes ensuring people are informed about the rights available to them.
Please visit the link HERE, to learn more.
Don't forget, our office is always here to help.
You can call my DC office at (202) 225-4061 or my Chicago office at (773) 267-5926. You can also email me through my website at Quigley.house.gov/contact.
Sincerely,
Mike Quigley