Catching Up With Quigley: Week of June 9
Dear Friend,
If you plan to head to a rally this weekend, I hope you'll stay safe and encourage those around you to remain peaceful. We cannot give Donald Trump the excuse he wants to spread his dictatorial mandate to other cities.
Here are three things I did to fight back this week:
1. Condemned Trump's Turn Toward Authoritarianism
Donald Trump's deployment of nearly 5,000 troops to Los Angeles this week was an alarming show of force. If it were Vladimir Putin deploying troops into Moscow, Congress would rightfully call it out. Simultaneously, Trump's ICE department showing up at courthouses and arresting individuals attending ICE-mandated check-ins here in Chicago only drives more people into the shadows and makes it less likely they will cooperate with law enforcement in the future. It’s bad for police, it’s bad for communities, and it’s bad for our nation.
The Trump administration capped off the week when Kristi Noem's security and members of the FBI threw a sitting U.S. Senator to the ground and handcuffed him for the crime of asking a question at a press conference. The treatment of Senator Padilla was deeply disturbing and utterly unacceptable. The administration's growing use of authoritarian tactics is alarming. I'll keep calling it out, and I encourage Americans everywhere to continue peacefully protesting against these acts.
2. Questioned HUD Secretary on Trump Slashing Housing
During an Appropriations Committee hearing this week, I pressed the Trump administration’s Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, Scott Turner, to explain how HUD’s resources can be cut by 50 percent, without increasing homelessness and driving up housing costs. I've spent over a decade advocating for housing funding for programs in Chicago and localities across the country. These programs reduce homelessness and housing insecurity by helping vulnerable individuals like seniors, children, and people with HIV/AIDS.
These cuts would be devastating.
Watch my full questioning of HUD Secretary Turner HERE.
3. Denounced Massive Cuts to Foreign Aid and Public Broadcasting
At a time when authoritarian regimes around the world are stoking conflict and instability, Trump and Republicans have destroyed one of our most powerful diplomatic tools: humanitarian aid. They have gutted lifesaving foreign assistance, including global programs that fight the spread of HIV, provide life-saving care to mothers and babies, and improve food security. In the same legislation, they have devastated public broadcasting, including PBS, NPR, and Chicago’s WTTW, and made drastic cuts to emergency alerts.
Trump has called himself "the King," but he is not. The American people know that. I know that, and I will continue to push back against his efforts to override the will of the people and our global leadership.
Do you want to share your concerns with me? You can email me any time by visiting quigley.house.gov/contact. You can also sign up for in-the-moment updates on my work by following me on social media @RepMikeQuigley or texting "QUIGLEY" to (773) 200-2854.
Sincerely,
Mike Quigley